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Soilless Begonia Potting Mix
The first soilless recipe
Ingredients:
1 gallon: coir
1 gallon:perlite
8 tablespoons dolomite limestone
10 tablespoons: bonemeal
1 tablespoons: ground lime
5 table spoons: bloodmeal
Mix together thoroughly and start potting.
Note: 1 gallon = 8 pounds
5 gallons converted to pounds is 5 x 8 = 40 pounds.
The second soilless recipe based on Cornell Mix Model.
Organic substitute for Cornell Mix (large quantity)
Ingredients:
1/2 cu. yd. Sphagnum peat or coir
1/2 cu. yd perlite
2 lbs. bonemeal
4 lbs. ground limestone
2 lbs. bloodmeal
Mix together thoroughly and start potting.
Note: [1 cu. yd =
201.97 gal] /2= [ 1/2 of 201.97 =100.985] * [8 pounds* 100.985] =[807.88 Pounds]
What Is Coir?
Sri Lanka is currently the only Coir that is suitable for high quality horticultural applications.
Coconut Coir has been around for a "Millennium". It was first discovered as a growing media in ancient India and China. Western civilization for years has used the fiber from the shell for making twine, mats, and brooms.
But the pulp resembling peat moss had not been looked at as something to support plant growth.
Amazingly, it did not find a home for commercial growing until the 1980's in Holland.
Dutch lily and rose growers discovered how good it promoted and supported root growth. When used in hydroponic growing, it was found to be superior to peat moss.
Coconut Coir was better aerated and still held more water. Unlike peat moss and bark composts, Coconut Coir did not break down or compact. Containers that had been filled with Coir four years previous were found to be at the same level and consistency.
Due to the foreign competition, a new method had been adopted to produce roses that were as large as those being imported from Ecuador and Colombia.
At first clay pebbles were used, then following suggestions and observations from Europe, Coconut Coir was introduced.
Trials using 100% Coconut Coir soon showed that this was the ideal media for the hydroponic growing method.
The best source of Coconut coir in the world is from Sri Lanka. There, mountainous piles are processed to make grower grade Coir.
Coir must be processed with the right amount of washing in fresh water. Some suppliers use seawater, which causes the Coconut Coir to be toxic for plant growth.
Millennium soils takes great care in their procedures to make sure that growers receive a medium that will help improve their crops.
how to use coir horticulturally!
Coir is used as a growing medium in the same way as peat moss, rockwool, sawdust, or any other type of growing medium.
Why use coir as a growing medium?
Coir is superior to peat moss in both chemical nutrient value and in physical properties. Commercial growers in Europe and the Middle East have established positive agronomic benefits of Coir use. Now, commercial growers in North America have begun to see increases in gains from using Coir.
In addition, unlike peat moss, the process of obtaining Coir does not destroy natural ecosystems, thereby making Coir a natural, renewable resource, and an environmentally friendly alternative to peat moss.
Benefits of Coconut Coir
100% Organic
Chemical Physical Biological General Chemical
High water holding capacity
Acceptable pH & EC
Excellent wetability, superior to peat
Ability to retain nutrients against leaching and to buffer supply
Physical
Unique water holding capacity
Good drainage / aeration
Less shrinkage
Retains physical properties longer
Light weight
Biological
No pests, weeds, or diseases
General
Odourless and pleasant to handle
Natural and renewable resource
Uniform in composition
Special Benefits to Growers
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