Coconut potting soil for growing

Coconut potting soil is an insider tip for plant lovers and is often used for planting and growing. This biologically valuable substrate is commercially available i.d. R as blocks or "Brick" available. Coconut Soil - This is dehydrated coir fiber, a premium germ-free and peat-free product. How is coconut humus formed and what are its most important properties? What should be considered when planting? Is Kokohum recommended without restrictions or only useful for certain plants and seeds? This article answers these and other questions about Kokohum potting soil.

Coconut - What is it?

Coconut soil, i.e. coconut fibers mixed with a granulate of the binder of these fibers, is a by-product of coconut oil and other coconut products. The pulp of coconuts is considered a tasty food and a sugar substitute in many countries. Coconut oil is used for frying, among other things. What remains are the hard coconut shells that used to be burned because they take several years to compost. But coconut fibers turned out to be anything but useless, because after special processing, they turn into a valuable soil for planting and growing. To produce coconut soil, the coconut fibers are sorted into coarse and fine, then shredded, thoroughly rinsed and sterilized. This is followed by dehydration - the most complete removal of moisture possible - and the pressing together to form compact briquettes. Of course, you can also buy loose coconut soil, i.e. coconut fibers that have not been dehydrated. Tip: There are also practical coconut pots available on the market that will dissolve by themselves over time. This means that a sensitive plant does not have to be "peeled" out of the flower pot that has become too small when repotting.

Properties and benefits of coco hum

Coconut soil has numerous plus points for hobby gardeners, which make this substrate particularly suitable for cultivation. Here are the top 3 benefits of kokohum:

1. Peat-free and therefore ecologically valuable. The conventional potting soil contains i.d. R a high peat content. Although peat loosens the soil, it also contributes to acidification and thus reduces the soil quality. In addition, the extraction of peat damages the environment, as it drains bogs and destroys the habitats of many animal and plant species. Coconut humus, on the other hand, is produced in an environmentally friendly way and is also biodegradable. Coconut soil is not only airy and fluffy, but also basic.
2. Germ-free in a natural way. Thanks to the natural substance lignin, which incidentally makes the coconut fiber difficult to compost, the coconut soil is largely germ-free. During production, it is also gently sterilized biologically so that any pest eggs or larvae that may be present in the fibers are safely destroyed. Kokohum is therefore a healthy, neutral potting soil that does not tend to mold.
3. Generous water storage. Coconut fibers can absorb and store considerable amounts of water, they only return the moisture slowly and thus supply the plants or seeds with the life-giving moisture. For the hobby gardener, this property of coconut soil has the advantage that watering is possible at relatively large intervals.

Plants in coconut soil - Useful tips

Basically, planting in Kokohum potting soil is not a complicated undertaking, but some aspects must be considered for success.

If coconut humus in briquettes or so-called Bricks are sold, then of course the first thing to do is water, then plant. A larger container (e.g. B. a flower pot or bucket), the brick or the Kokohum tabs are placed in them and plenty of water is poured over them. The information on the packaging must be observed, it says how many liters of water are required per briquette and how much coconut soil one block produces. Tip: If the entire substrate is not used up immediately, cover the pot tightly with foil or fabric so that no insects can lay eggs in the substrate. Fungus gnats are particularly unpleasant!

Put the finished moist soil in a bowl or a large flat flower pot and make grooves with a stick. Place seeds in the grooves and press or cover with a layer of soil. Alternatively, seeds can be placed in coconut pots, the pots should first be placed in a larger container filled with potting soil and moistened. Tip: Coconut tabs are also a practical option for growing. Simply moisten tabs, let them swell and place seeds (one or more - depending on the size of the plant, not the seed!) and press gently.

Very important: distinguish between light and dark germs, also note cold germs. On the packaging with the seeds there is an indication whether it is e.g. B. are dark or light germs. While the former have to be covered with a layer of soil - the planting depth is also written on the packaging - light germinators, as the name suggests, need light to germinate. These seeds are merely gently pressed into the soil but remain on the surface. Tip: Not observing the instructions for cultivation often leads to failure in germination. The culprit is not so much the substrate, but more the unfavorable conditions for the germinating little plant,

Always keep the substrate moist. Kokohum stores water, but coconut soil also dries out over time. However, seeds are very sensitive to a lack of water, so a hobby gardener is well advised to check the water content daily and water regularly. Incidentally, unless it's rice, most seeds don't want to float in water, so watering "stock up" isn't a good solution. Tip: Thanks to the "greenhouse effect", a mini-greenhouse provides ideal conditions for most seeds to germinate: it is warm and humid.

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