Sphagnum Moss Vs Coco Quire

[sabina88]

So I think I want to try a more environmentally friendly alterative to sphagnum moss. So I am wondering compared to sphagnum moss how absorbent is coco husk chips? Also does anyone have any recommended brands for coco husk?

[Mr.Fakename]

I have two Phal bellina in coco chips, and I honestly hate that media.

In my conditions it appears to act somehow like Sphagnum and retains a lot of moisture, but a huge part of water stays in the bottom and wicks, rather than being distributed equally.

I don't know the brand of the one I have, but it degrades rapidly and compacts, I had to make holes in the pot to get a better airflow.

For me it's a watering nightmare, but the plants seem to enjoy it and have lots of roots.

One thing I've been trying with seedlings, is aquarium fine filter floss. It's super cheap, doesn't break down (at least I didn't see any change, yet), keeps water and is super aerated.
As weird as it seems, I think it might be a good addition to potting mixes, and I'll try it more in the years to come!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by sabina88

So I think I want to try a more environmentally friendly alterative to sphagnum moss. So I am wondering compared to sphagnum moss how absorbent is coco husk chips? Also does anyone have any recommended brands for coco husk?

Sabina, how is sphagnum environmentally unfriendly? The stuff from Besgro is farmed, and when you repot, the old moss can be composted to enrich the soil.

However, if you’re looking for something more “friendly” to the in-pot environment, something that won’t decompose and compress, suffocating the roots, you might want to consider rock wool cubes. If your environment criterion is broader, they won’t qualify, due to the energy expended in manufacturing, but that’s up to you.

[sabina88]

Originally Posted by Ray

Sabina, how is sphagnum environmentally unfriendly? The stuff from Besgro is farmed, and when you repot, the old moss can be composted to enrich the soil.

However, if you’re looking for something more “friendly” to the in-pot environment, something that won’t decompose and compress, suffocating the roots, you might want to consider rock wool cubes. If your environment criterion is broader, they won’t qualify, due to the energy expended in manufacturing, but that’s up to you.

Ahh I just realized that I misunderstood/miss read what I was reading, in that the sphagnum moss is sustainably farmed but peat moss is not sustainable. That makes me feel better, sphagnum works really well for me since my medium tends to dry out a little quicker.
Thanks for the info ☺️