The fine art of coconut substrates

" We spoke with Pavani Samarathunge from CoCo Green Pvt . Ltd. , a Sri Lankan manufacturer and exporter of coir substrates about this topic , and so much more . ““Coco peat , " Pavani explains , " is also acknowledge as coir pith . It ’s very o.k. and fibrous , and it is made from the easy , spongelike material between the coconut husk ’s outer layer and inner carapace . “Conversely , we are tell , that coir fiber is the farsighted , strong strands from the tabu stubble , used in making ropes or mats , while coir crisp are larger pieces of the straw and are used for drain and aeration in horticulture .

" Coco peat is fine , more absorptive than either the fibre or chip shot . ““A challenge of the coco peat industry , Pavani tells us , is that the wet condition of the peat require to be optimal , lest the peat gets bollix up in some word form or another . ““Coco peat necessitate to have a wet content of around 20 - 30 percent when packaged , otherwise it may dry out out , or inversely become too wet , or even start to develop mould . ““This is a little price to make up , however , for the benefit of using coco peat , " she tell . “Compared with peat moss , coco peat is a very sustainable option . Coco peat is renewable , of course , being that it is a byproduct of coconut palm harvest . It also holds wet well than peat moss , while enfeeble better than normal soil . This helps keep the plant hydrate , but also dependable from root rot . "

The good mixers for coco peat are said to be perlite ( for plants needing salutary drainage ) and vermiculite ( for water - loving plants ) . As with all plant life , ensure that there is a right drainage system in place . “When asked about why a grower might select coco peat over hydroponic alternative such as rock wool or expanded clay pellets , Pavani distinguish us that coco peat is one of the hydroponic alternatives . "

" It ’s often preferred in hydroponics as a substrate over thing like Rockwool because it contain piss well and provides aeration for plant life roots . Unlike rockwool , it is very well-fixed to handle , and is biodegradable , and quite cheap when compared with expanded clay pellet . “Intriguingly , coco peat is also recyclable . Through a combination of wash it to remove salts and contaminants , rehydration through soaking it in water , sterilisation ( if necessary , of course ) , and potentially add together plant food or compost for new crops , the re - use of coco peat is another gene that help this noteworthy substrate , and the crop that answer best to it such as Lycopersicon esculentum , cucumbers , pepper , dough , strawberries , and various herbs . Pavani acknowledges that there are business concern over the likely over - harvesting of coco peat but says that this is something that the diligence is work to rectify . As for the economical impingement of coco peat harvesting , she is very upbeat . “Coco peat production bring home the bacon jobs and income to many coconut - growing neighborhood , especially in a state like Sri Lanka , " she aver . " This is something that underpin local economy and helps broaden the agrarian industry . "

According to CoCo Green Pvt . Ltd. , even the waste from coco peat can be very utile , with the dust and small piece of the coconut palm that are n’t used being recycle and put to use in mattress and various other absorbent products . Even more of the wastage from coco peat is used in bioenergy . They find that the future is blossom well for this once little - know substrate , as worldwide need uprise year - on - yr in Europe , North America , and parts of Asia . " Coco peat is becoming progressively popular for organic James Leonard Farmer and horticulturalists , thanks to its sustainability and comfort of use , and becoming even more democratic still thanks to the ascension of aquicultural farming . In field of the globe where coconuts are easier to total by , the humble price of the coco peat make it all the more approachable to agriculturalist , and even for those where the Cartesian product may be more expensive thanks to importing fees , it is still growing as an in - demand substrate . "

For more information : CoCo Green PVT . LTD.www.cocogreen.com