Planning to use coco peat for succulents?

Succulents are listed as the most profitable plants and easiest to grow. They have been continuously growing in popularity among weddings with no signs of stopping. With an array of vibrant colors and striking forms, they are the heart of plant enthusiasts.

It’s a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor plants and low maintenance. There are more than hundreds of varieties of Succulents in markets these days, and care for each of them can vary vastly. Succulents by nature are desert plants and require very little water. They can grow in the heat, and in winter, watering should be restricted to once a month.

As discussed about the low maintenance nature, it’s important to know the right suitable soil which is essential for their growth. One alternative that has gained popularity is using Coco peat. Today, we will be discussing how coco peat is the perfect choice for growing Succulents.

Coco Peat also referred to as coconut coir is a popular alternative that is extracted from the coconut husk. Due to its sustainability and outstanding water retention capabilities, it has been gaining popularity in the gardening industry.

Guide on how to use Coco Peat for Succulents 

Once you have decided to use coco peat to grow succulents, below are some steps to get you started.

• Preparation of the Mix: Start by creating a well-drained soil mix of coco peat along with fertile or sand by using a ratio of 2:1 of coco peat.
• Transplant with Care: When planting the succulents, be careful of gently removing the existing soil and shaking off all the excess soil before placing them in the newly made coco peat mix.
• Watering Plants: As coco peat has excellent water retention capabilities, water your succulents sparingly as compared to traditional watering.
• Monitoring the growth: Keep continuously monitoring the growth and adjusting the water routine regularly. Generally, succulents are low maintenance must still require monitoring.

Benefits of Using Coco Peat of Succulents Soil Mix 

• pH Neutral: Coco peat is ideal for succulents as it has a neutral pH and is at an acidic to neutral side of soil condition. The neutral pH value makes sure that the roots are in an environment suitable to their needs.
• Excellent Drainage System: The drainage system is very important for the growth of succulents, and Coco Peat is well known for its drainage system. It maintains a perfect balance, allowing excess water to drain where and leaving enough moisture for succulents to grow in the soil.
• Sustainable: Coco peat being a by-product of the coconut industry is a 100% natural and eco-friendly alternative. It’s one of the best alternatives to using a natural resource without impacting the environment.
• Air Porosity: Coco Peat’s other advantage is its excellent moisture-retaining capability and ability to offer aeration to the roots. These characteristics are very important for succulents as they prevent the plants from any kind of suffocation allowing roots adequate access to the oxygen they need.
• Nutrient adoption: Coco peat can retain and absorb nutrients and fertilizers. Coco peat itself has fewer nutrients. While using coco peat to grow succulents, you have the control of adding nutrients as the need arises. 

Best watering practice for optimal growth

Guide to watering frequency

Succulent plants demand a proper watering system. For succulents to survive in a healthy environment, it’s best to water them after every two weeks in the growing season. While in winter, you can water the succulent plants only once. When the right soil mix is used, like coco peat, it retains the moisture without being soggy.

How important is a drainage system

An efficient drainage system is very important for succulent growth and health. Excess water can cause the roots to rot, so it’s important to have proper drainage holes. Along with a well-drained system with coco peat, it helps retain enough moisture, allowing the excess water to drain. Balance is an important factor in succulents’ healthy growth.

Overwatering signs

The perfect balance of watering and drainage is very important. Over-watering can be harmful to succulent growth. If you see signs of yellowing leaves or mushy stems, it’s a sign of worry. This is a direct indication that plants are being over-watered. If you notice this, check the soil to see if it’s feeling soggy, and refrain from watering. Succulents that are healthy will have vibrant colors and firm leaves. Remember to adjust the watering to have optimal growth.

Contact Earth Scape to buy coco peat.

Mulching is a process where you add an extra layer to the soil. This process can be done with a variety of materials like leaves, barking chips, shredded newspaper or cardboard, twigs, or any crop residue. Mulching is an important process as it has numerous benefits. Firstly, you can choose for an aesthetic appeal, and it also has the ability to suppress weed. When you mulch around the plants, it protects the roots from frosting or overheating when there is a high summer season. If you use an organic mulch, it will help in adding nutrients as it breaks down the soil and structure.  Today we will be discussing how you can use coco peat for mulching.

Coco peat extracted from the husk of a coconut is a by-product from the coconut growing industry which is gaining popularity. To this day. Coco peat itself is earning its place among users and has become a trusted choice for many gardeners. Due to its wide range of benefits and use it has become a preferred choice. As coco peat is versatile in can also be used as a coconut mulch in your garden. Other uses include basket, growing medium, and soil amendment.

Why you should use Coconut Coir mulch?

