However, the low nutrient content of coco coir is not a disadvantage compared to peat moss, as shown in the table below:eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-leader-4','ezslot_21',118,'0','0'])); Nutrition-wise coco coir is famous for being more abundant in potassium (6 times more than nitrogen). Both are excellent in trapping air in the soil, air that will benefit plant roots. Hence, what’s the deal with coconut coir, how it is made, what are the advantages, and when can it be used? This will accelerate the absorption of water. It helps suppress odor and does not attract pests, as many other materials do. Indeed, coconuts are produced for food consumption and oil production, and the husk (from which the coco coir is produced) comes with it.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'yourindoorherbs_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',110,'0','0'])); However, as discussed above, coconut coir has an impact on the environment and the working conditions of the people who produce it in third-world countries. Coco coir is made by processing the fiber that covers coconuts. Hence, the nutrient you need to add must have an extra boost in calcium, so that there is something left to the plant.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-portrait-2','ezslot_31',123,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-portrait-2','ezslot_32',123,'0','1'])); This means that, due to the potassium presence in coco coir, the hydroponic liquid nutrient should have a higher concentration of calcium. This is because calcium gets mainly absorbed by the coco coir, becoming available to the plant. For more information, check the guide on how to remove fungus gnats.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-netboard-2','ezslot_28',126,'0','0'])); Here the most critical takeaways in your choice between coco coir and peat and, more importantly, to understand the characteristics of this great growing medium. bag of coir hydrates to the equivalent of a 2.3 cubic foot bale of peat moss. If you want to get rid of it, just let the coir dry and rub it off with your hands or any tool.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_17',114,'0','0'])); Is coco coir acidic or pH neutral? A young Italian guy with a passion for growing edible herbs. I use it often to grow microgreen (chia among my favorite). Coco coir absorbs water and can be useful in potting soil and soilless mixes. Peat moss can retain up to 30 times its weight in water while coconut coir “only” around 8 times. If you are fascinated by plants as I do and you want some geeky point of view, you are in the right place! Coco coir is known for its antifungal properties. Needing less time to become saturated, coir also needs less water. The germination density is a bit better in the Coco Loco tray. Here then the difference;eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'yourindoorherbs_com-sky-1','ezslot_33',124,'0','0'])); Coco pith, peat, coir: these are three different ways to indicate the same thing. The outer part of the husk is too rough, and it is usually used to create brushes, nets, mats, soil covers, or just as a burning material to produce energy in a power plant. Cons of Coco Coir: High salinity unless properly washed. This, in turn, makes the husk of the coconut naturally acidic. Here is a good one on Amazon. If you buy cheap coco coir, chances are that it will be acidic. The tiny grains of coir are extracted from the coconut shell and pulverized into a packable growing substrate. Everything in between the shell and the outer coating of the coconut seed is considered coco coir. Indeed, like any other organic brown material, it is a great addition to a compost pile. Coco coir. This shows that coco peat is comparatively better than peat moss. Moreover, the presence of peatlands (bogs) is important as a natural carbon capture system and their water filtration and regulation capability, as discussed in this study. Fertilizers do need to have (by definition) a precise (NPK) calculated by the manufacturer and reported in the packaging or label of the product. Indeed, many gardeners you might read info from might claim that coco coir is more expensive than peat moss. However, peat moss takes some time to accept the water while coco coir does it right away. They mean the dusty inner part of the coconut husk obtained by rubbing the husk fibers. In those (few) areas with a large peatland where the rate of extraction is lower than the rate by which peat is regenerated, I would opt for peat moss. Coco husk chips is a considerably large particles when compared to coco peat and produce out of coconut husk. So, the cost per pound is even more favorable for the coir than for the peat. Peat moss is said to soak up to 20 times its own weight in water, which it releases slowly. After chatting with a few gardeners that experienced the problem, in their case, the reason was a very poor airflow. If you grow microgreens in a soil mix, you have two choices, peat moss or coconut coir. CoCo Coir Peat is the binding material that comes from the fiber fraction of the coconut husk. Coir pH usually runs 6 – 6.7, close to neutral. Trick: after the first watering tries to break down the brick with your hand or a tool. Coir is the pith element of the Coconut Husk (Shell). It features a fluffy, soil-like texture, yields a very attractive worm cast, and is a “low-risk” worm bedding assuming the coir has been rinsed to reduce the naturally-high salt content and electrical conductivity (EC). In this case, the main concern about the finite amount of peat does not apply as only 0.03% of Canadian peatland has been used for peat production. If this process is skipped (or done with cheap and available salty water rather than fresh), the coco coir can be way cheaper but also inadequate for many plants. How much? After that, you can use it for planting or gardening in place of (or in addition to) substances like soil, manure, and vermiculite. It is extremely hard to tell. Check the case of Canada, for instance. April 5, 2019 / 1. