New Grower Quick question regarding coco.

[Anasazi]

So I had some left over coco sitting in a bucket in my closet for a month or so. It was moist when I put it in there and I kind of put a plastic bag over the top to keep bugs out.

I checked it today and it's still moist and it doesn't smell the same as it did when I first put it in there nor does it look the same lol. I just want to make sure it's safe to use it. It was a simple coco/perlite/garden lime mix. I have 4 bricks of coco left and i'm not sure it's going to be enough for the 3 pots i'm doing so I might need this extra I have left over.

Sorry if it's a dumb question but I'm scared something might have grown in there or something.

 

[redrobbo]

You could rinse it with hydrogen peroxide solution which should kill anything thats alive in there.Just about.

 

[Anasazi]

Sadly I don't have any of that. What about bleach or rub alcohol?

 

[redrobbo]

Sadly I don't have any of that. What about bleach or rub alcohol?

I wouldnt use those unless i could gaurantee i could flush it all back out.
Maybe put it in the oven or micro-wave.Dont know off hand what temps or setting to use.
Google it.

 

[MisterHarpy]

Hydrogen peroxide is super cheap at any pharmacy. You should check a lot of people use it for first aid and such. Here in the states a litter bottle runs $1.50

 

[pop22]

spread it out in the sun and let it dry and it will be fine. I use coco coir in my soil grows now instead of peat. Works great.

 

[BII]

To reuse coco coir, consider a pyrethrin, e.g., permethrin, (or other contact insecticide) rinse/flush/wash of the coco. Just run/flush the stuff through, and make sure to flush it all out thoroughly. That should kill any adult insects. Then add some live Bt bacteria insecticide periodically in your feed/watering to kill any larvae.

The things you need to be concerned about with reusing any medium (including soil) are mostly bacteria, fungi and insects that ultimately feed on dead organic material, such as old roots. So give the coco a good enzyme (e.g., Sensizyme, Hygrozyme) treatment to break down any complex organic matter in the coco, so it becomes plant food rather than feeding harmful invading organisms.