Coconut coir diversity makes it usable for many gardening needs. Coir is being popular using mulch among gardeners. Coir’s ability to retain moisture naturally and easily makes it ideal for a mulch. As it is also from a natural source, it is also eco-friendly. Coco coir mulch absorbs the water from the ground and releases it slowly into your plants, keeping them hydrated. Further, it takes a long to break down, adding its own nutrients to the soil.

The thickness of the coconut coir mulch ranges from 5-7.5 cm and can be adjusted. Coir mulch is light in weight, easy to use, and clean to the touch with a longevity life of 5 years.

Guides and tips to use Coconut Coir Mulch

Soil Preparation:

Soil preparation is one of the initial and most important processes in gardening. Before applying the coir mulch, it is important to make sure that the soil is free from any weeds and is moist.For Coir mulch to make the most benefit of its water retention capability, watering the soil before the mulch is an important step.

Applying the coco peat mulch:

While spreading the coco mulch on the soil make sure to evenly spread it with a depth ranging from 2-3 inches. Mixing the coir mulch with potting soil also improves moisture and drainage.

Tips:

• To avoid peptides is not over-apply the coir mulch and let it touch the plant’s stem.
• Rinsing thoroughly helps remove the excess salts and other impurities if any.
• In case of weed difficulty, a sold layer of coco peat mulch can be used along with a weed block underneath to avoid them from growing.

Maintaining the mulch:

After completing the whole process, you should ensure that the mulch is not drying out or compacted. If the desired mulch is not achieved you can maintain the by adding more.

Below are some answers to commonly asked questions that will make your decision-making process easier.

• As compared to other mulch alternates, coco peat mulch is the best choice. It can retain moisture, having a neutral pH value so it won’t acidify the soil. Whereas other mulches like sawdust and pine bark are acidic.
• Generally, coco peat mulch does not attract pesticides or bugs if it is kept and stored properly
• Coco peat mulch can be used for as long as three to five years as it is long-lasting and breaks slowly.
• Coco chips are one of the best alternatives for hydroponic gardening.
• Coco peat mulch is not too expensive and is priced reasonably as compared to other organic mulches available in the market.
• Coco peat mulch can be easily found at retailers and nurseries as it is commonly used.

As no growing medium is perfect, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks, it’s the same with coco peat mulch. Depending on the retailer or brand you choose, you may find it treated by chemical agents to treat pesticides. Be sure to check the retailer’s packing before choosing one. As the coco peat manufacturing process contains salt, it sometimes can contribute to high salt content.

Wants to know how to use coco peat in pots?

Coco peat outranks most other growing mediums in popularity due to its remarkable qualities and the benefits it offers gardeners. Coco coir is derived from the fibrous layer of pith in coconut husks, giving it outstanding water-absorbing and retention qualities befitting most container gardening ventures. It also forms a relatively soft growing medium ideal for seed starting. Read on to learn how to effectively use coco peat in pots for seed starting and container gardening.

Why Use Coco Peat in Pots?

Commonly available as compressed and dehydrated coco peat bricks, coco peat is a popular soil replacement or additive. Its many features make it a convenient and effective seed-starting and container-growing medium. Some of the most obvious advantages associated with coco peat include:

• Coco peat is naturally antimicrobial, so it creates a pathogen-free and mould-free atmosphere for seeds and seedlings to thrive.
• It’s free of weed seeds. As a result, it eliminates competition for available resources between plants and weeds. 
• Coco peat forms an excellently soft medium that’s ideal for seeds to germinate and young, delicate plants to grow.
• It has a high water absorbing and holding capacity, providing a consistent water supply to seedlings in pots.
• It’s lightweight, thus easily cartable for pot gardening.
• Coco peat is an eco-conscious growing medium that’s supremely recyclable and reusable.
• Since coco peat is reusable, it can be cleaned, strained, and used in multiple pots. Besides reducing the carbon footprint, this also contributes substantial cost savings.
• It has a neutral pH that’s ideal for most container plants. 

How to Use Coco Peat for Seed Starting and Planting in Pots

Using coco peat to germinate seeds and plant crops in containers is relatively straightforward. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Rehydrate and reconstitute the coco peat brick

Place the coco peat block in a large enough container and add water until it submerges the brick. Allow the brick to saturate for about 30 minutes to expand to its maximum volume.

2. Break apart the coco peat block

If you are preparing the coco peat for seed starting, break up the coco peat into fine particles. Conversely, it’s recommended to break up the coco peat block into larger particles if you intend to use it for container gardening.

3. Stir and fluff the coco peat 

Using your hands or a gardening trowel, stir and fluff the saturated coco peat until it achieves a consistently uniform soil-like texture, and then drain off the excess water.  

