Advantages and Disadvantages of Coconut Coir
What is Coconut Coir?
Coconut coir is a growing medium made from coconut fibers extracted from coconut husks and is not soil by definition. However, since coconut fiber is used as an alternative to regular soil, it’s commonly referred to as coconut coir when discussing plant cultivation.
Table of Contents
Advantages
Water Retention: Coconut coir is made by soaking it in water for up to 6 weeks. Afterward, the fiber is dried and compressed into compact blocks. Some producers add a substance called Trichoderma to protect against unwanted fungal growth, while others add Mycorrhiza Fungi, which works symbiotically with roots to protect them from attacks by containing various toxins that keep other fungi and bacteria away.
Good Water Retention: Coconut fiber has the ability to absorb water up to about 10 times its own weight. In hydroponic growing systems with nutrient supplementation, coconut fiber absorbs nutrients faster than soil.
pH Neutral: Typically liking a pH range between 5.5 to 6.8, coconut fiber makes for a good growing medium for pots.
Affordable: The price is relatively low compared to other pre-made soil products. While it’s naturally more expensive than homemade compost soil, you’re paying for the convenience.
Space-Saving: Compressed into small blocks, coconut coir takes up minimal space in relation to the amount of coconut coir that can be used. A small package of 600 grams can yield approximately 10 liters of soil after water is added.
Disadvantages
May Contain Salt: Many producers soak coconut husks in saltwater. While this is a sustainable way to produce without using freshwater, the salt content in the final product can hinder growth.
No Nutrients: Since the soil is made from coconut husk shells that have been soaked in water for weeks, there are no nutrients in the final growing medium. (However, some producers add nutrients to the finished product.) For microgreen cultivation and seed sprouting, this doesn’t matter much, but for plants growing beyond this stage, fertilizer is essential.
Not Locally Produced: Most coconut is produced far away from Norway. Here’s an overview of the largest coconut-producing countries in 2018:
- Indonesia: 18,555,371
- Philippines: 14,726,165
- India: 11,706,343
- Sri Lanka: 2,623,000
More Expensive Than Homemade Soil: Although coconut fiber-based soil is easy to handle, it is both more expensive and of lower quality than homemade compost soil or soil you gather from your garden or nature.
It’s actually best for sprouting plants during pre-cultivation, as this is done with nutrient-poor soil.
Is Coconut Coir Sustainable?
There’s much debate about how sustainable coconut fiber soil is compared to other soils. In my view, it’s more sustainable than peat-based sphagnum soil but less sustainable than compost soil and bokashi compost.
For planting, a 50/50 mix of coconut and compost might be the best blend, as the compost provides the nutrients the plant needs after sprouting.
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