So, What is Coco Coir and is It Safe for Farming? Coco coir is a multi purpose growing substance that can be used as a potting mix or soil mix addition, soiless medium, hydroponics grower and more. It provides good evironmental support as an alternative to perlite media and rockwool.
Coco coir also known as cocopeat, has strong water retention properties, while allowing air to pass through. Because of its unique organic compounds, coirpeat can support strong growth, contributing to a longer lifespan for plants. Therefore, cocopeat has grown in popilarity with home gardeners, as well as in the horticulture and agricultural industries.
What is Cocopeat ?
In fact, cocopeat is a soft and spongy plant material. Usually found in the roots and stem of a plant, it often a white substance that turns brown as it matures. The main purpose of pith is to transport nutrients, using its large but thin-walled parenchyma cells. These cells are easily filled with water and nutrients.
In some plants, the middle of the stem is the pith. This may dry out as the plant matures, leaving a hollow center. With trees, pith eventually converts into the xylem. Pith allows vascular plants to transport water up and down the stem to its roots and leaves. You can see the pith in citrus fruit as the white spongy material. In coconuts, Pith is the small organic material obtained from separating the fibers of the coconut husk.
Coir Pith
Coir pith is also known as coco pith or cocopeat for its role as a substitute for peat moss in gardening. Brown coir pith comes from ripe, mature coconuts, while younger, immature coconuts produce white coir pith. To produce coir pith, the waste from coir fiber is washed, treated, dried, and graded. It may be shipped in powder or compressed into blocks for gardening use.
Gardening Benefits of Cocopeat
Cocopeat is naturally waterproof, is one of the few natural fibers resistant to saltwater damage, has a neutral pH balance, and is widely available and evironmentally friendly. These qualities make it an ideal substance for agriculture and horticulture. Cocopeat has the ability to retain large amounts of water. It is used as a replacement for traditional peat moss to supplement gardening soil. It is also used as a soil less medium for some plant cultivation.
By itself, cocopeat does not contain a high amount of nutrients. For this reason it is typically an addition to gardening soil. Because it is free of bacteria and fungus and is generally believed to be an insect and mold repellent, it makes a welcome garding addition. Cocopeat is mixed with sand, compost, and fertilizer to make a hight quality potting soil. It can be used for growing mushrooms, flowers, vegetables, cannabis and etc
In addition, One of cocopeat most attractive qualities is that it can be reused up ti three times, making it more sustainable than peat moss and other alternatives. Considered environmentally friendly and widely available, coir pith makes an excellent addition as a multi purpose growing medium. so, the question What is Coco Coir and is It Safe for Farming? has been answered in this article.