If you have ever opened a coconut and noticed the fiber-like and stringy interior, that is the basis for coco peat. What is coco peat and what is its purpose? It is used in planting and comes in several forms.
Coco peat for plants is also known as coir. It is widely available and a traditional liner for wire baskets.
What is Coco Peat?
Potting
soil is readily available and easy to use, but it has its drawbacks. It
often doesn’t drain well and may contain peat, which is strip mined and causes
environmental damage. An alternative is coco peat soil. Planting in coco peat
provides numerous benefits while recycling what was once a useless product.
Coco peat soil is made from the pith inside a coconut husk.
It is naturally anti-fungal, making it an excellent choice to start seed but it
is also used in rugs, ropes, brushes, and as stuffing. Coco peat gardening is
also used as a soil amendment, potting mix, and in hydroponic
production.
Coco coir is so environmentally friendly that it is
reusable. You just need to rinse and strain it and it will work perfectly
again. In a comparison of coco peat vs. soil, the peat retains much more water
and releases it slowly to plant roots.
Types of Coco Peat for Plants
You can use coir just like peat moss. It often comes pressed
into bricks, which have to be soaked to break them apart. The product is also
found ground into dust, which is called coir dust, and is used to grow many
exotic plants such as ferns,
bromeliads,
anthurium,
and orchids.
Coco fiber is the brick type and mixed with soil to create
air pockets that bring oxygen to plant roots. Coconut chips are also available
and hold water while aerating soil. Using a combination of these, you can
tailor make the type of medium that each variety of plant requires.
Tips on Coco Peat Gardening
If you buy the type in a brick, put a couple in a 5-gallon
bucket and add warm water. Break the bricks up by hand or you can let the coir
soak for two hours. If you are planting in coco peat alone, you will probably
want to mix in a time
release fertilizer since the coir has few nutrients to disperse.
It does have plenty of potassium
as well as zinc,
iron,
manganese,
and copper.
If you wish to use soil and add coco peat as an aerator or water retainer, it
is recommended that the product makes up just 40% of the medium. Always moisten
coco peat well and check frequently to keep up on plant water needs.
If you have ever opened a coconut and noticed the fiber-like and stringy interior, that is the basis for coco peat. What is coco peat and what is its purpose? It is used in planting and comes in several forms.
Coco peat for plants is also known as coir. It is widely available and a traditional liner for wire baskets.
What is Coco Peat?
Potting
soil is readily available and easy to use, but it has its drawbacks. It
often doesn’t drain well and may contain peat, which is strip mined and causes
environmental damage. An alternative is coco peat soil. Planting in coco peat
provides numerous benefits while recycling what was once a useless product.
Coco peat soil is made from the pith inside a coconut husk.
It is naturally anti-fungal, making it an excellent choice to start seed but it
is also used in rugs, ropes, brushes, and as stuffing. Coco peat gardening is
also used as a soil amendment, potting mix, and in hydroponic
production.
Coco coir is so environmentally friendly that it is
reusable. You just need to rinse and strain it and it will work perfectly
again. In a comparison of coco peat vs. soil, the peat retains much more water
and releases it slowly to plant roots.
Types of Coco Peat for Plants
You can use coir just like peat moss. It often comes pressed
into bricks, which have to be soaked to break them apart. The product is also
found ground into dust, which is called coir dust, and is used to grow many
exotic plants such as ferns,
bromeliads,
anthurium,
and orchids.
Coco fiber is the brick type and mixed with soil to create
air pockets that bring oxygen to plant roots. Coconut chips are also available
and hold water while aerating soil. Using a combination of these, you can
tailor make the type of medium that each variety of plant requires.
Tips on Coco Peat Gardening
If you buy the type in a brick, put a couple in a 5-gallon
bucket and add warm water. Break the bricks up by hand or you can let the coir
soak for two hours. If you are planting in coco peat alone, you will probably
want to mix in a time
release fertilizer since the coir has few nutrients to disperse.
It does have plenty of potassium
as well as zinc,
iron,
manganese,
and copper.
If you wish to use soil and add coco peat as an aerator or water retainer, it
is recommended that the product makes up just 40% of the medium. Always moisten
coco peat well and check frequently to keep up on plant water needs.