Coco Coir is derived from natural coconut husk, inside the coconut shell. Coir comprises fibrous husk with pith dust, on procedural extraction the fibre and pith dust will be separated.
The coir is an exceptional organic compound that renders excellent absorbance, water retention and drainage facility. It is widely used in gardening and hydroponic growth. Above the merits of fibrous nature, tensile strength and everlasting availability of, Coco coir also accounts for,
Plenty of room for root system
Coco coir offers a rare combination of excellent water retention, reliable drainage and ideal aeration. It gives the roots plenty of room, allowing for optimum air exposure.
Neutral pH and EC value
Coco coir has a neutral pH range of 5.2–6.8, but you’ll still need nutrient support because this range will fluctuate over time. Learn why maintaining a balanced coco coir pH is so important here.
Minimize pest and pathogen attack
This medium boasts antifungal properties, which keeps the roots happy. It can repel some pests, meaning your grow is easier to maintain.
Biodegradable
When properly treated, coco coir can be reused. It’s durable, but you need to make sure you prep it correctly for the next growth cycle to guarantee a hearty crop.
Environmental conscious product
On average, a coconut tree produces 150 coconuts annually. Coco coir uses parts of the fruit that used to go to waste.
Garden centers are well-stocked with coco products like coir growing pots and coir mats
CoirNet Pots
Coco-coir pots are made up of the coconut hull that is derived from the fibrous body between the husk and the coconut. The coir variety is made of fibers that have been pressed into flower pot shapes. They are useful containers for starting plants because they retain moisture, drain well, and allow air to circulate.
These biodegradable pots are an excellent growing medium because plants can be transplanted into the pot itself. Coco-coir pots have an exceptionally high permeability to water, air and roots. The coir pots break down naturally in the soil, which minimises root disturbance at the time of planting. Gardeners looking for faster cultivation, an excellent root system and re-establishment without any shock from transplanting use Coco Coir Pots.
Benefits of Coir Pots:
1) Water Holding Ability:
Coco coir has excellent water holding capacity while still promoting good drainage and aeration. Unlike peat, moss coir is 100% biodegradable. As an average coconut tree produces 150 coconuts in a year, there is a continuous supply of coir. It is said that peat bogs take like 25 years to renew, while Coco coir is constant. Coconut fibre has become a favoured grow medium also because it prevents nutrients from leaching away.
2) Allow the roots to grow freely:
The texture of the coir pots allows the water and air to penetrate quickly. Due to this, the roots can breathe, and there is no concussion of roots. Coir also helps in the diffusion of water and air, which helps the roots to permeate the walls of the pots with complete ease.
3) Repotting or transplanting is very easy:
Simply dig and transplant the whole coco coir pot into the ground or re-pot it in a big container, without the hassle of coiling and tangling of roots. The pot will disintegrate all by itself.
4) Beneficial pH Value:
pH value of coir is neutral i.e. between 5.2 and 6.8. On the contrary peat moss is considered acidic as its pH value is 3.3 to 4. Thus, coco coir pots are ready to use for most plants without adding lime. Nutritionally, coco coir is rich in potassium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc. So, if you are growing hydroponically, you can consider using these pots as they can provide the correct balance of nutrients.
5) Coco Coir is Packed with Nutrients:
Coconut fibre is rich in hormones and bio-stimulants that encourage plant growth. When grown in coir pots the plants benefit from those natural growth enhancers. As coir is compaction resistant and does not break down, it lasts as much as three times longer when compared to peat moss. Most importantly coir is an economical choice. Read about Plant fertilizers and Importance of micronutrients.
How to use coir pots:
Coir can be used as the soil, and it is available in a ready-to-use form in bags. It is also available in tightly packed, lightweight bricks, that can be expanded up to six times the original size – simply by adding water. Even if you end up adding too much water, don’t worry, excess water just drains off. Also, remember that even when coir feels dry when touched, it retains plenty of water in its tube-like fibres. When using coir instead of soil do not forget to fill each pot loosely with coir, plant and water it well.
For repotting, wet the coir thoroughly, turn the pot upside down and tap firmly while supporting the plant until it slides out. Add a little additional coir to the new pot and place the plant in it. Fill the new pot with more coir and water.
Coir GroMats
Coco coir grow mats are thin mats of coir designed for the shallow trays that are commonly used for microgreens in hydroponic setups. The mats themselves are fibrous and water-retention due to the natural properties of coco coir, the woody part of coconut husks.
Coir grow mats provide an excellent foundation for your plants. It’s resistant to pests, bacteria, fungus, and mold and incredibly easy to work with, especially compared to other common grow mat materials. Its structural integrity ensures that it won’t fall apart before you’re ready to harvest.
Benefits of Coir grow mats:
1) Coco coir grow mats are highly sustainable and renewable.
2) Coir mats have excellent water retention properties meaning that you won’t have to water your plants as often, reducing your maintenance time and expense. In addition, coir has a high cation exchange capacity, which means that it efficiently absorbs and releases nutrients.
3) Coir grow mats are lightweight and very easy to work with. Just use a pair of scissors to customize and match your sizing needs. The mat can be easily cut to fit any size application & are designed to lay underneath baskets, slabs & cubes
4) Coir grows mats useful for maintaining moisture. The roots grow underneath the coconut coir fiber grow mats which retains moisture in the hydroponic tray between flood cycles, protecting them from drying out and allows them to flourish.
How to Use Coco Grow Mats:
Coco coir grow mats are relatively straightforward to use. Before using one, you’ll need to soak and rinse your mat to remove unwanted sodium and other trace elements, which may be present from processing. You may also have to add a nutrient mix to the mat to make sure that your plants receive the correct balance of nutrients. However, coco coir is excellent at absorbing nutrients, so it requires less maintenance than other grow mats.
After you’ve prepped your grow mat, you merely need to germinate your chosen seedling. One of the benefits of coco grow mats is that their fibrous makeup is consistent, which will help your plants grow evenly. Other growth media, such as unmodified soil, are less likely to be consistent and can lead to uneven plant growth and development, making harvesting more complicated.
It makes a very good transition for growers for using coir products in their garden or grow houses. Either using coir nets as a planter or making use of coir grow mats as grow substrate, you will gain many benefits out of it and are premium products of coco coir from the house of The Coco Depot. Read more for knowledge on coir extension, application and informatics.