4 replies to this topic

[Tim Bailey]

Hi

I've posted a few blogs recently CPS Blog

Happy reading. Lastest one has a few pictures of my coir grown Sarracenia. Best year yet!

The coir I use (Fertile Fibre) is contaminant free and as such does not require pre-washing. Currently working on a sustainable and peat-free cultivation guide to go on the pending new CPS website.

Tim

[Richard Bunn]

Your experiments with coir are providing vital research for us all and I thank you for it.  It'll help alleviate the panic when dooms day comes to peat. When you have your cultivation guide finished please remember to post it on here too as not all of us are members of the CPS or ICPS.

[Tim Bailey]

Richard Bunn, on 27 June 2012 - 00:25 AM, said:

Your experiments with coir are providing vital research for us all and I thank you for it.  It'll help alleviate the panic when dooms day comes to peat. When you have your cultivation guide finished please remember to post it on here too as not all of us are members of the CPS or ICPS.

Will be posted on the new website, as soon as I get time to complete it - so will be available for all.

Putting proposals together for better evidenced trials, to enable good quality data to be published down the road and the production of peat-free cultivation guides as one of the outcomes. Will need the support of members and non-members alike down the line if it gets off the ground.

Tim

[meizwang]

Great blog!

As for the use of coir, I've heard a lot of experiments have shown it doesn't perform as well as peat.  The Cation Exchange Capacity is lower, but that doesn't mean that it can't work.

I wonder if lowering the pH of coir will make it a better medium?

[Tim Bailey]

meizwang, on 02 July 2012 - 16:16 PM, said:

Great blog!

As for the use of coir, I've heard a lot of experiments have shown it doesn't perform as well as peat.  The Cation Exchange Capacity is lower, but that doesn't mean that it can't work.

I wonder if lowering the pH of coir will make it a better medium?

I can only speak for my collection and the specific environment my plants are kept, but they are doing really well and unless I've forgotten over the years since I gave up peat some are performing better in the coir I use.  Doesn't seem to result in less colour in my Sarracenia too (will post some photos when I get a moment).

But as you indicate evidence available at the moment is mixed, mainly due to a lack of experimental design - me included! Often the concern is how fast the coir breaks down, but again this is not my experience and may be down to the fibrous nature of the coir I use.

The CPS are planning to set up a research facility for 2013 and one of the trials would be a comparison between a coir compost treated with rainwater and the same coir compost treated with a lowered pH rainwater (acid down solution). I occasionally lower the pH for my plants, but don't know if it actually makes a notable difference. We will do this across a range of genera commonly grown in Europe, along with other composts. I would hope others would replicate what we are doing to achieve collaborative evidence. Once we are more advanced in our plans they will be shared with both amateur and professional growers alike. An important consideration will be coming up with a suitable compost that would not put commercial growers at a competitive disadvantage, and gives similar results to peat - a big ask that one.

Lots to unravel and confidence to build over the next few years.

Great stuff and thanks for your comments.

Tim