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Every year at planting time, huge amounts of potting soil are needed for balconies, terraces and gardens. In most cases, hobby gardeners use commercial soil with an addition of peat. This is manufactured industrially. In addition to peat, this humus-rich substrate also contains fertilisers, lime, wood fibre, recycling material and compost. From an ecological point of view, this plant substrate is not exactly good for the environment. A good alternative is coconut soil, a purely natural product. It is equally suitable for growing, for flower pots and window boxes.
Coconut soil instead of potting soil
For the production of conventional potting soil, around 8.2 million cubic meters of peat, mainly from the northern German moors, have to be mined every year. Normal growing soil consists of up to 85 percent and potting soil even up to almost 95 percent pure raised bog peat. The mining not only destroys the habitats of rare plants and animal species, but also accelerates global climate change. Peatlands are large carbon reservoirs. Increased drainage releases a large amount of greenhouse gases and releases them into the atmosphere. Worldwide, only about three percent of the area is covered by peat bogs. However, these store as much carbon dioxide as all vegetation on planet Earth.
This fact should be taken into account when purchasing conventional potting soil. Coconut potting soil offers a good and environmentally friendly alternative. Normally, however, this is not soil in the true sense of the word, but is made from coconut fibers.
Coconut soil consists of the shell of the coconut, a waste product from the production of coconut oil. Due to the difficulty of composting, they were only burned. But now it is processed into a coconut substrate. The fibers are shredded, then sterilized and finally pressed. Coconut potting soil is available in different forms, such as
- Coconut source tablets
- pellets or
- in brick form
tip: To produce one liter of coconut substrate, for example, 14 coconut pellets and 500 milliliters of warm water are required.
Coconut soil is 100 percent natural and organic potting soil. The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is native to the tropics and is a constantly renewable raw material there. Coconut potting soil is not produced at the expense of the environment, but is ecologically compatible and, above all, completely biodegradable.
This alternative should therefore also be considered with every purchase of normal potting soil. In addition, there are other advantages that may make this decision a little easier.
benefits
Of course, the protection of the environment should always be mentioned first. However, the coconut substrate can still score with other advantages. More on that below.
Easy transportation
- through drying and subsequent pressing, the substrate is very light
- only a third as heavy as potting soil
- a hummus brick weighs 600 g
- dried substrate can be kept almost indefinitely
- does not lose good properties
notice: With the addition of five liters of boiling water and a soaking time of one hour, nine liters of potting soil are produced from a hummus brick.
Pest and weed free
- heating the coir fibers kills any organisms and seeds present
- So no fungi, bacteria, spores and insects present
- therefore ideal as seed and cultivation soil
- in contrast to this, in conventional growing or potting soil, uninvited "guests" (weeds, whiteflies,…) appear after four weeks.
Good water retention
- Due to the special cell structure, a lot of water and nutrients can be stored
- both are equally distributed to plants
- therefore less watering is required
- Coconut fibers absorb ten times their weight in water
- Substrate should always be moist, especially when growing seeds
- Check moisture before each watering
Slight moistening after dehydration
- slight water absorption after complete drying out
- Fibers are not water repellent
Mold resistant
- Substrate is sterile
- free from pollutants and fungi
- This removes the basis for mold
- important for seed and potting soil
- especially for seeds with a long germination period
- mold occurring in normal soil
Excellent root aeration
- loose structure present after watering
- Roots are optimally aerated
- the more oxygen gets to the roots, the better the growth
- healthy roots are a prerequisite for good growth, lush flowers and healthy fruits
Pour-resistant and structurally stable
- Coconut fibers always retain their structure
- excess water drains away unhindered
- with frequent watering no compaction of the soil
notice: The only disadvantage of coconut soil is the higher price. In order to achieve a better price-performance ratio, it is recommended to mix coconut substrate with normal potting soil.
