Before last year , I had a little experience with coco coir , but it was n’t a Cartesian product I was using intemperately in my garden . Last summertime , though , I whole murder all the gage and giantism in the beds now in front of my home and purchased a few perennial to institute that I knew were drought broad .
When the sweltering summertime term arrived , I was catch off precaution . I had chosen drought - resistant plants for the area because I know too well how scorching the temperature can get in our otherwise cold region . But as I watched the rut claim a few of my newly planted perennials , I realize I needed to discover a agency to keep the rest of the bunch awake without ingest to water several times a 24-hour interval .
I wanted a solution that would aid conserve wet and chill down the ground a little bit when the sunshine was unforgiving . I decided to mulch with coco coir .
Coco coir is relatively cheap and loose to handle , so it seemed like the best alternative for my situation . I liked it so much that I make up one’s mind to use it to mulch the balance of the plants in my garden , too . Even with the acute heat last summer , my plant life did n’t wilt or dry out . Impressed with the termination , I ’ve turn to coco coir as my main mulching metier .
What is Coco Coir?
Coco coir is made from the outer husk – the part between the seed and the shell – ofcoconuts . The stalk is processed in one of several mode to produce a grow and mulching medium .
Types of Coco Coir
There are three main path that coco coir is process and formed , eachwith their benefits and drawback .
Benefits of Coco Coir
wonder what all the flap is about ? Why are people using coco coir rather of other growing mediums ? Turns out , there are many reasons this natural product is well - like by gardener . I ’ve seen some of the benefits up closely , and it ’s hard to make a case forpeat moss , with such a great alternative readily available .
Provides Drainage
Coir is do it for its piddle retention properties , but it also allow for right drain and prevents body of water logging of flora roots , reducing the luck for root rot . This makes coir a good selection not only for use as pot soil but also for seed start up purposes .
Hard to Overwater
Because coir drains so well , it ’s tough to overwater plant that are housed within this sensitive . Overwatering is a common fault made by plant lover and nurseryman , but with a quality merchandise like coir , it ’s bad to drown radical and suffocate plants .
Aerates Soil
Coco coir is fluffy like peat moss , so it supply particular aeration for plant root . It does disclose down at a fast charge per unit , but overall , the lightweight fiber provide enough aura pockets for roots to breathe .
Promotes Root Growth
alimentary dense and moisture favorable , coco coir promote a healthy surround for plant root to thrive . Roots need room to originate , air , water , and nutrient to grow and elaborate properly .
Eco-Friendly
Coco coir is a effective alternative topeat mossthanks to the fact that it ’s renewable . source from coconuts get on trees , it ’s potential to re - plant and continually harvest this resource . Coconut trees , after all , produce many coconuts in a single yr . Recent technical advances have also made it easier to transform and manufacture coco coir making it readily uncommitted and price - effective .
Peat , on the other mitt , come from bogs . These bogs are a critical rude habitat for many specie . Not only does peat take an incredibly long time to form , making it a non - renewable resourcefulness , but its crop also make up a scourge to nearby species and ecosystems .
Neutral pH
Unlike peat moss , which has a slimly acidic pH , coir is neutral . Using coir as potting grime or mulch your plants with it wo n’t have a important impact on your filth ’s pH.
Contains Useful Micronutrients
Coir is n’t merely an inert grow metier . It stop helpful micronutrient such as atomic number 12 and Ca , which can directly benefit plant life .
Doesn’t Compact
Some spring up mediums compact too easy . Compacting is not idealistic for plants and can hinder tooth root growth . It ’s the reason you should n’t walk on your garden grime . Pressing down and compacting the ground limits the formation of melodic phrase pockets and can go out the land hard and clumpy , when what most plants really need is a well - oxygenize spiritualist that ’s light and downlike .
Inexpensive
Coco coir is a comparatively cheap growing spiritualist and has a comparable price tag to peat moss .
Easy to Transport
Coco coir is often sold in compacted block , and these blocks are lightweight and gentle to enrapture . The weight of this metier makes it gentle to take home from your local nursery without worrying about hurt your vehicle ’s suspension . It also means that it ’s relatively easy to buy online and you wo n’t be overwhelm by shipping costs . you may also lay in coir bricks if you have limited space .
Handles Better than Peat
Have you ever try on to use peat moss in the garden ? It ’s incredibly dry out of the bag , which make it tough to re - hydrate . Although peat does keep back moisture , re - hydrating it takes some solitaire . Coco coir , on the other hand , absorbs moisture pronto and takes a lot less meter to re - hydrate .
Sanitary
Like peat , coco coir is pest and disease - free , so you do n’t have to worry about weed or diseases when using the medium for starting seedlings or mulching plants .
Can be Recycled
call back that we mentioned that coir is eco - friendly because it ’s a renewable resource ? Not only because it maturate on trees , though . you could also re - use this spiritualist . Did you use coir to develop seedling this springtime ? Do n’t throw it out ! Use it right off to mulch your transplantation .
Drawbacks of Coir
No originate medium is stark . Whether it ’s an environmental concern or an result of convenience , a variety of mediums such as coco coir have certain drawbacks that are worth mention . I ’d fence that coir far outpaces peat moss when it comes to its overall benefits .
First off , some coir product may contain harmful chemicals because of the treatment process to make it . Carefully read label on products will facilitate you realise how coir has been care for and will aid you avoid to a great extent processed coir . Organic nurseryman should bet for OMRI lists coir products for their garden .
in the end , another headache that ’s worth noting is that using coco coir may affect the nourishing uptake and availableness for your flora because coir fiber lean to draw certain nutrient . gardener , however , can find special coir - specific fertilizers and amendments for use with this growing metier .
Ways to Use It
What are some democratic path to use this growing spiritualist ? Here are a few :
How to Use Coco Coir
Okay . So you ’ve purchased a few coco coir bricks online , and they ’ve arrived at your doorstep . You ’ll need to rehydrate the medium to turn the covenant , lightweight pulley into a fluffy substratum . I suggest using a magnanimous pail or wheelbarrow to re - hydrate coir . You ’ll have enough space to add water , and once the clobber is sufficiently fluffed , it ’ll be well-off to transport to whenever you need it in your garden .
While coir re - hydrates quicker than peat , you ’ll still necessitate a bit of patience . Use affectionate water and tardily pour it over your brick . Add a fiddling bit of water at a fourth dimension . You do n’t want to over - hydrate the coco coir . It may take some time for the brick to soften up and the fibers to expand .
If you ’re not using the re - hydrated coir right off , store it away in a sealable container for later .
Where to Buy It
Wondering where to find coco coir to use in your garden ? You may be able to buy it at your local nursery , but it ’s also easy to find online .
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