Here’s an exciting way to get your green thumb growing! Hydroponic coco coir is a great way to cultivate your favorite plants without soil. It has the perfect mix of nutrients and water retention to give your plants the perfect start – and it’s easy to use, too!
If you’re just getting started with using coco coir growing medium, there are a few steps you need to take to get the most out of it. We’ll walk you through prepping, curing, and using coco coir so you can get the best possible results for your garden.
With minimal effort and lots of potential rewards, hydroponic coco coir could be the perfect way for you to take care of all your favorite plants. So let’s get started!
Contents
An overview of coco coir for hydroponic growing
Coconut husk is the perfect soil-less medium for growing plants, providing all the essential components for your plants to grow, and has a relatively low cation exchange capacity, with improved drainage and aeration properties and nutrient retention compared to peat moss.
At its simplest, coco coir offers an ideal pH level, optimal air-to-water ratios, an ultra-absorbent structure that helps evenly distribute moisture throughout the root zone, and breaks down more slowly than wood chips.
But, it still needs to be prepared before use to ensure it’s in the best condition to nurture your plants!
By taking these simple steps when preparing coco fibers for the hydroponics system, you’ll experience maximum success from start to finish!
Why pH is important when preparing coco coir medium?
Did you know that pH plays an important role when it comes to preparing coco-coir bricks as a hydroponic growing medium? That’s right — it’s essential!
The coco coir can create a pH buffer which can directly impact how your plants absorb cation exchange sites. Knowing the proper pH levels to use is crucial for plant health.
It’s easy to ensure your coco coir has the correct pH level with the right tools.
Here’s how to prepare coco coir for hydroponics for pH testing:
- Acquire a pH meter or test strips and use them to determine the exact pH of your coco coir before adding any hydroponic nutrients.
- Adjust the acidity of your coco coir using a suitable base like limestone to bring it up or down as needed, depending on what type of plants you’re growing.
- Have a soil sample tested with a lab if you’re not sure of the ideal soil composition for your specific plant type and requirements
- Monitor regularly: keep an eye on your coco coir’s pH levels throughout the entire process so that you can make necessary adjustments as needed.
Although it may be tempting to skip this step and just wing it, taking these steps will help ensure that your plants get the nutrients they need — and you’ll be rewarded with lush, healthy plants!
How to prepare coco coir for hydroponics?
Are you interested in starting hydroponic coco coir growing medium? Good news — it’s easier than you think!
All it takes is a few simple steps to ensure your coco coir is prepped and ready to go.
- Rinse the Coco Coir
Before doing anything else, rinse the coco coir with a pH-neutral water source. This will help remove some of the brown fibers from the manufacturing process, as well as create an ideal balance in the coco coir substrate.
- Soaking the Coco Coir
Soaking the coir pots for up to 15 minutes (or until all of it is saturated) is a great way to make sure you’re starting on the right foot. Doing this will cause a chemical reaction that will stabilize the pH levels, making sure your hydroponic garden won’t be too acidic or alkaline for your plants.
After soaking, be sure to rinse out any residual lime or chlorine present in some brands of coco coir. Not washing coco coir can lead to calcium and magnesium build-ups that inhibit plant growth over time.
- Test it
As with all hydroponic systems, you should remain vigilant in testing your nutrient solution and adjust it when needed.
Coco Coir should have a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5 with an electrical conductivity (EC) level no higher than 1.8 millisiemens (mS).
- Add nutrients
Once you’ve soaked and rinsed your coco coir, it’s time to add nutrients.
These should always match up with your specific type of system and plants — but don’t worry, most gardener supply stores can get you set up with any nutrient mixes you need!
And that’s it! Now that your coco fiber is prepped and ready — all that’s left is finding a great spot for your hydroponics setup, getting any other supplies you need (like pots or irrigation systems), and planting away!
Nutrient and fertilizer requirements for coco coir-based hydroponics systems
You may not have known this, but the properties of coco peat make it the perfect hydroponic growing medium. But to make the most of use coco coir, you need to help your plants grow with the right nutrients and fertilizers.
- Nutrients
When you’re preparing your coco-coir-based system, it’s important to keep in mind that coco fiber has a low amount of essential nutrients like nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, and potassium contained within.
To ensure your plant growth, make sure to add in your own organic or synthetic fertilizer —but be careful not to add too much! An excess can cause nutrient lockout and drain away any cation exchange sites the coco peat is providing.
- Fertilizers
It’s equally important to choose the right type of fertilizer for your hydroponic system.
For example, if you’re using an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system that circulates nutrient solution over the root systems with a gas-powered pump, use a pure liquid fertilizer for the best results.
On the other hand, if you have an ebb-and-flow system where a timer-controlled pump will flood and drain at specific intervals — you’ll need a water-soluble or granulated fertilizer.
So if you’re ready to start growing plants with coco chips-based hydroponics — make sure to get those nutrient and fertilizer levels just right!
Conclusion
Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to start your journey into coco coir hydroponics. With the right preparation and knowledge of how to prepare coco coir for hydroponics, you can enjoy successful harvests with the maximum yield.
The perfect start is in the details. Follow these simple steps to get your coconut fiber prepped and ready to use coco coir for hydroponic growing.
And feel free to experiment with different techniques and products to find the right fit for your needs. With a little practice, you’ll be an expert in no time.
FAQ
How do you disinfect coco coir for hydroponics?
How do you prepare coco coir?
Cover the compressed bricks with plain water.
Bricks are offered in a variety of sizes and the recommended ratio of water to be added is 5 gallons per brick.
Ensure a minimum of 15-minute water retention. Once absorbed add coco coir till it becomes a natural soil texture.
Can you plant straight into coco coir?
If the planting is done correctly all potted plants are beneficial to coco coir. Coco coir is used for growing anything from exotic plants to more common plants or flowers.
How do you start coco coir seeds in hydroponics?
Learn More: Guide to setup and use Coco Coir in Hydroponics growing