Coco Peat Vs Soil: Which is Best

Wants to know which is best between Coco Peat Vs Soil?

Coco Peat

Coco peat was discovered in the 90s in the horticulture industry and has been on the rise since then. It is the non-fibrous husk part of the coconut which is light weight, corky and spongy in texture. Coco peat is also known has Coco pith, coco coir in other regions. Coco peat is considered as a 100% Organic, bio gradable and natural substance which is why it has become a preferred choice among users.

Coco peat is being used as a growing medium in horticulture industry. It is also used as a amendment for soil mixing, moisture retention and soil aeration. As it is sustainable it has widely replaced peat moss. As Coco peat is light in weight, it retains moisture and is commonly used by home growers as substrate in home & roof gardening. Coco Peat is not just alone but is also mixed with other growing mediums to optimize its benefits. It is commonly mixed with perlite and vermiculite which helps in enhancing drainage.

Pros:

Excellent water retention

Coco Peat for Plants provide excellent water retention capabilities. Coco Peat can hold water around 8 times more than its weight. It enhances the aeration and creating the best conditions for the plants to grow healthy.  Through its water retention capabilities, it keeps the soil moist for longer times. Water retention by coco peat is highly suitable for Container Gardening, Seed starting and propagation & Soil amendment.

Good drainage

Coco peat provides excellent water drainage for parts. It helps the access water to be drain preventing from Water logging stopping from over watering and is an important aspect in root development

Lightweight

Coco peat is light in weight. Generally, for transportation, Coco Peat is compressed into different forms like bricks and disk for easy transportation. Coco peat is soaked in water before usage which makes is up to 8 times bigger than its actual size.

pH neutral

The range of Coco Peat PH value is 5.8 to 6.5 Many plants are able to adapt this environment so Coco peat is suitable for most of the plants and provides balance for and stability for growth over time. Growers can easily adjust pH neutral by other mediums as per their requirements.

Organic

Coco Peat is a 100% organic and ecofriendly substitute to peat moss and other growing mediums. Its bio degradable and a substance produced naturally. The reason of Coco peat gaining world wide popularity and preferred choice is due to its organic nature.

Cons:

Nutrient-deficient

Coco Peat is high potassium and sodium. However, use of Coco Peat can cause deficiency of important nutrients for your plants; therefore, other soil amendments are used to provide full nutrients for plants to grow healthy.

Can be dusty

Coco peat is soft spongy non-fibrous parts that is why Coco peat can become dusty. Proper handling and usage are required to avoid the inconvenience.

Breaks down faster than soil

As coco peat is a 100% natural organic growing medium, to break downs quickly

May require additional support for larger plants

The nutrients and properties of Coco peat can be insufficient alone to support larger plants. Ideally for growing larger plants it is recommended to use other soil amendments and mediums along with coco peat for better crop yield and healthier plant growth.

Soil

Soil is a composition of mainly five ingredients which includes organic matter, minerals, gas, water and living organisms. It’s a substance which covers most of the land. Soil offers supports to plants in growth providing minerals and water. Not all soil is similar to one another. Soil me differ in texture, color, structure, depth and stone content.

The perfect soil texture for gardening is Loamy which hold moisture and also provides good drainage. Proper drainage helps oxygen to reach the plants and roots. Soil is fertile, easy to handle and contains sufficient amount of organic matter. Other soil types may include Clay soil and sandy soil. Its important to properly research the soil you are using that whether is the suitable growing medium for your plant or any other alternates should be used.

Pros:

Naturally contains nutrients

Plants need many nutrients which are available in soil for growth and play an important role.  Soil includes minerals which are Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur.  Potassium, Nitrogen and phosphorus are its three major nutrients. The trio of these nutrients are often known as NPK.

Provides physical support

The physical support provided by soil highly depends on indicators like Soil Stability, Soil structure and organic matter. Soil maintains the porous structure allowing passage of flowing water and air providing a medium for roots.

Readily available and affordable

As compared to other soil amendments for gardening, Soil itself is very commonly found and easily available. Soil can be found in different packaging by different brands having its own quality. Soil is more affordable and easily available at your local gardening store.

Cons:

Drainage can vary

Soil has the capability to drain around 1-3 inches of water an hour. The drainage capability highly depends on the soil properties and quality which can vary and not give you the desired results. On usage of soil, its important to choose plants which can adjust to wet growing conditions or use another soil drainage system as per the plant need.

Weight can be an issue

Soil weight can vary depending on types and its structure. An average density of soil is 120 pounds per cubic meter. Once the soil is saturated with water it weighs more. Soil is commonly sold in buckets, bags or truck loads. Depending on the quantity and quality of soil, the weight can vary and be an issue for use.

pH level can vary

Soil’s pH value ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 which is considered normal. The soil’s pH value highly depends on the rock on which it is formed accompanied by the weather. When the pH value of Soil is neutral, it is able to provide most nutrients for the plants to grow. If you want to change the soil pH value, different fertilizers like Sulphur, ammonia-based nitrogen can be used.

Now you know which is best between Coco Peat Vs Soil, Contact Earth Scape a leading coco peat manufacturers to order Coco Peat.

Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at Earthscape who are experts about coir products.