With the growing popularity of coco peat blocks as growing media, it seems that many gardeners are looking for the best way to plant with coco peat blocks. Combining cocoblock with perlite becomes a recommendation that can be found often, but do you really need to mix your coco peat blocks with perlite? It is not a must to mix coco peat blocks with perlite, but here are some benefits if you do so.
For Better Aeration and Drainage
Water stagnation is not a good thing when planting in a pot because it can make plant roots rot. However, this circumstance can be prevented by mixing perlite into coco peat blocks media because it will allow excess water to drain properly. With good aeration and drainage, your plant roots can absorb oxygen optimally to promote healthier plant growth.
To Increase Water Retention
With the porous characteristic of perlite, it can work like a sponge that can hold water. The water retention capability of perlite is about 3-4 times its weight. Combining cocoblock with perlite will help the growing media to retain water better because coco peat blocks also have similar capability.
For Healthier Plant Growth
Because of perlite’s lightweight nature, mixing it into coco peat media will help the seedling to grow freely. Perlite will not restrict your plants to grow. Do not forget that the roots can grow healthily because of the drainage and aeration support from perlite. Healthy roots mean healthy plants and happy gardeners, for sure.
To Reduce Decomposition Rate
Coco peat blocks might be a sustainable and natural growing media, but its decomposition process is pretty slow. Since perlite cannot decompose at any point, combining it into coco peat media will reduce coco peat block decomposition rate.
When learning about how to using cocoblock, you might find out that decomposition process of coco peat block can bring dangerous diseases to your plants. You can prevent this circumstance by adding perlite. It can also help you save money since the coco peat blocks can be reused over and over again.
Perlite is an Organic Compound
Just because of the zero decompose rate of perlite, you might think that it is not organic. However, you will not find any dangerous synthetic substances or chemicals in perlite because it comes from natural sources. Combining cocoblock with perlite for growing media will not harm your plants, thanks to the natural origin and natural pH level of perlite, for sure.