Looking for coco peat vs coir pith guide?

Coco peat and Coir pith are both organic growing mediums obtained from coconuts and have excellent applications and properties that make them a great choice for soil and plants.

This blog will highlight the differences between coco peat and coir pith. If you want to know how each of them are different in purpose and properties then you must stick till the end of the blog.

What is Coco Peat?

Coco peat is an organic growing medium made from coconut husk, it is obtained during coconut fibre extraction and previously it was considered as a waste product but in fact, coco peat has many advantages and is proved to be an amazing growing medium for plants.

The outstanding properties of coco peat is it is eco-friendly, sustainable and has great ability of water retention. Coco peat comes in three different types and depending upon the type of soil and plant any particular type is brought into use.

Coco fibre, coir dust and coco chips are the types and each type has unique applications and use. Coco peat is considered as a versatile ingredient because of its extensive uses and applications.

Suggested Read: Coco peat vs Peat moss

What is Coir Pith?

Coir Pith is another organic and spongy material obtained from the husk of coconut which is widely used as a soil conditioner and a soil-less medium for agriculture because of its water retention properties.

The applications of coir pith have extensively increased in the farming and agriculture industry because it is environment friendly, allows air to pass through and is known to provide a longer life span to plants because it contributes to better and stronger root growth.

It is known to be an amazing alternative for the traditional peat moss because of its neutral pH balance, its ability to retain water and its bacteria and fungus free characteristic.

Properties and Characteristics:

Coco Peat:

•  The blocks and bricks made up of coco peat have great water retention ability and can hold water efficiently.

• Dry coco peat is a good absorbent and can be used on wet floors to absorb water and oil.

• It is a 100% organic growing medium and is eco-friendly.

• Coco peat is sustainable and can be used up to 5 years which make it extremely useful.

• Coco peat tends to improve plant growth, soil texture and increases aeration.

• The pH level of coco peat is neutral.

• The texture of coco peat is light, fluffy and is less messy.

Coir Pith:

• It has great moisture retention property along with the ability to allow air to pass through that is why it is extensive used as a soil-less medium for many plants.

• It supports the root growth which in turn increase the life span of a plant.

• It is widely available and eco-friendly along with a neutral pH balance.

• It is a great insect and mold repellent because it is free of bacteria and fungus.

• It is reusable and can be take into use up to three times which makes it a sustainable alternative to the traditional peat moss.

• It has high cellulose level which is very helpful in growing mushrooms.

• It is a multi-purpose growing medium.

• It has spongy texture.

Applications:

Coco Peat:

• As a soil supplement:

Coco peat is widely used as a soil supplement to keep soil and plants healthy. It improves the growth of plants and is considered to be an excellent alternate to traditional peat.

• Used in Hydroponics:

Coco peat is used in hydroponics, because of high exchange capacity of coco peat it is considered a perfect medium for hydroponics farming. It is great for the environment, requires less water and space which leads to more production.

• For Rooftop Gardening:

Coco peat is perfect for rooftop gardening and small garden in the balcony as it is less messy, requires less space and is perfect for plant growth.

• For Horticulture:

Coco peat is also ideal for horticulture because it has spongy texture, great water retention ability, sustainability and most importantly it is biodegradable.

• Use in construction industry:

Its commonly used in construction industry for insulation. It is suitable for roofing tiles, building materials and insulation panels.

• Use for Animal bedding:

Coco peat properties makes it an ideal product for animal bedding. Coco peat for bedding helps in absorbency and odor control.

Coir Pith:

• Used as soil supplement:

It is widely used as a soil supplement and soil conditioner for horticulture and agriculture.

• Use for home gardening:

It is perfect for home gardening as an alternative to traditional peat moss because of its moisture retention ability.

• Used as insect and mold repellent:

It can be used as an insect and mold repellent because of its property of being free from bacteria and fungus.

• Use in gardening:

It can be compressed into block for gardening use or into powder form depending upon the application.

• Growth of mushrooms:

It is widely used in growing mushrooms because of its high cellulose level.

• As a potting soil:

It serves as a high-quality potting soil when mixed with sand and fertilizer.

• As an alternative to peat moss:

It serves as a great substitute for the traditional peat moss in farming because of its sustainability, neutral pH balance and moisture retention property.

• Contribution to stronger Root growth:

Coir pith because of its properties discussed above support stronger root growth and a greater life span of plants.

Contact Earth Scape a leading coco peat manufacturers in Sri Lanka and coir pith suppliers to order coco peat and coir pith.