Mels soapbox

canada6827 3/18/2013, 11:31 am

I'm confused...attended a SFG seminar this weekend in Athens, TX. She recommended coconut coir instead of peat moss due to our hot TX climate. But went to thread by Mel B and he said peat is still better. Is that just regional? She said peat will not hold water, and referenced peat moss hanging baskets ("...when you water them, the water runs straight through").
Thanks

H_TX_2 3/18/2013, 11:41 am

I'm willing to bet that baskets made from coir allow water to run through also. The purpose is to absorb water and hold onto it for as long as possible. At the same time it allows excess water to run through it. this is the reason you can't over water with MM. You don't want something that will not allow excess water to escape or you will flood and kill your garden. I'm sure there are some valid reasons that some prefer coir over peat moss but that doesn't sound like a good one to me.

Maybe some of the more knowledgeable folks here can shed some more light on this.

**camprn** 3/18/2013, 12:06 pm

canada6827 wrote:I'm confused...attended a SFG seminar this weekend in Athens, TX. She recommended coconut coir instead of peat moss due to our hot TX climate. But went to thread by Mel B and he said peat is still better. Is that just regional? She said peat will not hold water, and referenced peat moss hanging baskets ("...when you water them, the water runs straight through").
Thanks

Don't be confused. It sounds like she was expressing an opinion not necessarily a fact. Peat does hold moisture just fine (fact) but it sheds water if it is totally dried out (fact). I prefer peat moss in the SFG (opinion).

Just so you are aware, this is Mel's Soap box thread. A place for him to post. so our little conversation will eventually be moved to another place on the forum.

canada6827 3/18/2013, 12:10 pm

Great thanks! Thought I was going to have to buy a lot of coconut coir (as I have quite a few beds) and was afraid of cost.
I believe I'll stick with the peat moss.

paulalandis 3/21/2013, 10:21 am

can you still by mels mix and does anyone know where to buy it i can not find it thanks for your help

cheyannarach 3/21/2013, 3:18 pm

You can buy it at some Lowe's I've heard, I think it's called Garden time.

And Canada6827, you should mulch when it gets really hot and it will help your mix hold water!

canada6827 3/21/2013, 3:26 pm

Thanks for the advise, however I have huge problem with pill bugs, aka rollie pollies and I've read to clear away mulch that they hide in.
Any suggestions for that? And I know they are not supposed to do much harm, but they do in the quanities I have them in.
Also have chigger problem and they seem to like the mulch, and LOVE me!

GloriaG 3/21/2013, 4:22 pm

Hi canada6827,

I'm not sure exactly what happened in the seminar you attended, but peat works just fine in SFG's in Texas. I've been using it now for three consecutive years and have no problems with water "running through".

However, it must be properly moistened before it goes in your beds. Once peat drys out completely it's REALLY hard to re-hydrate. It becomes hard and water will run right off it

Therefore, as you make your initial mix, it's a good idea to add water until the mix is thoroughly moistened. It should feel like a damp dishcloth - wrung out but still moist. When it's in the beds, you should also check regularly to make sure you're watering enough. Because we're in a hot climate, under-watering seems to be one of our most common problems.

victoria 3/25/2013, 6:22 pm

paulalandis wrote:can you still by mels mix and does anyone know where to buy it i can not find it thanks for your help

http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-5-cu-ft-Square-Foot-Gardening-Potting-Soil-Mix-NW-11760/203272590?keyword=sq+ft+potting+soil#.UVDOF6X4gqY

If you go to Home Depot online - search for sq. ft. potting soil - it will be shipped direct to your home in boxes of 2 bags - each bag will cost about 1.00 to ship.

htanguay 3/25/2013, 7:24 pm

[/quote]If you go to Home Depot online - search for sq. ft. potting soil - it will be shipped direct to your home in boxes of 2 bags - each bag will cost about 1.00 to ship. [/quote]

Thank you! I wish they sold it in stores locally here, but they don't. Shipping is actually 10.00 for each bag to ship.

Lindacol 3/25/2013, 7:25 pm

victoria wrote:
paulalandis wrote:can you still by mels mix and does anyone know where to buy it i can not find it thanks for your help
http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-5-cu-ft-Square-Foot-Gardening-Potting-Soil-Mix-NW-11760/203272590?keyword=sq+ft+potting+soil#.UVDOF6X4gqY

If you go to Home Depot online - search for sq. ft. potting soil - it will be shipped direct to your home in boxes of 2 bags - each bag will cost about 1.00 to ship.

When I try to order 2 bags, shipping is listed as $20.

victoria 3/25/2013, 8:00 pm

Hmmm - sorry - i ordered 10 bags and they came two per box and I paid 14 for them - im in SC
I had another lady order 50 bags and she said her shipping cost was 55 - where are you shipping too ? It might be due to larger quanties cost less - but the starting cost to ship that much weight is more ?

cautery 3/25/2013, 8:49 pm

For me to order 20 bags, they wanted to charge me $150.00 shipping...

INSANE!

Lindacol 3/25/2013, 9:24 pm

victoria wrote:Hmmm - sorry - i ordered 10 bags and they came two per box and I paid 14 for them - im in SC
I had another lady order 50 bags and she said her shipping cost was 55 - where are you shipping too ? It might be due to larger quanties cost less - but the starting cost to ship that much weight is more ?

Bloomington, CA

Lindacol 3/25/2013, 9:28 pm

cautery wrote:For me to order 20 bags, they wanted to charge me $150.00 shipping...

INSANE!

When I tried 20 bags it was also $150 here in So CA

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