4. Mix the coco peat with perlite or compost

If you intend to use the coco peat for seed germination, mix it with perlite in a 1:1 ratio and then stir to mix thoroughly. Perlite is a white volcanic rock that enhances coco peat’s aeration and drainage properties in preparation for seed starting. On the other hand, if you plan to use the coco peat with potting plants, mix it with compost in a 1:1 ratio and then combine the two entirely by stirring. If you want to add compost and soil, add coco peat, compost, and soil in a ratio of 1:1:1, and then stir the mixture painstakingly to ensure an even mix. Compost supplies several essential plant nutrients and improves the soil structure to be ready for crop planting.

5. Transfer the coco peat mix into seedling containers, pots, or trays

Line the containers with a suitable coco liner cut to an appropriate size for each pot, then fill the seedling containers with the coco peat mixture. Using your fingers, gently press down the mix onto the pots in readiness for seed or seedling introduction. 

6. Plant your seeds or seedlings

When planting seeds in the coco peat mixture, follow the planting instructions on the seed packaging to obtain optimal seed germination. Most seeds will germinate well if planted about one inch into the coco peat medium. However, when transplanting seedlings into the coco peat mix, it’s best first to put in the potting mix at least halfway into the container, depending on the size of the plant, then gently transplant the seedlings into the centre of the pot and add in the coco peat mix until it fills the container. Ensure the potting mix fully covers the plant roots to keep the plant firm and steady.  

7. Water the seedlings 

Carefully water the seeds or seedlings, but avoid overwatering since coco peat holds more water than ordinary peat or soil, requiring less regular watering.  

Essential Considerations when Using Coco Peat in Pots

When using coco peat for container gardening, bear in mind that:

• Coco peat can build up high salt levels over time. Although you can use desalination compounds to counter these salts, opting for low-salt coco peat is the best approach.
• Coco peat lacks essential plant nutrients, so you must add all requisite plant foods into the mix when reconstituting the coco coir bricks to avail the nutrients to plants.
• Although coco peat is entirely organic, it takes a long time to degenerate fully. Thus, you can clean, string, reuse, or recycle it several times instead of discarding it.

Wants to know how to use how to use coco peat brick?

Coco peat is popular for anyone looking for a convenient, natural, renewable, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to growing or germination medium in soil or peat moss. Other common types of seed germination and plant-growing mediums include sand, vermiculite, and water. The growing medium is crucial in the planting process as it forms the foundation for germinating bulbs and seeds and growing plants in pots.

What is Coco Peat Brick?

Coco peat, also called coco coir, is an eco-friendly compound produced from the fibrous and stringy pith found in the interior of coconut husks. Drying, grinding, and compressing the coir into blocks produces coco peat bricks. Typically, coco peat bricks come in 450 grams, 650 grams and 5kg blocks. 

How to Use Coco Peat Bricks

Coco peat has gained remarkable popularity in gardening and horticulture as a convenient and reliable soil amendment or replacement to standard germination or growing mediums such as peat moss. Nevertheless, coco peat bricks are hard and dry, requiring careful reconstitution, rehydration, and preparation before use. Fortunately, the process is easy, short, and straightforward. Here’s how to prep coco peat bricks for optimal use:

1. Obtain the coco peat bricks you need

You can purchase it from Earth Scape online.

2. Select a suitable container

Choosing a suitable container before rehydrating a coco peat brick is vital as it can expand up to 5-7 times its dry size after absorbing water. Ideally, opt for a sufficiently spacious container to accommodate the brick and water and provide enough room for expansion. Although a large bucket, basin, or tub is often suitable, the size and amount of coco peat brick you intend to use determines your required container size.

3. Soak the coco peat brick in water

Place the coco peat block inside the container and pour in water to fully submerge it. Ideally, use warm water to soak the brick as it eases and accelerates, loosening the coco coir fibres and making it easier for the brick to break down and expand. The block typically takes 15 to 30 minutes to thoroughly soak in the water, although this time may vary especially depending on the specific brand of coco peat.

4. Break the brick into pieces

After the coco peat brick has thoroughly soaked in water and is fully expanded, break it into smaller portions using either your hands or a gardening tool such as a gardening trowel. The purpose for which you intend to use the coco peat will determine the size of the pieces. For instance, pot or container gardening is best served by larger pieces, while seed starting (germination) requires finer pieces.

5. Stir and fluff the coco peat

Using your hands or a gardening tool, stir and fluff the coco peat to loosen up its fibres and achieve a consistent soil-like texture, enhancing drainage and aeration properties. As you stir the coco peat, add just enough water to avoid getting too wet (oversaturated) and make it difficult to use. Although you can use it alone as a growing medium, coco peat provides optimal results when you mix it with other composites such as compost, perlite, or vermiculite, enhancing its characteristics, including drainage and nutrient retention.   

6. Drain off excess water

Once the coco peat expands fully, drain off excess water by decanting it or transferring it onto a sieve and then gently pressing down on the coco coir.

