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HYDROPONICS GROWING MEDIA:
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Coconut coir is produced from the brown husk that surrounds the coconut shell.
It is composed of millions of tiny micro-sponges, which absorb and hold up to
eight times their weight in water. It is a sturdy substance, lasting three times
as long as peat moss. Coco is a great addition to the hydroponics arsenal!
Coconut coir is sold in small compressed bricks which expand 6 to 8 times in
volume when you add water; one brick expands to 1/3 of a cubic foot as shown
here:
This is just
one brick reconstituted with a gallon of water.
Coconut coir is also called Palm peat, coco, or
just coir. Some brand names are: Ultrapeat, Cocopeat, and Coco-tek.
Here is a good cheap source for these bricks:
- Advantages:
Superior water retention and aeration, overall a great hydroponic
medium.
- Disadvantages: Breaks down after several uses; doesn't drain quite as well as others. For this reason, it is often mixed with other media to improve drainage.
You can mix coconut coir 50-50 with perlite to improve drainage, or put a layer of
perlite on the bottom of the growing bed before adding the coconut medium.
This is coco mixed 50/50 with perlite.
A super all-around potting mix for your hydroponic garden.
Coco-Coir is good for: drip systems, dutch buckets and auto pots. Not as
good for ebb and flow, as it can be washed away. I put LECA balls in the bottom
of my E&F pots to prevent this. Works great.
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