10 Interesting Facts About Coco Coir
Coconut coir or, “Coco coir”, is a very versatile resource that is harvested from a fibrous layer underneath the exterior shell of the coconut. Since coconut growers consider it a waste product, its utilization is highly sustainable. You may have heard of coco coir being used in gardening, but there are many applications for it across multiple industries, beyond horticulture. Here are 10 interesting facts about coco coir that you probably didn’t know!
1. Several Applications for Coco Coir
Coco coir has many uses including in textiles, upholstery, making rope/fishing nets, environmental cleanup and horticulture.
2. Different Types of Coco Coir
There is brown coco coir & white coco coir, each with different properties. When coconuts are ripe, they produce brown coir which is used in gardening and horticulture. White coir is harvested from unripe coconuts, and is much finer and lighter, it even floats on water. This makes it ideal for fishing nets, brushes, and finer textiles.
3. Effective Snail Detterent
Coco coir works well as a snail deterrent when used in the garden.
4. Substitute for Peat Moss
Coco coir is highly absorbent and can hold up to 10x the water as peat moss. Some use it as a sustainable alternative to peat moss
5. Commonly Used in Terrariums
People often use coco coir as bedding in terrariums for snakes, lizards, turtles, and spiders.
6. Packaged and Shipped in Dry, Compressed Bricks
When used for gardening, coco coir is usually packed in a compressed brick. You need to soak the brick with water which allows it to expand substantially. You can then use it as a growing medium or potting mix additive.
7. Effective Growing Medium for Microgreens & Hydroponics
Coco coir contains very low levels of nutrients, so you can’t normally use it as the sole growing medium for plants, EXCEPT, you can use it for microgreens due to their extremely short grow cycle. This is because they don’t require soil nutrients. You also use coco coir in hydroponics since you add the nutrients directly into the water.
8. Coco Coir is Re-Usable
You can re-use coco coir several times in gardening as it retains its properties over time.
9. Used to Clean Up Liquid Waste
Because of its highly absorptive properties, people sometimes use coco coir to help clean up oil spills and other caustic fluids.
10. Used in Litter Boxes & Animal Bedding
People use coco coir in litter boxes and animal bedding because of its highly absorptive capabilities. It is much more sustainable than traditional clay cat litter pellets, which don’t break down. Coco coir also absorbs much more liquid than hay, straw, or newspaper which people often use as animal bedding.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many interesting characteristics and applications of coco coir. In the spirit of sustainability, the utilization of coco coir is a sound environmental practice and something I want to spread the word about so others can take a step in a more sustainable direction as well.
If you have anything to add about coco coir, I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave a comment. I hope you enjoyed these interesting facts about coco coir, and if you would like more content like this, make sure to subscribe to our blog below!
Cheers,
Cody
Thistle Downs Farm