7. Put in nutrients

Although coco peat is a superb growing medium, it has a relatively low nutrient composition. Thus, it’s recommended that you add some essential nutrients into the mix to support healthy seed germination or plant growth. Some of the most common nutrient boosters for coco peat include compost, organic fertiliser, worm castings, and slow-release fertilisers.

8. Adjust the pH of the coco peat

Coco peat characteristically has a neutral pH of approximately 5.5 to 6.5. Though most plants thrive in neutral pH environments, some require acidic environments, while others need an alkaline medium to grow optimally. Therefore, it’s best to test the pH of the coco peat mix and adjust it accordingly to suit the plants of your preference. You can use Sulphur to lower the pH or dolomite to increase the pH of the coco peat mix accordingly. 

9. Leave the coco peat mix to sit and settle

After soaking, breaking apart, and adding all requisite nutrient and pH adjustments to the coco peat brick, allow the mix a few days to settle before using it. This short ‘rest’ will enable the coco peak to soak in all the nutrients and fully adjust its pH in line with your seeds, bulbs, or seedlings’ requirements. If you don’t use the coco peat immediately after preparation or there’s an excess amount, store it in an airtight container away from damp places to prevent it from contamination by microorganisms and drying.

Benefits of Using Coco Peat Bricks

Using coco peat presents numerous benefits that include:

• Coco peat bricks are exceptionally easy to package, store, transport, and handle.
• It’s lightweight and thus more portable than soil. 
• Coco peat has remarkable drainage, aeration, and moisture properties, making it an excellent medium for starting seeds, germinating bulbs, and growing plants.
• It has natural anti-fungal qualities, making it a sterile growing medium.
• Coco peat has high water absorbing and retention capacity, making it an ideal medium for gardening, horticulture, and composting (worm cultivation).
• It’s natural, organic, and reusable for up to four years, making it eco-friendly.
• Coco peat is equally effective as a soil replacement and additive. It suits various plant types and farming styles, from greenhouse farming to indoor planters, hydroponics farming, and outdoor gardens. 

Nevertheless, coco peat provides an exceptionally soft-growing medium that doesn’t offer sufficient anchorage for big plants like hibiscus, curry plants, and tulsi. Further, it requires nutrient supplementation as it lacks common essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

To buy coco peat brick in bulk contact Earth Scape.

Looking for best growing medium for blueberries?

Blueberries growth requires better soil for stronger growth. It took long time and labor hours that ruined the land, but with the advancement in farming growers can start plantation early so fruits can be produced round the year. Worldwide farmers are adopting hydroponic blueberry farming with the use of Coconut coir.

Blueberries farming makes it easier for farmers to create a more controllable environment and increase their crop yields and fruit quality.  Maximizing blueberry production, requires an ideal balanced air-to-water ratio, micro irrigation, and fertilization. A high level of control is required which can be achieved when you use coconut coir.

People have argued that the substrate to grow blueberries should be a blend of coir, perlite, and peat but many growers are adaption to use coconut coir 100%. With this grower can accurately fertigate and easily monitor the crops giving better results.

Low-Cost Effective Solution

Growing blueberries from coir is a less costly alternative and is better for the environment. The trend is growing rapidly worldwide as the structure is allowed to be used over an extended period and has a naturally higher pH value. Coir is easy to transport and the cost per liter for dehydrated media is cheaper as compared to other mediums.

Factors Considering Growing Blueberries

• Size of Fruit: Blueberries are available in a variety of sizes, and the grower should use their preferred suited size.
• Growth Habit: Erect or semi-erected varieties are easier to manage in small gardens where whereas trailing varieties require trellising support.
• Suitability of Climate: Depending on the hardiness of the zone variety, make sure you are using the right variety to ensure the best results.

Preparation for growing blueberries using coconut coir

• Soaking: When using compressed peats, the first step is to soak them in warm water so they expand and become easier to handle.
• Mixing: Mix the coco coir with your garden soil, the ideal ratio is 40% coir and 60% soil. However, you can amend the ratio depending on the compost or worm castings to improve the soil structure by adding additional nutrients.
• Time: The best time to plant blueberries is between fall and early spring. Mid of October is the best time to plant your berries. Make sure the plants are moist and look healthy.
• Sunlight: Pick out a location that receives the full sun for at least 6 hours a day for optimal growth and to maximize the yields.
• Spacing: Plantation should be done 3-4 feet apart for the rows ensuring growth and proper air circulation.

Advantages of using coconut coir for blueberries

pH Value & Conductivity conditions: Blueberry cultivation is not possible on Alkaline soils and is very difficult. With the use of advanced technologies like hydroponics, the crops can grow to an optimal environment and electrical conductivity with the help of fertigation management.

Drainage Capacity: Using a coir provides high drainage capacity. The ideal condition is to create an environment that has a high volume of aeration that allows the development of the crop. Blueberries in nature are a very highly demanding crop in terms of drainage. It is difficult to adapt to pure clay soils. With the coir, substrate blueberries can achieve the precise conditions so that the root system after waterlogging or stress due to root asphyxia.

