EL Cultivo

Hydroponics is water based farming. Cocopeat is used intead of soil to hold the plant roots.

Coco Peat is 100 percent organic, eco-friendly, and free from soil-borne weeds and pathogens. It has a pH of 5.7-6.5 and is perfect for plant growth. The coco coir material is made from a coconut shell’s woven, fibrous material.

Most home gardeners prefer this organic soil replacement because of its aeration and moisture retention traits. Moisture retention is crucial as consistently wet conditions are required for plant growth. Thus, you do not end up over-watering or under-watering your garden. The aeration feature in the coco peat allows the development of roots and helps them respire better. Plants expel carbon dioxide and take up oxygen.  Both the factors we mentioned contribute to unbelievable yields and enhance plant growth.

For us Indians, the coconut tree is the “kalpavriksha” because each and every part of the tree is of great use to us, in some way or the other. Here are some coconut products that farmers use in agricultural fields.

·         Coir pith/coco peat derived from coconut husk

·         Coco chips are made from the coconut’s outer shell. It is then used as a medium of growth.

·         The coco fiber is used as mulch.

·         The coco fiber planter is the compressed fiber of coconut squashed into multiple containers like pots and hanging baskets.

Advantages of Cocopeat

• ·         Coco peat increases the potting mix’s porosity. That helps to keep the soil airy and loose, which helps in the better growth of roots.
• ·         If you want to increase the water-holding capacity of your potting mix, choose coco peat. This medium also enhances the soil’s porosity. Hence, the plant does not suffer from under or over-watering.
• ·         The high capacity of cation exchange, water retention, and porosity means that the coco peat quantity essential per plant can be significantly less.
• ·         Coco peat possesses excellent properties, which make it a forgiving medium for hydroponics farming. The high cation exchange capacity of coco peat allows quicker absorption of nutrients.
• ·         You can easily rewet coco peat, unlike peat. Dry coco peat absorbs water quickly and is hydrophilic.
• ·         Unlike other organic media like Rockwool, vermiculite, or perlite, you can compress coco peat to less than one-fifth of its volume. This compressed volume of coco peat reduces handling, storage, and transportation costs.
• ·         One of the most renewable mediums is coco peat. It is withdrawn from coconut husks. It used to be a waste product some years ago, but India’s Coir board has recognized it as a prime item for export.
• ·         Coco peat is rich in natural Trichoderma that acts against damaging pathogens. The beneficial bacteria and fungi get an excellent environment for growth because of coco peat.