I just finished harvesting a bin that originally had coir as bedding. Coir was only a part of the total bedding. I found a few lumpy bits after about 10 months.

I don't use coir anymore. I use mostly corrugated cardboard and shredded paper.

Marshall

isnt it aggravating they way companies have to mess with things? I have no idea why they would even add a wetting agent, coir wets just fine! can you find any coir without the wetting agent? it will behave like a detergent, I dont know if that would harm them or not though. coir takes ages to break down so it makes a good bedding because you dont need to keep replacing it.

Where do you get coir? Nurseries? I've seen it on ebay, but would rather buy locally.

I found this stuff at Menards you can get it at hardware stores like Ace and tru value supposedly too, otherwise try petco and look by the lizard bedding. You could probably definitely find this at a hydroponic store if you have one near you look it up in phonebook and call.

seems pretty goofy to me to waste money on something that adds zero benefit to a system intended to process waste - paper and cardboard are far ahead of any purchased material for worm bedding

Bill

Hi Bill:
OK - I did the SEARCH and read up on COIR because I have a free, great source - but I have to pull it from the halved coconuts. . . but your post sounds like paper & cardstock is good enough? I think the coir takes forever to breakdown and I don't have a problem with my bin drying out (so far, I'm hoping his summer isn't awful like Summer 2007 when I started my bin in August - it was HOT!!) and maybe every couple days I give them a good squirting with the plastic bottle mister!

Worm Nelly

I agree with Bill about the coir, and besides how do you even say that word, koy-yer? kwah? or what? Anyway, it looks so much like worm castings when it's wet, I've harvested most of mine away. My worms seem to prefer the corrugated cardboard and veggie diet. Cheryl

pronounced: "kwar" to the best of my knowledge.

It makes a good bedding that will err on the wet side in my experience, but as others have mentioned, it does no better than things you can get for free. But if you have a free source, use it. It will break down slowly, like peat. And yes, before long it will blend in and you won't be able to tell if its done or not.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.gardeninginconverse.com