Nutrient Control Supply: An accurate supply of essential nutrients can increase the yields and improve the quality of the fruit.

Low water Consumption: As compared to other farming techniques hydroponics uses less water as compared to soil cultivation. The recirculation system recycles and re-applies the water directly to the crops after the disinfection process takes place.

Reduced Risk of diseases: the risk of disease is reduced when you are avoiding soil as the diseases are transmitted through soil-borne pathogens that are dominant in the soil and infect crops.

Maximizing utilization of the productive area: The use of Coconut coir for the cultivation of blueberries uses less space as compared to traditional plantation. The densities can reach between 8-10,000 plants per hectare as compared to 2-2500 plants in soil cultivation. This method contributes to the improvement in yield of surface area and utilizing the space maximizing efficiency.

Fruits like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries can be challenging but rewarding. The delicious-tasting berries have amazing health benefits but require a specific growing condition for the best results. The innovative way to grow these soft berries which as gained popularity is the use of coconut coir. Due to its sustainability, and versatility, it offers various benefits ensuring optimal growth and health.

Contact Earth Scape to buy coconut coir.

Wants to know best growing medium for strawberries?

Strawberries are a great crop for home growers and gardeners. Planting 100 plants can provide enough fruits for a family of 4 to 5 with excess for preserving and freezing them. They are straightforward to grow and you can grow them in a pot, container, or open ground. They look attractive both in fruit and flower and have great foliage. It’s a great combination of patio pots and hanging baskets.

Strawberries are such appealing fruits that can fit into any garden and are inexpensive to buy. Children and youngsters both love them. Strawberry beds can be carried for 3 to 5 years or more if the plants are kept weed-free and properly taken care of every year.

They grow best in sandy loam-rich soil. The soil must be kept well drained and away from wet areas into spring. The plant should be receiving direct sunlight and have a gradual slope. If strawberries are grown on a permanent crop, they should be disease-free and start healthy.

Irrigation is also important for plant growth which is used to prevent frost injury in the spring season. One another important factor in growing strawberries is not planting them where potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants have been grown in the past as they might be carrying the root fungus Verticillium.

A famous method for growing strawberries which is gaining popularity worldwide is the use of coir substrate in a hydroponic system. This use has several advantages and plays a crucial role as it enhances water retention. One reason for its gaining popularity is biodegradability.

The coir is extracted from the fibrous coconut husk and is a sustainable alternative. Its capability to retain moisture and provide enough aeration to the roots makes it a perfect option for strawberry cultivation. Many strawberry growers are shifting to coir due to its excellent results and yields.

Below are the benefits of using Coco Coir for growing strawberries.

Excellent water retention

Coir has an excellent capacity of holding water which can hold moisture providing enough drainage that the strawberry plant has a steady supply of water for healthy growth.

pH Neutrality

Having and maintaining the correct pH value is crucial for the growth of strawberry plants. Coir has a neutral pH value naturally which provides you more control for more specific needs.

Optimal Aeration

Coco coir provides excellent aeration which prevents the compact roots allowing them the best supply of oxygen flow. The proper uninterrupted supply of oxygen is crucial for strawberry plants’ growth preventing the diseases caused by poor drainage.

Environmental Impact

Unlike to traditional soil which involves soil degradation and depletion of nutrients, using coco coir for growing strawberries reduces the need for soil extraction mitigating the environmental degradation and erosion.

Renewable and sustainable

As coco coir is extracted from the coconut it makes it a perfect renewable and ecofriendly source as an alternative to traditional soil. When you choose coir for your planting needs you are automatically contributing to the reduction of waste and supporting sustainable agriculture choices.

Selecting the variety of strawberries is also essential and it depends on several factors like availability of space, desired yield, and the climate. Some of the popular varieties of strawberries are June-bearing Varieties that are harvested in late spring or early summer.

Another one is the everbearing varieties that are growing throughout the year to ensure continuous supply. The day-neutral strawberries grow in a wide range of growing and different climate conditions. The flavor and size of the strawberries depend on the different varieties, some have a more balanced taste whereas some are sweeter. The size can also vary from small to large.

Planting the strawberries.

The following are the steps which are involved when planting strawberries in coco coir.

1. Preparation: Use the pre-moisture coco coir and fill the container leaving a small place on the top.
2. Transplants: when using transplants, it’s important to gently remove them from the pots and place them in holes in the coco coir making sure the crown is leveled with the soil surface.
3. Runners: be sure to identify young healthy plants that have established roots, and position them in the container burying the roots in the coco coir.
4. Spacing: Place the plants 12-18 inches apart and the rows should be 24-30 inches apart

The benefits of using coco coir for strawberry plants can only be possible when they are cultivated using proper cultivation techniques and well taken care of. From using good quality coco coir to selecting the best-fit variety of strawberries it’s important to ensure maintaining the correct levels of moisture with adequate nutrients and managing pests.

