There are so many things that we love and enjoy about gardening with coco coir and we want all gardeners across the world to reap the benefits! It has completely changed our experience as gardeners, who previously used mostly peat moss based growing medium, and it's definitely a game changer.

How can coco coir benefit your plants?

Take a look at all of these benefits that you and your plants will enjoy:

•  Water and nutrient holding capacity: coco coir acts as a sponge to hold water and nutrients in the root area so that the plants can use it as needed and also prevents nutrient leeching. Coir holds water better than most soil amendments and it can hold seven to ten times its weight.

• Rewets easily: YES! If coco coir dries out, it can immediately absorb water once again, whereas water would just sit on top of other common growing mediums like peat moss, as it is hydrophobic and becomes difficult to rewet once it is dry.

• Inert: Coco coir does not provide any nutrients naturally, which is a wonderful benefit because it allows the gardener to use their favorite nutrients or customize their nutrient mix based on their plant's need. You have full control!

• Room for root growth: Coco coir offers a nice combination of excellent water retention, reliable drainage and ideal aeration. It gives the roots plenty of room, allowing for optimum exposure to air.

• Minimizes threat of fungus and risk of pests: This medium has antifungal properties, which keeps the roots happy and it can repel some pests, meaning it is easier to maintain. 

• pH-neutral value: Coco coir has a neutral pH range of 5.2–6.8.  So?  This is important because it will allow you to adjust the pH based on your plants’ needs. Although most garden plants grow best in neutral soil, some plants prefer a slightly more acidic growing mediums. Customize it to your needs!  Also very important if you are growing hydroponically.

• Renewable: Coconuts are produced year-round and coco trees can bear fruit for several decades, but most importantly, coco coir is made from the coconut husk which used to be a waste product that is now used in gardening as a superior growing medium.

• Reusable: Coco coir can be reused when properly prepared. It is durable, decomposes slowly, and can be prepped for the next growth cycle to guarantee an ideal growing medium for your plants.

• Pet-friendly: Coco coir is an all-natural, non-toxic material which is safe to use around pets.

More on the Environmental Benefits of Coco Coir

One of the great things about coco coir is that it's renewable and ecologically friendly. It is actually a byproduct of coconut farming which was previously considered as waste of that process, but now the fruit is used completely and is quite valuable for gardening purposes. Additionally, as opposed to peat bogs, which take thousands of years to develop fully and form a layer of peat moss, coconut trees start producing coconuts in six to eight years, and more importantly, the environment isn't damaged or disturbed when harvested.

This is why coco coir is now more often used to replace other traditional soil amendments like peat moss and Rockwool. While peat moss can be a good addition to your soil, it is also resource-intensive and not very sustainable. When it comes to Rockwool, we're talking about an unnatural an unsustainable material which also happens to contain tiny fibers that can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and lungs, and it's also susceptible to molding in high-moisture environments.

By choosing to use eco-friendly growing mediums, like coco coir, you will be promoting sustainable gardening practices and will help minimize damage to peat bogs and other fragile ecosystems.

If you haven't tried coco coir yet, give it a shot! You'll be happily surprised.

To learn more about gardening with coco coir, checkout out this article: Growing with coco coir.