Brand of coco fiber substrate?

[antinous]

Was going to purchase some topsoil or peatmoss but the local stores are starting to wrap them up. My question is, other than eco earth, what other brands do you use? I’ve been eyeing some of the 10-11 lb bricks on Amazon, but not sure which ones to use. Any recommendations would be helpful as I’m a bit hesistant when it comes to purchasing new sub

 

[8LeggedLair]

I use Exo Terra plantation soil coir bricks and dry bag, coco fiber husk bricks
Humusziegel is another good one... all relatively cheap too
Edit: oh yea for some my OW I use desert yellow sand ( for some reason it’s cheaper than red ) and excavator clay with coir on top.

 

[antinous]

I use Exo Terra plantation soil coir bricks and dry bag, coco fiber husk bricks
Humusziegel is another good one... all relatively cheap too
Edit: oh yea for some my OW I use desert yellow sand ( for some reason it’s cheaper than red ) and excavator clay with coir on top.

I’m looking for the cheaper alternative, I’ve seen various brands of 10-11 lb coco coir, but they’re not specifically made for pets, just wanted to see if anybody used those as they’re quite a bit cheaper than the ones labeled for pets

 

[8LeggedLair]

I’m looking for the cheaper alternative, I’ve seen various brands of 10-11 lb coco coir, but they’re not specifically made for pets, just wanted to see if anybody used those as they’re quite a bit cheaper than the ones labeled for pets

Oh those ones, yea I didn’t buy those either for the same reason not sure if there is chemicals... if you find humusziegel I’d use that.
Edit: maybe someone else could suggest to use or not following to see as well

 

[MikeyD]

It's coconut coir, doesn't matter what it's marketed for as they are all just ground coconut husk. It isn't made for pets or made for plants, it's just ground coconut husks with no other additives or ingredients. Companies buy from the producers and then market it to different customers but there is really not much variation between their products, other than the higher price tags for pets supplies.

 

[Greasylake]

I usually find them cheaper at expos than I can online, usually they're like a dollar a brick, maybe a little more. I just buy the larger packages so I have enough to hold me over until the next expo, then I get more.

 

[antinous]

It's coconut coir, doesn't matter what it's marketed for as they are all just ground coconut husk. It isn't made for pets or made for plants, it's just ground coconut husks with no other additives or ingredients. Companies buy from the producers and then market it to different customers but there is really not much variation between their products, other than the higher price tags for pets supplies.

Got it. I'm just a bit hesitant since a couple of brands have some reviews saying it's 'salty' and needs to be washed thoroughly before use and then I remember back a few years ago there was a thread, or video, saying to steer clear from substrate with higher salt content as your T could desiccate.

 

[MikeyD]

Yes some are known to be saltier but that only effects the people using coir to grow plants. You can leach the salt if you wash the coir or soak it in a pillowcase and do several changes of water but it's a pain. I grow a lot of plants that are sensitive to mineral salts so I have been through this all before and honestly detest coconut husk because of it. One of the only sources I know that are guaranteed low salt are the brands that are sold for plants in hydroponics stores. The problems with salt content become apparent when you have to fertilize plants grown in coir and then the mineral salts skyrocket and start adversely effecting plant health. So are you saying that there have been documented cases of coir with higher salt content affecting Tarantulas or is it that people warn against it as a general precaution?

 

[antinous]

Yes some are known to be saltier but that only effects the people using coir to grow plants. You can leach the salt if you wash the coir or soak it in a pillowcase and do several changes of water but it's a pain. I grow a lot of plants that are sensitive to mineral salts so I have been through this all before and honestly detest coconut husk because of it. One of the only sources I know that are guaranteed low salt are the brands that are sold for plants in hydroponics stores. The problems with salt content become apparent when you have to fertilize plants grown in coir and then the mineral salts skyrocket and start adversely effecting plant health. So are you saying that there have been documented cases of coir with higher salt content affecting Tarantulas or is it that people warn against it as a general precaution?

Do you happen to know the brand name? Not that I know of, someone was warning about it, no definitive proof as far as I remember, but I’d still rather be safe than sorry and go with a low salt version.

 

[8LeggedLair]

Oh man I hope not... cause I have 1 more brick of Coir, and husk, a bag of dry coco fiber a smaller bag of dry husk
but no I don’t think so, my friend has been using Coco Fiber for 10-11 years now before that was peat and vermiculite

 

[antinous]

Oh man I hope not... cause I have 1 more brick of Coir, and husk, a bag of dry coco fiber a smaller bag of dry husk
but no I don’t think so, my friend has been using Coco Fiber for 10-11 years now before that was peat and vermiculite

Normal coco fiber that is directed towards pets is fine, I was just curious about the ones labeled for plants

 

[MikeyD]

Not sure of the brands. If you have a hydroponics store locally check it out or even online ones. When I see coir sold for that purpose it usually says salt free on the packaging. Some suppliers will have naturally salt free product and others not so it really comes down to origin. We had talked about this many times on plant forums and from what we could figure out the salt happens when costal producers float bails of husks in the ocean while loading it to take to the processors. Other producers won't have to do that and their product will be salt free. In the end you could have it all being mixed together for processing too.

So try a general search for hydroponics coir or even look up your local shop and see what their prices are. At least when you ask them about salt content they will probably have more info than most other vendor/sources.

 

[antinous]

@MikeyD thanks, appreciate the help!
Would you say this is also good? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-11-lb-Coconut-Coir-Block-of-Soilless-Media-VCCB5/205854519

I’ll call a local hydroponic store if there’s one close by as well!

 

[MikeyD]

Yeah that looks good. Now just to do some price comparisons and see what you can find. I'm pretty sure that's the only difference between the various brands too. The ones meant for plants are most likely to have be rinsed to reduce salt before they compress into bricks and package, and the most likely to state that it's been rinsed on the packaging.

 

[antinous]

Yeah that looks good. Now just to do some price comparisons and see what you can find. I'm pretty sure that's the only difference between the various brands too. The ones meant for plants are most likely to have be rinsed to reduce salt before they compress into bricks and package, and the most likely to state that it's been rinsed on the packaging.

Got it. Finally after some searching, I was able to find one that says it’s used for reptiles as well:
https://www.amazon.com/Coco-Bliss-P...ock+10+lbs&dpPl=1&dpID=51YrnPOTcrL&ref=plSrch

 

[Gaherp]

Ordered the giant bricks off Amazon before with no issues. Used magjo, kempf, plantonix, and few other brands. None had anything in them except the occasional plastic or other in organic piece in them. I have found these items in all the pet brands also so I am guessing that plastic or other trash that gets milled into them. They are safe to use unless they state they added something to them. I don't recall any brand doing this but if these companies are anything like miraclegro it would not surprise me.

 

[antinous]

Ordered the giant bricks off Amazon before with no issues. Used magjo, kempf, plantonix, and few other brands. None had anything in them except the occasional plastic or other in organic piece in them. I have found these items in all the pet brands also so I am guessing that plastic or other trash that gets milled into them. They are safe to use unless they state they added something to them. I don't recall any brand doing this but if these companies are anything like miraclegro it would not surprise me.

Thanks! Appreciate it!