Coco Coir – Nature’s perfect growing media

Gardeners have been using peat moss as a soil amendment for years, but there is some debate over whether it’s a truly renewable resource or if we are harvesting it too quickly. So, in search of a replacement, many gardeners are looking to coconut coir. We’re loving this versatile media the more that we use it.

Coconut coir is made from the fibers found between the shell and outer surface of a ripe coconut, and also the part that used to be thrown away after getting all the pulp and water out of it. When the sun-dried husks are shredded, the pith is separated from the hard fibers and pressed into bricks or blocks. These blocks are easily rehydrated and expand to over 3 times their size!

Coir is commonly used as a soil amendment to lighten, aerate and improve the soil structure. It also has many other benefits including:

• Rot resistant
• Bacteria free
• Excellent water retention
• pH range of 5.2 – 6.8
• Provides good insulation
• Great for propagation or microgreens
• Encourages growth of beneficial bacteria
• Great for hydroponics

 

You can never be sure what’s exactly in pre-packaged soil unless you test it thoroughly. Unlike ready-made products, coir is a blank slate allowing you to create your own custom mix of additives tailored specifically to your plants. You can blend it with compost, worm castings, kelp meal, or any other soil additive to feed your plant over time. Liquid nutrients give you the advantage of feeding your plants exactly what they need each time you water, allowing you to adjust for each plant’s life cycle.

Renewable, biodegradable and versatile, it’s easy to see how this once disregarded by-product has become nature’s perfect growing media.