Substrate getting too dry

[veggie86]

The girls are currently on top soil, but it's getting so dry and dusty so quickly at the moment I think it's because the central heating generally makes the house drier, and the windows aren't open to let any moisture in. I've also got the basking lamp hotter as it seems to keep them up and eating better. I've been spraying it it a couple of times a day, and yesterday completely soaked the whole lot and mixed it all in, but it was still bone dry by this evening.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can use to stop it getting so dusty?

[mattjstar1]

Hi you could try coco coir i mix it in with my top soil seems not to dry out so fast and keeps the dust down a bit i get mine from ikea its really cheap there i buy few blocks at a time hope this helps matt x

[becciwales]

Hi, I find coco coir much less dusty too. In the winter I just use coir, in the really hot weather I mix both coir and top soil. I don't know why but that seems the best in the summer heat but only coir in the winter with the heating on. My friend does the same xx

[becciwales]

Matt, I buy mine in the same ikea I always stock up, we'd best not go at the same time!!

[Suze65]

I agree, mix in some coco coir, but it is just one of those things in the winter, it does need watering a lot.

[veggie86]

Thanks all sounds good. I'll have to pop into ikea next time I'm on the mainland. (Ah the joys of living on an island...)

[Pussygalore]

its easily found online and apparently in argos and as its so light I doubt it would cost much to come by post, certainly less than the ferry I also wonder if you can buy it in a garden center or pet shop or maybe they could get it for you. Pets at home came up as selling it so it doesn't seem hard to find.

[veggie86]

Oh, cool. I only ever hear of people buying it from Ikea so assumed it wasn't readily available anywhere else, I'll have a look, thanks

[Pussygalore]

Its also used as a growing medium hence the garden centers but there's lots on the web about it.

[veggie86]

Popped into P@H on my way past today and managed to get their last block of coco coir It says it's a 9L block and to add 3-4 litres of water, how much does it expand? Should I use the whole block? It's going in a 4x2 ft table mixed in with the topsoil.