Whether you garden indoors or out with soil or hydroponics, it’s likely you’ve come in contact with some form of coir product - and with good reason. Coir is one of the most versatile, eco-friendly gardening products available today.

A processed derivative of the strong, fibrous outer shell of a coconut, coir is manufactured where the coconut palm is plentiful: India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and other tropical locales. Production and export of coir-based commodities like rope, brooms, brushes and matting have sustained generations. Distribution to a horticultural market, on the other hand, has been a more recent advent fueled by necessity and demand. Manufacturers needed to reclaim valuable real estate occupied by massive amounts of slowly degrading coir “waste”. Earth-conscious consumers wanted a renewable alternative to peat, which is often harvested faster than it can be replenished without consideration for the natural environment.

So what makes this by-product of the coco industry such a great choice in the garden? Besides being completely organic, biodegradable and sustainable, coir is:

• weed- and disease-free
• highly regarded for its water retaining capabilities, rot resistance and ability to maintain an ideal air-to-water ratio
• extremely durable and apt to maintain its integrity and refuse compaction
• a suitable worm-bin bedding material
• rich in potassium and micro-nutrients like iron, copper, manganese and zinc
• easy to rehydrate without the use of chemical wetting agents
• a dual-purpose ornamental element that can be used to top-dress plants and preserve moisture

Almost as exhaustive is the selection of coconut coir products now available to home hobbyists and commercial growers. As an amendment for soil and soilless mixes, loose-fiber coir is the easiest to work with because it comes hydrated and ready to use right from the bag. For large-scale or remote undertakings where transport is an issue, opt for compressed coir. This type is packed into manageable bricks and blocks and, once rehydrated, will expand considerably. As a result, it is important to choose a large container that can accommodate the impressive transformation. Moreover, both ready-to-use and compressed coir versions come in varying consistencies: some bear semblance to a fine-ground coffee while others have a more chunky, mulch-type texture.

Like peat, coir can also be cast into practical pre-formed containers. Coir pots, baskets and liners come in many shapes and sizes to support most plants and growing media. They allow water and roots to penetrate the surface but won’t deteriorate after waterings and become tricky to relocate like many peat pots. Consequently, coir containers are well-suited to propagation and can easily be transplanted directly into window boxes, the outdoor garden, and decorative houseplant and patio dishes.

Additionally, coconut coir is molded into flat sheets that can be cut to size, depending on the project. These mats come in handy for covering container drainage holes and lining large or uniquely-shaped hanging baskets. Hydroponic growers use coir mats to line their ebb and flow tray tables and protect delicate root systems from drying out between flood cycles. Because these plants are sensitive to the salt levels in the nutrient solution, hydroponic gardeners in particular should note that some coir brands have high concentrations of soluble salts that may require leaching.

Otherwise coir seems agreeable to most any gardening endeavor, and when the season is over or the plant’s life cycle is spent, you can recycle coir materials in your compost pile. GG

Emphasizing environmentally-friendly gardening practices indoors and out, Kari Bayne is the Senior Staff Writer for The Worm’s Way Group, member of the Garden Writers Association and life-long gardening enthusiast. Get inspired about organics, hydroponics and more at www.wormsway.com or call 1-800-274-9676 to request a catalog.