Everything in between the shell and the outer coating of the coconut seed is considered coco coir. There are two types of fibers that make up coir — brown and white. Brown coir comes from mature, ripe coconuts and is a lot stronger but less flexible. White fibers come from pre-ripe coconuts and are far more flexible but much less strong. Good transition from soil gardening: Growing in coco coir feels like growing in soil because the two media look so similar. You can have a completely hydroponic garden that looks almost the same as a soil garden. The only difference is instead of watering with only water, you would water your coconut coir garden with nutrient-enriched water. Overall, I’ve had a positive experience with coco coir but I did have to pay more attention to the nutrients I fed the plants as coir is essentially inert.

Because coconut coir is an inert growing media, you will need to supplement your plants with additional nutrition. Remember — this is still hydroponic growing if you are only using coconut coir.

Gardeners have been using peat as a growing medium for years, but the process of digging up peat bogs produces considerable amounts of CO 2. I feel coco coir is very forgiving to overwatering, underwatering and even irregular watering, making it perfect for lazy or busy gardeners, Good quality manufacturers should thoroughly flush the coco coir. If gardeners wish to use it as a growing medium, it should also be treated with a calcium, magnesium and iron solution, so the salts don’t create nutrient deficiencies in the plants, this process is called buffering.

May need additional supplementation: You may find your plants short on calcium and magnesium when using coconut coir, so supplementing with “Cal-Mag” may be necessary. Other fertilizers will be necessary as well since coir has low NPK levels. Environmentally safe: Although I am a fan of using sphagnum peat moss in the garden, there’s no denying the environmental concerns that peat moss poses. Coconut coir doesn’t have the same problems. Unlike peat moss, which breaks down more rapidly, it can be used more than once. It’s also a repurposed waste product from a renewable resource, unlike the peat bogs where we get our peat moss. In 2020 I experimented by using coco coir in all my potting mixes and by adding it to troughs, hanging baskets and containers. When you buy a coconut coir product, you’re really buying three types of coconut coir: fiber, the pith (or coconut peat), or the coco chips.

Key features

The coconut palm tree, referred to in some cultures as “The all giving tree,” has been in cultivation for millennia. After the coir is separated from the coconuts, it’s stored in piles for a few years. This puts it at risk for pathogens due to the natural pH of coco coir. Most producers that experience this will chemically sterilize the coir so it’s ready for use in your garden. This also has its risks — it can prematurely break down the fibers and peat. B’Cuzz Coco50L bags are another good option if you can’t find CANNA or Fox Farm products in your area. They have a partnership with aSri Lankan coir producer, meaning they also have full control over the production process. It’s another great coir option. I feel the following mix would be perfect for hanging baskets or window boxes and is a good starting point for anyone looking to use coco coir for the first time:

When using coconut coir in the garden, you must use the right mixture of these three types for the best results. How to Choose High-Quality Coco Coir For plants sensitive to iron, magnesium and calcium deficiencies, I recommend Canna Coir, it’s more expensive than some other brands but is a professional grade product that’s also popular with commercial cannabis growers. Many gardeners that I’ve spoken to seem surprised when they first realise that coco coir has no nutritional value whatsoever and that it won’t feed their plants. I have started growing micro greens and was looking for a better supply of coir which I expect to use for planting seeds as well.The process of turning coconut husks into coir is long and involves soaking the material in either fresh or saltwater for months to loosen it from the coconut shell. Now that you understand what coco coir is, how it’s processed and made, and what to look for when buying it, you’re armed with the info you need to make a good buying decision. Horticultural grit is often found in potting mixes for seeds, seedlings and cuttings as it helps to aerate the mix, making it easier for the young roots grow. After correcting the coir with some additives, the plants went from strength to strength and have significantly outgrown the petunias I grew in regular compost.

Leave to stand for 24 hours. This will even out the water content of your finished coconut coir material There isn’t a good, comprehensive guide to coconut coir out there… until now. In this guide, you’ll get just about everything you need to know about coco coir: what it is, its pros and cons, and the best brands to use. Inert: Coconut coir is inert, meaning it has no nutrients. It may look like soil, but it is not soil. This means you must add hydroponic nutrients and control the pH when using coco coir. Growing in soil isn’t too different, though, as many gardeners amend their soil constantly throughout the growing season anyways.These brands are known for their quality across their entire product range. Both CANNA and FoxFarmtightly monitor the production of the coconut coir they use in their products, so you can be sure that it’s been properly aged, dried, and flushed of salts.