I added 7 gallons worth of water into a 13 gallon garbage can and this compressed coco expanded to fill the can and more. The pH is a bit low as I measured 6.2 from some reverse osmosis water that I soaked an equal amount of coco in and that's not too bad or too far off at all. I found my clones suffering from shock so I did a ppm test on the coco fiber fresh from the bag and found the run-off at 650 ppm which means there's still a lot of salt in the media. So much so that seedlings and young sprouts suffer so beware and run lots of fresh water though your potting mix.

Coco is a growing medium that is used to physically support the roots of your plants. It doesn't contain nutrients to support their growth, you're going to have to add those yourself in the form of some of the many fine planet nutrients. Coco holds water very well so I add a mixture of perlite in a ratio of 1:5 to add some air and help with drainage.

Many gardeners add coco to their native soil as a supplement but indoor gardeners can use it alone. Coco can be reused by simply running some tap water through while monitoring the PPM in the run off. I find that running about twice the amount of water through the coco does a good job of purging the remaining nutrients ... run 10 gallons of water though 5 gallons of coco. In the last couple of weeks of fruiting I do a flush which tends to make the fruits sweeter and cleans out the media too.

I have almost always used Coco Coir instead of the heavy clay where I am in Alabama and have done well in my success with the coir and some compost as well. I usually buy the large bricks that expand to 75 quarts when fully expanded. I tried this stuff and it is so powdery that I had to use 1 part coir and 3 parts vermiculite to help with the drainage. After my experience, I will not buy this stuff again! I can't say that it does not work mixed with soil and other things but it is not Coco Coir as I know it and basically, my money was not well spent...

I gave this a three star because of the amount of work you will need to put in to separating and flushing out the salts, ECT. If you want portioned sizes I would recommend purchasing the smaller size bricks. Again, when you think you are done flushing, do it at least 2 more times. I didn't know in the beginning and lost a lot of transplants this year.

garbage thats full of salt, sticks, seeds, and probably monkey droppings.
the photo is the salt crystals i picked out of 1/4 of a block

Fantastic product!
I am working on a project called the Free Tree Project, where I raise trees to give away to people - with all the deforestation and general havoc that humans are wreaking on this planet, I love to see all the people who have been interested in planting trees. Unfortunately it's expensive to pot so many little trees, but I did read about making your own potting soil and figured I'd give it a try. Not only is coconut coir a great substitute for peat moss, it's better for the environment. Peat moss, which is often used as a main ingredient in commercial potting soil, is not a sustainable resource. Coconut coir, however, is very environmentally friendly - it is simply a byproduct of the coconut industry. My DIY potting soil consists of 2 parts coconut coir, 1 part finished(sifted) compost, and 1 part perlite. So far my plants seem happy with it!
I liked this block of coconut coir even better than the ones I got from a local pet store. Absorbs water quickly, and expands like crazy! For only about $17, it's a fantastic deal. I'm making my own potting soil, which is just as good as the commercial stuff, for a fraction of the cost. I'm glad I discovered this!