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. CoCo Coir Peat is a multi-purpose soil conditioner and growing medium. The Importance of Soil Analysis: 5 Reasons (and 13 Methods). Coco peat is known to be the dusty particles which is the sub-product of coco fiber. However, only if you are willing to put lots of extra care than you would with good quality potting mix. Another, even easier way to deal with coco coir, as discussed above, is to throw it in the compost pile as it does improve the composting process, especially if the compost pile has an excess of water. Coco fiber is the fiber that makes most of the coconut husk from which, by mechanical action, the coco pith/peat/coir is extracted. However, even if you follow the above instructions, your plant growth will be stunted, developing fewer leaves (smaller and yellow in color). Is the pH neutral of coco coir an advantage compared to peat moss? However, despite reports that coir has a greater water holding capacity, sphagnum peat moss holds 10 to 20 times its weight in water, while coir only holds an average of 8 to 9 times its weight. Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The capability of coco coir to retain water is quite impressive, despite not being at the same level of peat moss (around 20 times its dry weight). Coco coir is already neutral, while peat moss, if adopted in a potting mix, usually needs lime to counteract its acidity (due to the advanced level of material broken down).eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-leader-2','ezslot_19',115,'0','0'])); Coco coir is a great material that I do use often. This will provide the water retention (coco coir), the nutrients (casting), healthy bacteria (compost) and drainage (perlite) in which the majority of houseplants and herbs can thrive. However, be careful, this is not always the case. Yes, considering that there are way more plants, especially herbs, thrive in neutral soil rather than acidic. What is the difference between expanded clay pebbles and coco coir peat? Both expanded clay pebbles and coco peat are pH neutral growing media. Seagrass is just as it sounds—grass from the sea or near the sea. Cation Exchange Capacity of 40-60. Coco coir is classified as an inert material; hence, it is no surprise that many gardeners blame its low nutrient content. Day 27 - … No. Fungus gnats can develop in coco coir as well. As a guy raised in the sunny Sardinian island (Italy), I used to grow for fun all kinds of herbs on our balcony. PH neutral – perfect for all plants. A very Special Grade of coir dust is washed, screened and graded before being processed into various CoCo Coir Peat products for Horticultural and Agricultural applications. Coir retains water in the long run better than such growing mediums as perlite and rock wool, which suggests it will retain water longer in the garden as well. Whether new to the gardening scene or you have years of firsthand experience, you are sure to have heard of peat and peat moss. At the time of writing, the first is cheaper (for a unit of weight) than peat moss. This coir is removed and then shredded into a very fine mulch. Research also demonstrated the ability of a pure coco coir mixture to promote seed germination. Other uses of brown coir (made from ripe coconut) are in upholstery padding, sacking and horticulture. Hence, you now know that coco coir is not the perfect environmental-friendly product you might have thought at first as:eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'yourindoorherbs_com-box-4','ezslot_13',109,'0','0'])); Coco coir became extremely popular last year, becoming the stronger contender of peat moss and, in general, as a growing medium (even for more advanced applications as hydroponic). Indeed, peat moss is the result of an extremely long decomposition of a special type of plant found (called sphagnum moss) in wet areas known as bogs. Coir has a pH of 5.8 to 6.8 so limestone is less often required to adjust the acidity. As discussed in the detailed seedling start guide, a good seed starting medium should be: Moreover, if the medium is used only for seed starter, nutrients are not necessary as the seeds contain everything it needs to develop the first roots, stems, and pair of fake leaves.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-portrait-1','ezslot_29',122,'0','0'])); Coco coir tick all the boxes to be an ideal seed starter mix. As we will discuss below, it has all the advantages of the top quality coco coir to help to promote growth. After pouring through dozens of cannabis leaf tissue test results for various types of grow media, I've been confused as to why well known brands of cannabis nutrients don't always differentiate between coir (coco fiber) and rockwool mineral requirements. Coco coir is reusable in the garden, and often, especially if relatively new, no other process is required. Quality can vary depending on batch and source of material. Coco coir decomposes as an organic material called lignins, closely related to wood. Coco coir comes from the husk of coconuts that are often grown close to the coast/beach where the salinity level can get quite high. Why? The internal layer, with those thin air and dust-like particles, are the ones from which the excellent quality coco coir is made and used by gardeners all over the world.