Coco coir is used for all plants? We will dissect it in this article. So, Growing medium is also known as a growing media, is the material in which plants grow. What is growing medium used for?There is other growing medium besides coco coir is used for all plants. A growing medium serves three primary functions. It:

• Provides physical support for the plant
• Facilitates root growth
• Delivers nutrients, water and air to the plant through its roots.

While soil is the most traditional growing medium, its far from the ony option. It’s typically best to amend soil with one or more additional growing media for optimal result in your gardening endeavors. Each medium has its own distinct chararteristics which may enhance your plant growth. The key traits of a growing medium are:

• Bulk density : The weight of the medium
• Water holding capacity: The percentage of water a medium can retain when saturated
• Air porosity : The volume of pore space thath contains air after a medium drains.
• pH level: The determination of how acidic or alkaline a substance is
• Electrical Conductivity (EC): The soil ability to carry an electrical current, which indicates the nutrient amount thats made available to crops.

Different Uses for Growing Mediums

A growing medium is necessary in any type of gardening endeavor. The manner in which you are gardening will determine how the media are used and what options are best your needs. Some common gardening options include:

• Container Gardening: Potting soil is typically used for container gardening. This is often a blend of several types of growing media, including perlite, vermiculite, and peat
• Outdoor Gardening: Additional growing media are less critical in outdoor gardening, but some amendments may improve the soil that’s in your yard. It’s often best to add 2 or 3 inches of topsoil to your garden plot and mix this in with the existing soil. Topsoil may contain many types of growing media, such as sand, compost and wood fiber.
• Hydroponic Gardening: Hydroponic gardening is a soilless endeavor, yet it still requires a growing medium to help secure the plant’s roots. Some popular hydroponic growing media include coco coir, expanded clay pellets, and rice hulls. These soilless media are often mixed with perlite or vermiculite

Types of Growing Mediums

There are many different growing media that you can choose form for your garden. The best option is nearly always a blend of two or more media that complement each other well.

Soil

Soil is the most traditional and readily available option. This makes a great base in an outdoor garden or starter for some container gardening project, though is is susceptible to pests and diseases. Soil is:

• Affordable
• Sustainable
• Rich in nutrients

Compost

The product of organic decomposition, compost is a rich nutrient growing medium that makes an excellent base for outdoor gardening. It is:

• Weed free when prepared at the right temperatures
• Rich in all major nutrients
• Natural and sustainable

Peat Moss

Peat moss is the result of long periods of decomposition in peat bogs. Greenhouse gases are released as a result of the mining prosess for peat moss, so some shy away from the environmental implication of using peat moss. It is:

• Sterile
• Excellent at water retention
• Acidic

Bark

Tree bark that’s finely milled is a popular growing medium in outdoor container nursery mixes. Pine bark is preferable. Hardwood bark should be composted before use. Pine bark is:

• Able to resist decomposition
• Beneficial for aeration and drainage
• Effective at storing carbon

Cocopeat/Coco Coir

Cocopeat comes form the fibers on the outer husk of the coconut. It typically comes in pressed blocks that you can rehydrate into a soft, soil like medium. Coco peat is:

• Fungus free
• Excellent at retaining water
• Good at increasing aeration

Rice Hulls

A byproduct of the rice industry, rice hulls are a natural growing medium similar to peat moss and coco coir. Rice hulls are:

• Light weight
• Good for year before they break down
• Good for improving drainage and aeration

Perlite

Perlite is made from crushed volcanic rock. This soiless substance is:

• Ideal for oxygen retention
• Very light weight
• Best when mixed in a 50/50 blend with another medium

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is comprised of hydrated laminar minerals. It works well in a 50/50 mix with another soil media. Vermiculite is:

• pH neutral
• Light weight
• Good for water and nutrient retention

Pumice

Pumice is a foam made form whipped volcanic glass. It is a soilless growing mdeium that is:

• Porous
• Lightweight yet stable
• Effective at retaining water and nutrients

Expanded Clay Pellets

Expanded clay pellets come in round balls that are light weight and porous. This is a hydroponic growing medium that secures roots but does not retain water. These pellets are:

• Reusable
• pH neutral
• Effective for increasing air holding capacity

Sand

The particle size of sand plays a big role in its usefulness. Sand with a larger particle size is best for gardening. A medium or  coarse sand is:

• Inexpensive
• Effective for increasing drainage
• Heavy

How to Sellect a Growing Medium

Every Gardening project is unique. So it’s important to select a growing medium that will serve the distinct needs of your plants and growing system. Some factors that you should consider include:

• Drainage: Some plants, such as palms, prefer a sandy, well draining soil while others, like hosta, grow well in a heavier clay soil. The irrigation and drainage system available to your plants plays a big role as well
• pH Level: Each plant has it own preferences for pH level. For example, magnolias and gardenias like acidic soil, while lavender and honeysuckle like an alkaline soil.
• Nutrients: All plants need nutrients, and your growing medium will help deliver them. Do you need a hydroponic medium thath will deliver nutrients through the water efficiently or a medium such as compost that already containes the nutrients you need

Selecting the right growing medium for your garden will help it thrive by delivering the proper.  moisture , air and nutrietns to every plant. So, you’ve found the answer to the question of “Coco coir is used for all plants”