Coco coir soil (or coco coir) is a relatively new addition to the gardening world. It is currently a growing trend for gardeners who want a highly efficient yet eco-friendly growing medium. In this article, Tropicoco will show you how to mix coconut coir and soil to prepare your own growing medium at home. 

What is coco coir soil? 

Coco coir soil is basically all of the material between the coconut’s outer coating and the shell. There are two types of it: white and brown coir. White coco coir comes from coconuts that are not ripe yet. It is flexible but not so strong. Meanwhile, brown coir comes from mature, fully ripe coconuts. Even though it is not as flexible as the white one, it is much stronger in general. 

What are the benefits of coco coir soil?

There are a myriad of benefits waiting for gardeners who plan to use coco coir soil. Tropicoco has made a list of advantages that this growing medium can offer to your garden down below. 

Coco coir soil has great water retention 

Similar to peat moss, coco coir soil is good at holding onto water and retaining it up to 10 times its own weight. This means that it is able to release water to plants’ roots whenever they need it. So, even though it absorbs a lot of water, it will not drown your plants. 

Coco coir soil holds nutrients well 

Coconut coir has the ability to hold onto nutrients and keep them from leaching out of the soil. This advantage will help your plants to have enough nutrients to grow fast and healthily at all times. 

Coir soil provides strong aeration

Because coco coir soil is porous in nature, it will improve the aeration significantly. This helps to reduce drainage as well as provide plants’ roots with the oxygen they need to grow. 

Coco soil is pH neutral

The pH level of coco coir is usually in the range of 6.0 to 6.8, which is fairly neutral. This means that it will not cause a dramatic shift in pH and need additional lime to adjust it like other growing mediums. Because of this, coco coir is suitable to be used on many types of plants. 

Coco soil can repel pathogens and pests

Coco coir soil is naturally resistant to pathogens that cause rot and other fungal problems. It’s also free of harmful weed seeds and fungus gnat eggs. Depending on how it was processed, some coco coir is sterile, which means you will not have to worry about bacteria.

Coco soil is eco-friendly and reusable 

One of the most attractive benefits of coco coir is that it is an environmentally friendly and sustainable growing medium. If being processed properly, coconut coir can be reused from time to time. Also, compared to peat moss or other organic material, coco coir soil breaks down more slowly, making it more friendly to the environment. 

How to perfectly mix coco coir and soil together?

Most coconut coir is available in dry blocks. Because of this, you must soak it in water before mixing it with coir. It is recommended that you put the block in a large tub or bucket because it will expand later on. Keep adding water until it is fully soaked. Normally, 15 minutes is the right amount of time for you to soak the block. 

When the waiting is over, drain the water thoroughly. After that, add compost or garden soil until you reach a 50/50 coco soil mix. Based on your preference, you can add additional amendments such as perlite, lava rock or coarse sand to make a potting mix that is suitable for your plants. 

If you do not have any mixing experience beforehand, Tropicoco suggests you follow these simple recommendations to save your time. For planting seedlings, mix 2 parts of coir with 2 parts compost and 1 part perlite. On the other hand, if you want to go for a more generic organic potting soil, mix together 1 part of coir, 1 part of well-aged compost, 1 part humus, and 1 part of builder’s sand. 

Conclusion

Tropicoco has just introduced you to all the information you need to know about coco coir soil through the article. This includes the definition of coconut coir, its wonderful gardening benefits, and the guidance on how to mix it with soil to prepare the best growing medium for your plants. 

If you are interested in buying, visit Tropicoco today for high-quality coco coir soil. With many years of supplying coco coir goods, Tropicoco Vietnam is confident to deliver the best product and service nowadays. Contact Tropicoco down below for more information and exclusive deals! 

Contact information

Tropicoco – The best substrate

Address: No.20 Ngan Long Villa, Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City

Email: giathe@tropical.vn

Hotline: +84 983230879

Open Hours: Mon-Sat: 8.00AM-5.00PM; Sunday: Closed