Cocopeat / Coir Pith Benefits
What is Coir pith? Or “Coco-Peat”?
Coir is the outside layer of husk that surrounds the shell of the coconut. It consists mainly of fibres, which have traditionally been used to manufacture rope, carpets, doormats, upholstery stuffing, brushes etc. Between these fibres is the corky substance called coir pith or coir dust, which has recently been widely recognised as the superior growing medium in which to grow tomatoes, roses and many other crops. The horticulture industry often calls this substrate coco-peat (or cocopeat) or coir-peat. Sometimes it is known by similar sounding brand names.
A TYPICAL PRODUCTION PROCESS*
The entire coconut husk is soaked with water and the fibres removed at the fibre factory for the production of brushes, rope, carpets, matting, etc. The coir pith is unused and becomes a by-product of the fibre factory process. Depending upon many factors including the local climate, the soaking method and the particular processes may vary.
Coir Pith is moved from the coir fibre factory and the coir pith then undergoes various cleansing processes such as sieving to remove large fibres and unwanted particles including sand and grit. Sieve size and thus particle size will be determined by customers' requirements. The coir pith is washed at this point to reduce the unwanted salts before being dried. The coir will then be compressed into a less bulky form suitable for shipment. This may be in the form of grow-bags, small 650 grams briquettes or larger 5 kgs blocks. Compression will vary according to customers’ requirements but will usually be between 4:1 and 8:1. Throughout this entire process, samples will be taken and tested to ensure that each batch complies with the required specifications.
*Certain factories will have slightly different techniques and in some cases the husks will come straight to the coir pith factory and avoid the coir fibre bristle/rope/upholstery industry altogether. In such cases the pith is the primary use of the coconut husk.
Why use Coir Pith / Cocopeat?
EXCELLENT AIR POROSITY
Coir Pith maintains excellent air porosity even when saturated and gives better crops with faster developing roots and more flowers and fruit per plant when used correctly.
EXCELLENT WATER RETENTION
Coir Pith has better water retention qualities than peat and other growing media. This has obvious advantages in dry climates or at times when plants cannot be watered frequently such as in transit to market.
QUICKLY REABSORBS WATER FROM DRY STATE
Coir peat absorbs moisture immediately, even from a dry state, (unlike sphagnum peat which tends to shrink when dry and form a water-repellent crust which causes water run-off from the top surface and water loss between the peat and the inside edge of the flower pot). Thus plants growing in coir tend to recover better and more quickly from dry conditions.
IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
The ease of re-wetting and the quick drainage characteristics of coir mean that coir needs to be irrigated less frequently and for shorter periods. This leads to reduced leaching losses of nutrients and lower water use.
FASTER GERMINATION TIMES AND QUICKER SEEDLING ROTATIONS
The inherent qualities of coir and the optimum water/air availability are ideal for quick rooting and propagation. In many cases this leads to more seedling rotations per year, a higher percentage of seedling and propagation take-up and more efficient use of greenhouse equipment.
ENVIRONMENT
In its unprocessed state, coir dust is a waste product in its country of origin. Its use therefore does not involve the destruction of peat bogs and natural wetland wildlife habitat. It is a renewable resource with no hazardous disposal problems (unlike some alternatives such as rock wool). Having carefully researched the question, Horticultural Coir Ltd is quite satisfied that the environmental input including the fossil fuel consumption associated with the transport of coir from Asia is significantly less than the environmental cost involved in the production and transport of peat moss and rock-wool. Coir is transported in a compressed compact state on scheduled vessels. Please see our environment page for more information on coir & the environment.
DEGRADES SLOWER
The lignin content in the Coir Pith ensures that the excellent water/air ratio is maintained over a longer period of time than is the case with many other substrates. Thus, for example, good performance is maintained over the commercial life of a rose plant which may be more than 5 years.
FREE FROM SOIL DISEASES
Because Coir originates above ground it does not contain any soil diseases. In fact several studies have indicated that coir substrate brings increased resistance to pythium and other root diseases.
Products
Cocopeat / Coir 5kg compressed block
Cocopeat is washed dried & compressed into 5 kg blocks for transport convenience. Cocopeat/Coco Coir/Coco Fiber has a unique ability to withstand high compaction force without leaving its beneficial structure. Hydrate the blocks slowly by using water and allow the moisture to be fully absorbed. Once the block is completely reconstituted to get the yield of around 70 liters per 5 kgs block. Now you are ready to use it to improve your potting soils or use as a 100% soil less growing medium. A perfect growing media for flower and vegetables cultivation as well for soil conditioning.
Product Types
- Low EC Un-sieved
- Low EC Sieved
- Hi EC Un-sieved
- Hi EC Sieved
Product Highlights
- 100% Cocopeat
- Double sieved
- Fibers in the Cocopeat improve the water circulation in the substrate and give a better root colonization.
- We are using high quality Cocopeat which guarantees a maximum expansion when watering and long term stability for the substrate.
- Block breakout volume: Around 15 liters per kg
- Block Size: 30 x 30 x 15 cm
Uses of Cocopeat
- Potting mixers
- Hydroponics growing media
- Nursery & garden center professionals
- Seedling nurseries
- Lawn and golf courses
- Horticulture and floriculture applications
- Home gardening (indoor and outdoor) and for landscaping use
- Green houses
- Amending clay soils
- Worm bedding
- Industrial Absorbent
Cocopeat / Coir 650gms briquettes
- 650 gram briquettes are ideal for home gardening and hobby growers. Briquettes are perfect for a variety of flowering and vegetable plants.
Product Types
- Low EC Sieved
- Hi EC Sieved
Advantages of cocopeat bricks
- 100% natural
- Renewable resource
- Excellent water holding capacity
- Enables the development of a stronger root system
- Perfect air and water balance
- Static pH and EC values
- Easy to use
Cocopeat / Coir Grow bags
Coco Peat Growbags have become a popular choice for multipurpose growing medium for vegetables, fruits & flowers. Our growbags are 100% natural. Growbags are made up of a special blend of coir pith, Coir Fiber and chips, designed to provide the ideal air to water ratio for hydroponics. Our strict quality control regime ensures that only the best coir products reach our customers.
Product Highlights
- 100% Cocopeat
- Less than 1 mm fines removed*
- Fibers in the Cocopeat improve the water circulation in the substrate and give a better root colonization.
- We are using high quality Cocopeat which guarantees a maximum expansion when watering and long term stability for the substrate.
- The slab has an air holding capacity of 20 volume% at full water saturation made if fine coco material suitable for Tomato, Cucumber, Strawberry & flowers
Husk Chips / Coco husk Chips
Cocohusk chips are uniformly cut and processed pieces of coconut husk that are extensively used as media for growing various plants in pots and plant beds. Cocohusk chips help plants develop excellent roots. They also resist microbial growth and slumping thereby providing long usage life of upto five years. Cocohusk chips can be a superior & eco-friendly alternative to tree bark in most cases. Cocohusk chips have high air filled porosity, increasing the breathability of media, thus providing ample aeration and drainage, which helps plants establish excellent roots.
We produces 2 different grades of coir husk chips. The various coco chips sizes provide an excellent means of balancing air to water ration for different applications. Coco chips are popular among anthurium and orchid growers. They are also ideal for mulching a coco chips greatly increase the air porosity in soil.
Specification
- Available in 4 kg block / 12 kg loose bag
- Block breakout volume: 14 liters per kg (approx).
- Block Size: 30 x 30 x 15 cm
Product Types
- Low EC
- Hi EC
- Graded Chips