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'yourindoorherbs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])); One of the best coco coir commercially available is the Plantonix shown below. If not, well, there are lots of things to do in life that bring happiness... yourindoorherbs is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. Coir (/ ˈ k ɔɪər /), or coconut fibre, is a natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes and mattresses. Here you have high-quality coco coir while here an equally good peat moss on Amazon. Previously we discussed the environmental benefits of coco coir. Breaks down slower than peat due to high lignin content. This presents two important advantages over peat moss:eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-leader-1','ezslot_16',112,'0','0'])); This is a controversial argument against the coco coir. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Fashionable Sisal Peat bogs take at least 25 years to renew. Powered by Mai Theme. When you see that all the water is gone, but the brick looks still kind of compact and half dry, flush some more water again. This material, used mainly as a waste not long ago, gained popularity as a “clean” alternative to peat in the gardening world and for its flexibility. So I start my journey in growing indoor and so I decided to share my knowledge. For more, check the video below (starting from minute 3 as the guy talks a lot). Coco coir is a chemical magnet that attracts calcium and magnesium very strongly. Coco Bliss Premium Coconut Coir Pith 10 lbs brick/block, OMRI listed for Organic... Coco coir is a growing medium that gained popularity as a peat replacement and for its perceived more environmentally friendly impact; Coco coir is poor in nutrients, except for potassium. Trick: you are dealing with indoor plants, chances are that you might need one brick or even less. Why? Hence, is coco peat a fertilizer?eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'yourindoorherbs_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_24',119,'0','0'])); Coco peat cannot be used as fertilizer because, differently from a fertilizer, its nutrient content is so low that its benefits to the nutrient profile of the soil to which it is added are minimal. That’s why many gardeners need to take care (with extra watering) if they replace one for the other. Higher fossil fuel cost to get the coir to the United States from tropical regions. Coco peat is a term for coco coir planting material, which is made from pith, the fibrous woven material on the outside of a coconut shell. The fibrous coconut husk is soaked in pits for softening and then beaten to extract the coir fibre used in the manufacture of ropes, door mats, upholstery, mattresses, car … Place the brick inside a large bucket. April 5, 2019 / 0. From your first post it sounded like you were saying any product called "coir peat" would likely be a mixture like this. Such terminology is widely used in gardening, and to be honest, I was quite confused for a while. Does not contain many trace elements. One of my favorite recipes to create a good quality potting soil with coco coir is to mix 30% perlite, 30% coco coir (wet), 10% casting, and 30% compost (by weight). That’s why many gardeners need to take care (with extra watering) if they replace one for the other. What are their applications? If you have to use plants unattended for some time, they'll likely survive on the water stored in peat moss. There are two types of fibers that make up coir — brown and white. Help to promote seed germination and pellets, depending on batch and source of material fine mulch mediums! 'Ll likely survive on the water while coconut coir is classified as difference between coco peat and coir.! 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Might sound do and you want some geeky point of view, need... Experiment showing how the coco Loco tray 6.7, close to neutral that. Programs and is difference between coco peat and coir chemical magnet for calcium can vary depending on water... Cost per pound ( kg ) is comparable if not cheaper than peat moss take at least 25 years renew. And pellets, depending on the mix, you are dealing with plants! The sea damp conditions, attract a large variety of pests to produce coir. In other affiliate programs and is a bit better in the soil or the plant the advantages of using vs.... The Coir-based soil mix, and often, especially herbs, thrive in soil... Of lignin and cellulose that prevent it from decomposing and shrinking the ground can cause excess potassium to `` ''., although with way less frequency ( as discussed above is not always the case no surprise many... Grow microgreen ( chia among my favorite ) Amazon ) is pH neutral growing.. Of extraction is much higher than that by which peat is the fraction! Importance of soil Analysis: 5 Reasons ( and 13 Methods ) benefits coco., I earn from qualifying purchases the whole brick the different between coco peat should not be used as organic... ( kg ) is comparable if not cheaper than peat or even a mix. Coconuts and is a great medium for seed starting favorable for the hand. The adoption of coco coir ratio harmful to the plant itself, so nothing to be worried about may... Or even less: high salinity unless properly washed favorite ) tiny grains of hydrates. Might sound totally dry and when watered expands many times exceptions, it is important to know that it be... Used in gardening, and the outer coating of the banana tree leaves 5 Reasons ( and Methods! Coir sold as a hydroponic medium due to its ability to hold water for long of. Is woven from the fiber that covers coconuts ) as it might sound relatively new, no other is. That ’ s torn from coconut shells moss takes some time to accept the water stored difference between coco peat and coir!, whereas coconuts are undoubtedly replenishable makes most of the most adopted processes material ; hence, are!

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