Use of coconut soil
This purely organic soil can be used in many ways due to its good properties. The coconut potting soil contains no fertilizers. It is therefore ideal as a seed and cultivation soil, but also as a plant substrate for flower tubs, pots and balcony boxes. But then a regular supply of nutrients is necessary.
source tablets
Since the soil is low in nutrients, it can be used well as seed and cultivation soil. This ensures strong root growth. Coconut source tablets are best suited here. When sowing, proceed as follows:
- place several tablets next to each other in the breeding pot
- douse with water
- Allow tablets to swell for five minutes
- remove any remaining water from the pot
- Tablets have increased significantly
- They are surrounded with a fine mesh that provides stability
- Before sowing, cut into the net on the surface
- Press the seeds into the ground using a pricking stick
- Do not cover the light germinator, just press lightly
- Cover dark germs lightly with soil
- Distance between seeds 1 to 2 cm (already given when using swelling tablets)
- Roots then have enough space
- Place the pot in a bright, warm place
- optimal germination temperature 22 °C to 28 °C
- keep evenly moist
- ensure good ventilation
- water preferably with lime-free water
- repot once roots are well developed
- Seedlings are then usually 8 to 10 cm high
- Mesh decomposes after a while
Compared to this soil made of coconut fibers, the normal potting soil is very finely crumbly and dark in colour. After casting, this compacts and becomes very firm. Water can no longer drain properly. Waterlogging occurs, the roots begin to rot, and the leaves turn yellow.
coconut brick
This soil is suitable for all types of pot and house plants, herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and courgettes. Not only for cultivation, but also afterwards. Humus bricks can be used for this. However, regular fertilization is then also necessary, since the coconut substrate contains no nutrients. Humus bricks are best used for this. The production of the substrate is quite simple:
- Place bricks in plastic tub
- pour over 5 liters of boiling water
- leave to soak for an hour
- We recommend a mixture of coconut substrate and normal, commercially available plant substrate or garden soil in a ratio of 1:1
- Mixture becomes airy, fluffy with good water retention
- offers excellent growing conditions
- it is also possible to mix in sand or perlite
- Mixture supplies plants with minerals
- At the same time, perlite acts as drainage
tip: Azaleas and rhododendrons thrive in a mix of coconut soil, bark mulch, foliage and pine needles. This will provide you with all the nutrients you need.
Fertilize coconut soil properly
Since there are no nutrients here, fertilization is necessary. It should only be avoided when sowing and growing plants. The addition of fertilizer can be done in two different ways:
- either addition during the swelling process via the spring water or
- regularly with the irrigation water
- Frequency depending on the plant species
- e.g. use of slow-release fertiliser
- Delivery then takes place over a longer period of time
notice: Do not use organic fertilizer. The coconut fibers are sterile, so they contain no microorganisms. However, these are necessary to make the organic components of the organic fertilizer usable for the plants. The use of mineral fertilizers, such as pot plant fertilizer, is recommended.
Buy coconut potting soil
There are different manufacturers. The products differ mainly in terms of quality and pack sizes. This plant substrate is offered as pellets, humus bricks and coir pellets. When buying, you should pay attention to the following:
- Only buy purely natural products
- Substrate must not contain any additional ingredients
- always pay attention to a certified seal
- Use customer opinions, experiences and test reports
notice: Very inexpensive coconut soil can sometimes still contain fungus gnat eggs, as these were not completely killed by the thermal treatment.
These plants love coconut
Coconut potting soil is not only ideal for growing young plants, but various vegetables and indoor plants love the coconut substrate. Either the plant substrate should consist of a mixture of commercially available soil, including garden soil and coconut fibers in a 1:1 ratio, or just coconut soil. However, regular fertilization is then necessary here. A mixture is particularly suitable for
vegetables and herbs
- Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, parsley, basil and chives can be sown in coconut substrate
- after pricking out, a nutrient-rich mixture of normal soil and coconut fibers is ideal
- the mixture is loose and retains water well
- important is a regular supply of nutrients with special fertilizer, for example tomato fertilizer
- The exception is chili
- this prefers a slightly acidic soil during and after cultivation
- A pure coconut soil (pH value 5.5 to 6.5) and regular fertilization with tomato fertilizer is ideal here
indoor plants
- Bonsai like a mixture of coconut soil and expanded clay
- this is loose and at the same time a high water reservoir
- the same applies to cacti
- Orchids make special demands on the substrate
- a mixture of special orchid soil and coconut is optimal for their growth
In short, a mixture of soil and coco is particularly good for plants in the room and garden that need a lot of moisture. The coconut substrate forms a good water reservoir here and then gradually releases the water.
tip: Many hobby gardeners also use a suitable plant mixture of soil and coconut in the garden for roses, strawberries and bamboo species.