Coconut substrate opinions please

[Bogertophis]

That's a great idea!

I use the vast majority of my cocoblox in the yard after it's had enough in the enclosure, the only part that really gets thrown out is the bits when spot cleaning. I wouldn't use them on food crops, but they work great for holding moisture into shrubs and whatnot. I'm sure with the right type of compost heap they could be used in the garden but I tend to be too forgetful to turn at the exact right time to get the perfect heat to kill everything and so I don't. I'm sure wild animals "go" in the garden but it's not going to be quite as concentrated as my substrate.

Thanks. I've been using indoor-outdoor carpet for just some snakes for many years- the stuff never wears out, & doesn't fade even if you disinfect it with diluted bleach (-you just have to rinse a LOT & don't over-do it or you won't get the bleach fumes out).

And that's what I do too, with other substrate stuff that I use (moss or orchid bark)- just add it to plants in my yard. I grow organic tomatoes but I don't toss snake-poo where I garden for edibles- just as you said, for health reasons, it's not recommended to use anything like that (that's not completely composted already, or that comes from meat-eating animals, etc) just as a precaution.

I've had no luck with actual composting either, but I grow tomatoes in raised beds that I made "lasagna-garden" style: alternating layers of leaves + dirt + misc (veg/fruit scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds & tea). Essentially it's slow-composting that doesn't heat up or get turned. I also rescue earthworms after it rains & "invite" them in- they eat & break down the leaves too. Works pretty well, surprisingly.