Contact Earth Scape to order coconut coir in bulk.

Looking for coco peat Vs rice husk guide?

Gardeners who look after their plants and enjoy gardening should know the differences between coco peat and rice husk. Sometimes, the waste of main products can benefit the growing plants, and the coco peat and rice husk.

The two products can be used as a substitute for each other. Since these products are made using a detailed process before they are put on the market. Cocopeat, the processed coconut product, is brown, while rice husk, the processed rice product, is skin brownish in colour.

We will discuss the cocopeat and rice husks and their properties in detail.

What is Coco Peat?

A coconut’s husks are made into cocopeat. It is a waste material used in gardening and a natural fiber mixed into the soil to grow plants which takes approximately three to four months to make. These are soaked in seawater, where they decompose. After decomposition, they are processed into a more minor form and then ready for sale.

This product is usually sold in brick form, so it needs to be washed after it’s been brought home. It absorbs water quickly, and even a tiny amount of water can cause it to expand significantly. As a result, it is a highly productive and cost-effective growth medium that is reusable every year.

Coco Peat is a lightweight nature making it ideal for hanging plants or terrace gardening. It can air out the soil and ensure plants remain consistently moist. It has some unique properties, but it starts to lose its effectiveness after some time.

Properties of Coco Peat

• Sufficient Air Production: It is an excellent source of air for plants, which helps them grow by supplying their roots with oxygen.

• Moisturization: There is a water storage property that helps plant roots remain moist throughout the year.

• Nutrients: It has no nutrients, so it encourages healthy root growth and requires less fertilization.

• Eco-friendly: The mineral’s biodegradable properties make it eco-friendly because it is not gathered from a sensitive environment.

• Lower Ph: Because of its stable pH, it is beneficial to the soil and plants, keeping them from becoming disorganised.

What is Rice Husk?

Rice husk is made from rice waste and is used in gardening. It is like a shell on top of the grain of rice. There is no need to prepare this product with long procedures because it is prepared by mining rice in fields. Small pieces of wood are also mixed in with the rice husk to maintain its consistency in the soil. This lightweight material helps to keep the soil light and airy.

Rice Husk has become popular because it mixes nicely with soil and is used for long-term planting. It slowly releases a variety of nutrients into the soil with time, eventually breaking down and mixing in with the soil. It can be used with almost any soil type, contains numerous minerals and nutrients, and is affordable.

However, since it is unavailable worldwide, it varies depending on where you live. It has different properties and can be used instead of cocopeat as an alternative.

Properties of Rice Husk

• Less air production: Low oxygen levels make it difficult for roots to grow since the plants have less air available.

• Moisturization: It has less water storage properties and doesn’t hold a great deal of moisture for the whole day.

• Nutrients: It has multiple nutrients, such as carbon, and has positive and negative effects on plants. The negative is high pH in soil, and the positive is balanced plant growth.

• Eco-friendly: Since it is a waste of a current product, this factor makes it eco-friendly because it is not gathered from a sensitive environment.

• Higher Ph:  Having a higher pH causes plant growth to be slowed down due to the higher pH level.

Conclusion

In brief, if you want to grow plants for a long time or love small pots and plants. It is essential to consider different properties when purchasing coco peat and rice husk. However, when using coco peat, you can only grow plants for a short time in pots and terraces, and rice husk is much easier and can be used for long-time gardening. Their decomposition processes are different for each one.

Additionally, both of these products can be used as alternatives. But they both have unique properties that you need to know. You can take details about coco peat vs rice husk in our guide before getting hands-on with them.

Contact Earth Scape a coco peat manufacturers in Sri Lanka to order coco peat.

Looking for Coco Peat Vs Vermicompost guide?

All propagators of plants or gardeners want to grow their plants in great condition but the wrong choice of fertilizer ruins all the derivation and hard work, also while choosing fertilizer they have to be very careful and know what their plants need. Because they put so much effort into growing them well.

Particularly when they have to choose for indoor plants they have to be very cautious about choosing the right fertilizer because in indoor plants a very small amount of soil is consumed and if you don’t mix the right fertilizer in the soil the plant will eventually become dead and did not grow at all.

When it comes to choosing a fertilizer there are so many well-known fertilizers. But the two most organic and best fertilizers for plants are vermicompost and coco peat.

Vermicompost

Vermicompost is manufactured by worms that why it is also called worm manure. The effectiveness of vermicompost is cold which is good for plants. The vermicompost contains various amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium, and potassium these nutrients will in growing plants healthy and faster.

Vermicompost Qualities and Benefits

Before using any fertilizer you must know its benefits and qualities. Here are a few qualities and benefits of vermicompost.

