Coco Coir for Indoor Cannabis Production

Coco Coir for Indoor Cannabis Production
Professor DeBacco

Coocoo for Coconuts
Coco coir is made from the husks of the coconut.
Produced primarily in in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean and South America
Very popular growing substrate
Was consider to be a waste product due in part to its slow decomposing rate (~20 years).
However, it can be a variable product
One batch to another may have some variation
While similar since it is a natural product there can be some variation that may be greater than other substrates.

Three Types of Coco Coir
Coco pith or peat- looks like peat moss and retains water very well to the point that growers need to monitor conditions to avoid root rots.
Coco fibers- are not very absorbent, but do allow for aeration of the roots, but will break down over time reducing the amount of aeration if it is reused.
Coco chips- retain water and still maintain porosity so this provides the best of coco pith and coco fibers.



Coco Coir Properties
Can hold water while still allowing the roots to have sufficient aeration
Hold their properties for longer than standard soilless options.
pH tends to favor the 5.2-6.8 range
Coco coir lacks plant available nutrients, but is still preferred by growers because it is inert.



Coco Coir is Popular because…
Offers aeration to the roots
Minimal pathogen and pests pressure from the initial substance

When purchasing Coco Coir
Look to see if the material is triple-washed to limit the chance of the substrate containing high salts..
In addition having an included Safety Data Sheet (SDS) helps provide information about the product and also shows a high level of commitment by the company.
Check to make sure it has multiple rinse cycles as salt content is possible.
To ensure pathogen free environment there can be chemical treatments applied, so reviewing the SDS sheet can be important

Coco coir aggressively holds onto Ca, Mg, and Fe
So be sure to have these fertilizers on hand
Coco coir is often part of a blend
Coco coir is commonly mixed in with potting soil or perlite.
Growers will typically do a 50/50 mix with soil or soilless mixes and coco.

When using Coco Coir
Growers should be feeding plants frequently (typically daily) to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

Hard to over water so this offers a great margin for error for newer growers.

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