Coir is the fibrous husk and pithy dust that makes up the outer layer of a ripe coconut. Many people do not see this part because it is removed before the fruits arrive in grocery stores, but it is widely available – as a soilless growing medium.
The coir products for greenhouses are a relatively new growing medium that is becoming popular throughout the world in growing mixes and as a substrate for hydroponics. If you are new to coconut coir products and want to try it, it is essential to understand its limitations and its advantages.
The coconut is beyond doubt a great fruit. We all know how delicious the flesh is and the water is nutritious with potassium. The outside husk of coconut is also very beneficial. It is widely used in textiles to make ropes and to make world-class coir products for cultivation solutions. Most comes from Sri Lanka, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean and South America where the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, grows plentifully.
Coir Products for Greenhouses: Uses & Advantages
Coconut fiber has long been utilized for the purpose of manufacturing rope, mats and carpeting. The trend towards utilizing coir products in growing media for plant production began in the Far East and quickly made its way to the Canada and Netherlands, to name a few. Over the past few years, its use in the United States of America started as a replacement for rock wool in hydroponic rose production. These days, coir products are used by greenhouse growers in container mixes.
Composed of strong cellulose fiber with high-lignin content, coconut coir products have a significantly higher water holding capacity compared to rock wool. In addition, coconut coir products readily absorb water. Therefore, a wetting agent is not needed, as is the case with sphagnum peat moss. Coconut coir products also maintain greater O2 levels than rockwool. Coir products decompose very slowly, which is why its composition of more than 45% woody lignin. The resiliency of coconut coir is impressive. It varies depending on the age and form. Normally, it lasts to 4-year. Pre-composed coconut can last 4-year sans shrinkage or compaction. Usually, non-composted husks last 2-year.
Drawing Conclusions
As a soilless growing medium, good quality coconut coir products offer little trouble in the way of weeds, pests, and disease, whilst delivering excellent water retention, drainage, and aeration. The best thing is – slow decomposition and limited shrinkage as well as compaction outcomes in a stable open substrate structure that air can penetrate. It encourages healthier and larger roots, due to the reason, these days most greenhouse growers are using coir products.
The pH of coir can range from 5.6 – 6.9, but most commercially available sources range from 5.8 – 6.5. Coir products for greenhouses are high in demand because coir is environmentally sound and reusable after it is sanitized. Coconut coir products are completely natural, so no biohazard or disposal issues. Now when you look for quality coir, you need to look for a reliable manufacturer and supplier of coir products that offers world-class coir products for cultivation solutions, and for that Ceyhinz Link International Inc. is second to none. The company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cultivation solutions with clean, controllable, 100 percent natural coir-based substrates and ecological restoration solutions.
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