• The growth of plants increases if they get full nutrients and vermicompost has huge amounts of nutrients which grow the plant faster and healthier.
• Vermicompost water-holding capacity is better than other fertilizers which increases seed germination and makes plants stronger.
• Vermicompost is completely organic which helps to grow plants faster.
• By using vermicompost fertilizer in your plant the size of any fruits and vegetables becomes bigger.
• The vermicompost fertilizer didn’t have any bad fragrance which is suits for indoor gardening.

Coco Peat

Coco peat also known as coir dust that made up of coconut husk. In every kind of healthy development in plants oxygenation properties play a big role. Coco peat has amazing oxygenation properties which is good for root development in plants. The texture of coco peat is very soft which absorbs water easily and germinates the seed healthy. You can recycle coco peat again and for at least four years.

The Qualities of Coco Peat

There are so many qualities of using cocopeat. The four most important and beneficial qualities are:

• By using coco peat the physical and biological conditions of the planting soil improve.
• One of the amazing qualities of coco peat is its soft texture which absorbs water easily.
• for beginners is recommended because it’s easy to handle and chemical-free.
• The coco peat has amazing oxygenation properties which help to grow plants healthier and faster.
• Coco peat is more economical and budget-friendly than vermicompost and you can also recycle it for a few years.

Vermicompost vs Coco Peat

If we compare both fertilizers most of the benefits are the same and both are good for plants in some way but there are a few dissimilarities between them.

• Coco peat is made up of a husk of coconut and vermicompost is made by cow dusk and produced by earthworms.
• In comparison to nutrients vermicompost has so many nutrients meanwhile Coco peat is very low in nutrients.
• In comparison, purchasing coco peat is much more economical than vermicompost.
• In terms of use, the coco peat structure is softer and easy to handle meanwhile vermicompost is crumble and a bit hard to handle.

Which one you should go for?

In comparison both fertilizers are good, organic, and beneficial in their way for plants it is up to you what kind of fertilizer to want to use.

If you want various kinds of nutrients in your plants you can go for vermicompost, or if you want to use a fertilizer that has amazing oxygenation properties you can use it for coco peat, although both help grow plants faster and healthy. Still, if you are confused you try to mix both of the fertilizers.

Conclusion

Both fertilizers are organic and work great for your plants to grow well. To choose which one is good for your plants is up to your preference. In the end is all about the needs of your plants. You can also try to mix them.

Contact Earth Scape the leading coco peat manufacturers in Sri Lanka to order coco peat.

Looking for grow bags vs air pots guide?

This blog will share the pros and cons of a grow bag and air pot and based on facts the conclusion will be drawn whether a grow bag or air pot is a better option to use as a growing medium.

Grow Bags

Grow bags are fabric-like bags used to grow plants and vegetables. They are made up of plastic but nowadays some grow bags are also made up of jute or fabric. Grow bag supports the consistent growth of a plant in many ways. Grow bags are made up of materials that are non-tearable and breathable. If you want to grow plants in your balcony or patio then grow bags are a perfect fit for you, they are flexible and lightweight.

Growbags have been used since the 1970s for use in homes and since then it has expanded to the farming and gardening market. Before grow bags were introduced, greenhouse soil was sterilized and replaced every season to prevent the crops from pests and diseases in the ground.

Grow bags use soil organic materials like coir, peat, composted, bark, or wood chips. Other sufficient nutrients are also added and plantation and water are required by the Gardner. They are available in different formulations and sizes. Earlier Grow Bags were made from plastic, but now grow bags are available from jute to fabrics. Grow brags provide very good water drainage.

Pros of Grow Bags

Let’s have a look at the advantages of using a grow bag:

• One of the biggest advantages of using a grow bag is that it can be used anywhere. Another plus point of using a grow bag is that it is lightweight and easily moveable. Grow bags are handy enough and allow you to move them around whenever you want.
• Grow bags help in building a healthy root system and prevent root bounding.
• Grow bags are made of breathable materials that avoid overheating the plants and provide balanced airflow to support a healthier root.
• Grow bags allow only the necessary amount of water to stay and the excess water is drained through the holes in the materials thus preventing over-watering.

Cons of Grow Bags

Although grow bags are amazing growing mediums they have some drawbacks too, let’s highlight the cons of a grow bag;

• Using grow bags requires frequent watering of plants.
• Grow bags are not always durable, after every 3 growing seasons you will have to replace them.
• You will need to change the bags more frequently unlike the traditional plastic pots which will raise the total cost.
• Grow bags are less attractive than plastic pots and they are aesthetically less appealing.

Air Pots 

Air pots are a type of growing medium, they are made up of plastic and contain holes on the sides just like Swiss cheese. The role of these holes on the sides is very significant, these holes absorb extra oxygen to the roots which is crucial for better root growth. Air pots have been widely used for growing cannabis.

