Growing plants using coco coir is a fun, straight forward and highly rewarding practice. Coco coir offers growers a different alternative to conventional organic soil grown crops. In this article we break down the advantages of using coco coir, and break down how the Atami Coco Slabs work, as well as many other great reasons why you should consider growing fruits and vegetables using coco coir as a substrate!
Where does coco coir come from?
Before coco coir is cleaned, buffered and made ready for packaging and to be sold, it starts life as the husks of the coconut. The largest suppliers of coco coir on the planet are India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Once the coco coir is cleaned up and made ready to be used for gardening, it will either be placed into sacks, or compressed into a brick format that will expand when in contact with water.
How is coco coir different from soil and rockwool?
The remarkable thing about growing with soil is that the nutrients and minerals the plants need over their lifecycle, will be slowly released over time. As organic matter breaks down, beneficial microorganisms present in the soil will break down and decompose the material. A beginner grower can simply use plain water and will obtain excellent results.
Coco coir on the other hand is classed as an inert growing medium, which means it will not be a source of nutrients and minerals. Actually, coco coir is an organic material as well, but its decomposition rate and almost no interaction with nutrients after washing and buffering means that, for all practical purposes, it is considered an inert medium. So, coco coir is dependent on liquid nutrient as it’s source of food for the duration of the crop. Feeding coco coir accordingly is quite easy and practical and should not be overwhelming to a beginner level gardener.
Rockwool is the only growing medium out of the three that cannot be disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. If you like the concept of achieving hydroponic yields but want the peace of mind to be able to comfortably compost or dispose of the medium after, then coco coir is the best option.
The benefits of using Atami coco coir as a growing medium
● Due to the good quality of the coco fibres used in our substrates, and their structure, roots have the potential to grow huge in it.
● Plants grown in coco can yield substantial amounts of fruit and vegetables.
● Coco is soft, airy and is difficult to overwater, making it practical to work with.
● Coco coir can be blended with other organic substrates such as soil or compost.
● A grower can recycle their coco coir after harvest by washing it and using enzymes.
● Coco can hold up to 18 times its own weight in water.
What pH level is required when growing with coco coir?
Using a digital pH pen, it is important to calibrate the nutrient solution to a pH level between 5.5–6.5. The reason being that primary, secondary and trace elements are absorbed by the plants grown in coco coir at this optimal range. Using pH up or down, is the easiest way to adjust the pH level of your nutrient solution.
How often should a grower water plants grown in coco coir?
Thanks to the fibrous and oxygen rich structure of coco coir, a grower can provide plenty of water without the concern of over watering. Below are two different ways to water plants growing in coco coir and what to consider.
Hand watering
If you are hand watering your plants, then you will want to only provide enough nutrient solution until you see the coco coir is fully saturated. Coco coir has incredible water retaining ability, so you will only need to feed again once the growing medium feels light and closer to the dry side. Hand watering is best suited for a small sized garden; however dipper lines and stakes should be considered if your gardening project is considerably large.
Dripper systems
Growing plants in coco coir on a commercial scale and using dripper stakes, is an excellent way to reduce labor costs, and get the most out of a large grow space. Dripper stakes can be set to water for 15 minute intervals several times a day in some cases, and guarantee the plants receive a consistent volume and feed time.
The advantages of using Atami Coco Slabs for growing plants
For those who are feeling adventurous and fancy and new challenge in their garden, then why not consider using the Atami Coco Slabs? These meter long slabs come in 24 litre sizes and are designed to insert seedlings or cuttings directly into the slabs.
The slabs are then placed in trays equipped with drainage at the ends, sat on a table, allowing for a simplified drip irrigation method of growing. The slabs are practical to transport, easy to throw away at harvest, eliminating transplanting into big sized containers or repotting.
What is the difference between Atami Cocos Susbtrate and Washed & Buffered Cocos?
The Atami Cocos Substrate was the first coco coir product that we have produced, always with the grower who wanted even bigger yields in mind! The goal behind creating Washed & Buffered Cocos was to make substrate that allowed growers to start with an E.C level of 0.3. Not only does this significant reduction allow you more room to work with nutrients, but it also makes an overall cleaner end product that is easier to wash using ATAzyme before reuse.
5 reasons why you should consider switching to coco coir
1. Bigger yields – Everyone loves bigger yields, regardless of what you are growing. Plants grown in coco coir have the ability to produce as much fruit or vegetables as hydroponic grown produce.
2. Easy to work with – Not only is coco coir easy to work with, soft to handle and clean, you can easily blend it with other custom organic mixes, to take advantage of the high water retention and air pockets coco provides.
3. Can be re-used – For growers who work on a large scale or are tied to a budget, then the idea of recycling coco coir for a second or third harvest is music to their ears. If you do not want to have to spend money after each harvest, then consider coco coir!
4. Coco coir slabs – An excellent way to make the jump over to an entry level drip irrigation hydroponic grow. Coco Slabs work incredibly well with small sized plants and for smaller setups.
5. It is organic! – Disposing of coco coir does not have negative implications such as those associated with rockwool. Coco coir is an organic substrate that can be added back to compost piles and broken down over time, making it eco and environmentally friendly.
