How To Grow With: Coconut Coir
Did you know? The global production of coconuts was 63.7 million metric tons, or 138,000,000,000 POUNDS! Most of which, was wasted. Until a discovery was made that turned this bi-product into garden gold! The remaining shell and husk can be mulched down which can behave just like soil. This is known as coco coir. Some people also will call it coco-peat, because it is a peat moss replacement but behaves very much the same.
Coconut coir is a natural fiber that is derived from the husk of coconuts. It is a versatile and sustainable material that has a wide range of uses in gardening, farming, and even oil spill cleanup!
One of the main uses of coconut coir is as a growing medium for plants. Coconut coir is lightweight, highly absorbent, and has excellent drainage properties, which makes it an ideal choice for growing plants. It is also pH-neutral, which means that it can be used to grow a wide variety of plants without the need for additional soil amendments.
Coconut coir can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and water retention. When mixed with soil, it can help to loosen compacted soil and improve drainage, which can help to prevent waterlogging, root rot, damping off, anaerobic soil, and other problems. Coconut coir is also a good source of organic matter, which can help to support healthy microbial activity in the soil. You can pick some up for your garden HERE.
To use coconut coir, it is important to first rehydrate the material. This can be done by soaking the coir in water for several hours, or by adding water directly to the coir and allowing it to absorb the moisture. Once the coir is fully hydrated, it can be used however you wish.
Coconut coir can also be turned into a superior potting mix or seed starting mix free of sphagnum moss. Which has become more sustainably harvested throughout the years, but still is not preferred by many gardeners. This makes coco coir a perfect substitute.
To make potting mix:
mix coco coir with an adequate amount of water to hydrate the mix. Once the coco coir is fully expanded with water, mix in 1 part Perlite, 1 part vermiculite, and your choice of organic fertilizers. We use Trifecta+, and we use roughly 1/4 cup per gallon.
Another common use of coconut coir is as a substrate for mushroom cultivation. Coconut coir can be used to grow a variety of mushroom species, including oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms to name a few. It provides a clean, sterile environment for the mushrooms to grow, and is also highly absorbent, which helps to maintain optimal moisture levels.
Coconut coir can also be used as a bedding material for livestock, such as chickens and horses. It is highly absorbent and helps to control odors, which can make it a more pleasant and hygienic environment for the animals. Coconut coir can also be used as a natural litter for cats, which is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional clay-based litters.
note: Once coco coir has been soiled and needs to be refreshed, spread it in the garden or compost it for maximum usefulness!
Regardless of how you use your coir, I hope you learned something new, enjoyed reading this post, and hopefully it hellps your garden in some way.
Grow bigger, - Luke
Ive been an organic gardener for decades. My grandfather was against the chemical movement in gardening back in the 40s. 2018 I purchase a home with 1/2 acre. Unfortunately the ground is not only glacier till with the worst compacted lifeless dirt, prior owner dumped sand on top and used miracle grow. I’ve spent the past 4 years restoring the front yard into a grass free native, rare and heirloom herbaceous perennial/shrubs laid out in a semi-formal french design. In the backyard i got my 1st 45ft x 15ft rock terrace bed ready for perennials, herbs and edibles. I came across your seed company, I bounced around watching different videos. I love your message, you are spot on with what you are doing. You are helping to revive an art that has been taken over by the quick fix. When the land is healthy in a handful it will team with life, weeds are seldom, and pest aren’t an issue. The birds, bees and insects have a symbolic relationship with the plant life. I have placed my 1st seed order with many years of future orders to come. I used compost, coconut coir, (not peat to save the last of the bogs) to mix with the dumped sand and native clay. My seeding mix is the same as yours with the exception I use Down to Earth bio live and worm casting, since i have a worm farm. My only thought is your phosphorus is a 10 vs 4 which seems high. Open to hearing your thought? Willing to try your Trifecta in the future after looking at the phosphorus. Looking forward to receiving my 1st order.
Luke,
After watching u & Jess, I’m sold on you & ur seeds!
👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌❤️
God bless u & urs.
Roy (68 yrs.- In KY)
I have just been introduced to your site by my friend and am making an order for all my seeds this year.
I’m loving all the help you give with your readings and online. So helpful. Thank you. I will be passing your site to all my garden friends.
Thank you. Carla a fellow Michigander. 5b growing area
Don’t forget microgreens! I use coir as a substrate to plant microgreens in shallow trays. They get the nutrients they need from the seed and are harvested before nutrients would be introduced. Then the coir “mat” filled with roots goes right in the garden.
Leave a comment