Pros of Air pots

The following are the benefits of using an air pot; 

• Air pots are taller and thinner as compared to regular pots, which gives you the advantage of growing more plants in a smaller space.
• Air pots promote better root growth as the holes on the pots allow maximum absorption of oxygen.
• One significant advantage of using an air pot is, that it prevents root bounding from taking place.
• Air pots prevent the overwatering of plants as the excess water drains out from the holes on the sides.

Cons of Air Pots

Let’s highlight some of the cons of air pots below; 

• Air pots are most favorable for growing cannabis and cannot be an ideal growing medium for all types of plants.
• Air pots have holes on the sides, which means they require frequent watering as the water drains out of the holes.
• Air pots have narrow bases and plants are not very stable on the ground. If you’re growing a taller plant in an air pot there are high chances of it falling because of less stability.

By going through the pros and cons of each, it is easily understandable that grow bags have a wider scope and usage for different type of plants whereas air pots are mainly good for growing cannabis. Hence, we can conclude grow bag is a better option than an air pot.

Contact Earth Scape who are a coir grow bag exporter to buy coir grow bag.

Looking for coco peat suppliers in Australia?

Coco peat extracted from processing of the coconut husk is a natural by-product from the coconut industry which is very common in regions producing coconuts. Coco peat is made and sold in different forms of products like bricks, blocks, pallets, and loose fibers offering a very diverse range of uses and applications around the globe in different horticultural, agricultural, and landscaping sectors.

Coco peat is commonly used for its eco-friendly nature, exceptional water retention capabilities, and aeration.

The common use of coco peat has generated a market size valued at just around USD 4 Billion, projected to grow to around 5.3 billion by 2030.

Coco peat is common and used due to numerous factors that include Increasing Interest in Sustainable Agriculture, acceptance of soilless farming, Growth of the Floriculture and Horticultural Sectors, water conservancy in warming, a preferable manageable and lightweight growing media, its excellent benefits to seed germination and root development, environmental issues and concerns, rising awareness of soil health improvement, and growth of commercial greenhouse farming.

Over the last two decades, there is an upward shift in the trend of horticulture in Australia and there is a distinct rise in investment and positivity in the industry. The increase in demand and the current global recession is facing numerous challenges to source the best quality coco peat which has also affected the price and quality.

Let us discuss some factors to consider while choosing the best coco peat suppliers in Australia and make the best choice while short-listing coco peat suppliers.

Quality of coco peat

When looking out for coco peat suppliers it is important that the supplier follows the high quality development measures. From the cultivation of coconuts to the whole process of manufacturing, global standards should be followed with strict quality control.

High-quality coco peat would have the ideal consistency free of weeds, seeds, and pathogens and the right physical structure to provide the best growing condition. Cheap quality coco peat may be easier to find than good high-quality coco peat. Some things to look out for coco peat quality are

• Not steamed or sterilized
• Free from pathogens and pest
• Even consistency throughout

Good quality coco peat may be expensive compared to low-grade coco peat, but with high-quality products, you will see long-term benefits when your plants grow mature.

Source of coco peat

Knowing the source of coco peat of the supplier is also another important factor. Coconut is produced and cultivated in countries that include Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Sri Lanka and India are major coconut-producing countries and have high-quality coconut.

While choosing your supplier it’s important to know about the supplier’s commitment to sustainability. Whether the supplier is responsible and uses sustainable techniques to provide you with the best quality product and uses eco-friendly procedures through the manufacturing and packing process.

Price

Price is one of the most important factors when sourcing a product. For coco peat, it’s the same. Grade high-quality coco peat will not be cheap as compared to low-quality coco peat. Look out for a good quality coco peat available in a reasonable price.

When finalizing a supplier evaluate whether it would add value to your needs and whether will it be feasible for your project or business. Detailed research of competitive price analysis should be conducted to evaluate the best supplier and then the decision should be made after the results choosing the best available for you.

If you are a bulk purchase suppliers offer good discounts so you should be negotiating accordingly as per your quantity needs. A good relationship with the supplier can also help you get good pricing on your purchase.

Customer service

Providing good customer service is the essence of every business and is very crucial. Look for suppliers who have a professional working attitude, and good business etiquette, and are eager to provide valuable professional advice tailored to your needs and uses.

Suppliers’ knowledge can be very useful and crucial and can help you improve your plant’s development. With the help of old reviews and customer feedback, you can evaluate the supplier’s reputation regarding customer services. Good reviews mean the supplier owns the customer and helps in all ways to provide the best service.

Customer service can include good pricing, good packaging and multiple delivery options, over-the-call support, and others depending on what your needs are and how long the supplier is going to assist its customers. A supplier with a bad reputation and negative reviews can affect your whole sourcing stage very badly.

Contact Earth Scape if you are looking for coco peat suppliers in Australia.