Hi
You can do it either way. My setup was done a year ago in Feb and it still is not absorbing water. I sprinkled Coir on it within 5 minutes of coming out of the can otherwise it will not stick.Personally ,I prefer just using it plain and applying some acrylic paint. i find that whatever is applied to it disintegrates over time.
I've found that it is much better to glue stuff to it after curing though it can be applied around driftwood and is very strong.
I've heard that it will deflate and become toxic over a
long period of time So far I've not experienced either problem and so far the acrylic paint has not faded.
It adheres to any surface including glass very well so there is no need for adhesives.
Gary

Sorry, gotta add my two cents. Well, I first got my idea to do it from www.blackjungle.com It is nice, but it is a really big hasle to apply so much stuff to it, i think! and I have had problems with it comeing off, not in chunks, but just the whole thing disattatching inself from the glass. But I guess if you do it right, it looks REALLY nice, good luck.

Maybe Flevopol is a better choice..or at leass the American alternative...Mix 3 or four parts peat/coir with 1 part concrete hardener..it comes in a 32 ounce bottle (I think) at like Lowes or Home Depot and it is around $7 really nice effect..wood, rocks can be added..I have found that the wetter mix is better...you can experiment and make some really nice stand alone caves and decorations if you are creative enough..make forms with masking tape and newspaper, cover them with saran and go to town..one thing..use the stuff in half inch layers.letting it dry in between..hopw this helps. if you have any ?'s just ask.

sounds good i think that i will try that method sounds like it is a lot of fun to work with. thanks for the info. if i have aby questions i will ask.

I was wondering what the north american equivalent of Flevopol was! Concrete hardener, eh? Off to HD. . .