Koolau Farmers

A Superior Alternative to Peat Moss

kf-admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:49:40 +0000

Coconut coir fiber makes an excellent addition to seed starting mixes and is a superior alternative to peat moss in all potting mediums. Coconut coir fiber is environmentally friendly, renewable resource that is easy to use and completely biodegradable.

Here are some of the advantages of using coco coir fiber:

High water holding capacity – up to 10 times its weight
Retains and releases nutrients over extended periods
Provides excellent aeration for substantial, healthy root development
Naturally weed and pathogen free
Enhances soil microbial life
Neutral to slightly acidic pH

We carry an excellent quality coco coir that we use to amend our own seed starting mixes. Come in to visit us! We’ll be happy to show you how to use coco coir to start your own garden.

Enhance Your Soil With Biochar

kf-admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:26:13 +0000

Biochar is a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that can enhance soils. It can persist with very little decay for hundreds of years, as discovered in the unusually fertile Terra Preta soils of the Amazon. Some of the benefits of Biochar include:

Increased fertilizer efficiency
Moderating of soil acidity
Increased water efficiency
Increased microbial activity
Aerating of clay soils
Greater crop yields

Some recommended uses:

Spread a layer about 1/4″ – 1/2″ thick and till into soil
Spread thin layer, cover with mulch.
Blend with potting media or topsoil at 5% – 10% for pots or plantings.
Add as a component of compost at 3% – 30% then apply as usual.
Mix with desired fertilizer for extended release.

Does Your Soil Need a Little “Sweetening”?

kf-admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:11:50 +0000

If your plants are not growing well it may be that your soil isn’t “sweet” enough. If your soil is too acidic, your plants may not be getting the necessary nutrients for plant growth.* Most plants grow best with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. An easy and inexpensive way to check the pH level in your soil is with a pH soil tester. They are very simple to use and only takes a few minutes.

If your soil pH is not between 6.0 and 7.0, the simple solution is to amend the soil with Dolomite Lime. Lime helps make the best use of your fertilizer dollars. It helps stimulate vigorous growth of beneficial soil microbes and contains two important plant nutrients – calcium and magnesium.

If your soil is in need of a little “sweetening”, come visit us. We carry both Prilled dolomite lime and pH soil testers.

*Many plants such as rhodeodendrons, azaleas, camellias, and other “acid-loving plants” prefer lower pH levels in the soil.

A Common Home Gardening Mistake

Ken — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:13:36 +0000

We all make mistakes in the garden. We’ve made a ton of them ourselves. But like anything else in life, the trick is to learn from your mistakes and hopefully try not to make them again. One of the most common mistakes made by the home gardener is over watering.

Common symptoms that occur from over watering are dropped leaves, yellowing of the plant, rotting, or the plant simply drops dead.

Believe it or not, watering too much will kill the plant faster than giving it too little water. Plants thrive with moist soil – poorly drained and soggy soil is what they don’t like. If the roots are water logged from over watering, you may find your plants wilting on a sunny day.

The proper way to check to see if your plant has enough water, is to stick your finger in the soil about an inch near the base of the plant. If your finger is dry, the plant needs to be watered.