How To Use Coconut Coir In Gardening

Knowing how to use coconut coir in gardening activities will go a long way to substantially increase yield. Coconut coir is gotten from coconut. Where you purchase coconut coir, you would usually get coco peat, coco chips, coconut fiber, or some combination of these three.

Coconut coir is basically the bibirus husk and the pithy dust that makes up the outer layer of the matured coconut. The coir is in most cases removed before the coconut is taken to the grocery stores for sale.

The coconut coir can however be used in the garden to improve your results. The coconut coir is an organic compound that you can add to a large extent to the ability of the soil.

It will help retain water and there are more benefits to it. It is thus very useful for the drainage of potting soil and a fine substitute for fertilizer to garden soil.

Now you have a brief understanding of what coconut coir really is. So, let’s delve into how to use coconut coir in gardening.

How To Use Coconut Fiber For Planting

Coconut fiber can be used in a variety of ways in the garden and for the enhancement of plant growth. When using coconut fiber, there are a few steps to follow.

So, how to use coconut coir for plants are briefly discussed below for your guidance:

• First Step

When using coconut fiber for planting, the first steps primarily involve arranging the coconut fiber in a pot if you are sprouting seeds. The fiber will help to retain the water optimally for the benefit of the plants.

• Second Step

Add soil up to an inch of the pot where you intend to put the coconut fiber. The presence of the soil and the fiber will bring about great results with respect to water retention.

• Third Step

The next step involves you placing your plant inside the pot. You should do this in such a manner that the root ball is as bare as possible.

• Fourth Step:

You should add a layer of coconut fiber around the roots of the plant. The type of plan you are growing will usually influence how much or how little coconut fiber you should include.

• Fifth Step

You should continue to add soil and coconut fiber to the contents of the pot until you have the desired percentage of both. You should press down the soil and ensure that the open areas of the coconut fiber are well opened.

When the above steps are followed, then the coconut fiber will be ready to give you the desired result. Make sure that when you are using the fiber out in the open or farm, you ensure that they are well covered by soil. This is to protect it from animals like squirrels that like digging it out.

Knowing how to use coconut coir in gardening for plants will go a great way in influencing your yield and plant performance. The soil also gets a proper boost for further uses.

Types Of Coconut Coir

For a proper understanding of how coconut coir can be used for plants and in gardens, let’s consider the types of coir. If you have plans to use coconut coir in your garden, it is imperative that you know the types and their core advantages.

Also, knowledge of the different types of coconut coir available will expose you to the numerous benefits of combining them. These are the major types of coconut coir:

• Coco Fibers: the coco fibers usually have a rough stingy bundle look. They help in no small measure to improve aeration in the soil. They allow for the ease of oxygen penetration to the plant’s root system.

The major benefit of using coco fiber is that it is hardy enough to allow for multiple reuses. It, therefore, allows for green gardening- recycling and reusing of garden items.

• Coco Pith: this is another type of coco coir that bears a huge similarity to peat moss. Its rich brown color is the only noticeable difference when compared with peat moss. Coco pith has a density that allows for good water retention ability.

Considering the fact that it has a good water retention ability, you are not encouraged to use it for plants that are sensitive to excess water. This is because it may easily lead to root rot in such plants. It is best used for plants that require a lot of water to blossom.

• Coco Chips: a Coco chip is a small chunk of coir that has a combination of the properties of peat and fiber. Chips, therefore, have the ability to retain water well. They also have the ability to allow for sufficient movement of oxygen

Coconut Husk organic coconut coir chips and fiber makes

Is Coconut Coir And Fiber Good For Plants?

Yes, coconut coir and fiber are great for the plant. Also, have in mind that coco coir is a byproduct of coconut fiber.

So, there are a plethora of benefits that you will likely get from the use of coconut coir for plants. They include:

• Coir biodegrades slowly: although coir is biodegradable, it biodegrades very slowly when compared with other organic matters. It is therefore sustainable and eco-friendly
• Coir is a renewable resource: coconut coir usually will not take a very long period to form in a bog. This is unlike other organic matters like peats.
• It has a neutral pH level: the pH level of coconut coir is almost neutral. It is usually between 5 to under 7. This level is very excellent for plant growth and development.
• Improvement of soil conditions: when you use coconut coir in gardening, you help to improve the soil condition. The drainage, soil water retention, and aeration are all improved.
• Free from bacteria and fungi: where you are able to get good quality coconut coir, you have no worries about pests and diseases. This is because it will be free from bacteria and fungi.

It is important to note however that the use of coconut coir may come with some disadvantages.  Disadvantages may include variance in coir quality, problems from salt, being costly and hard to get, etc. However, the advantages may be minimal or nothing when compared to its advantages.

Conclusion On How To Use Coconut Coir In Gardening

Coco coir no doubt is an amazing gardening accessory you should consider using for your plants. Its advantages are numerous with lots of properties that will improve your plant yields and harvest. Where especially your plant needs improved aeration and water retention, then it should be used.

The fact that coco coir is eco-friendly and easily beneficial to the soil makes it all the more desirable. If you have not started using coco coir yet, this guide on how to use coconut coir in gardening should be your companion.

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