Coconut soil instead of potting soil: these plants love coconut

Every year at planting time, huge amounts of potting soil are required for balconies, patios and gardens. In most cases, hobby gardeners use commercially available soil with a peat additive. This is produced industrially. In addition to peat, this humus-rich substrate also contains fertilizers, lime, wood fibers, recycled material and compost. From an ecological point of view, this plant substrate does not exactly benefit the environment. A good alternative is coconut soil, a purely natural product. It is equally suitable for growing, for flower pots and window boxes.

Coconut soil instead of potting soil

For the production of conventional potting soil, around 8.2 million cubic meters of peat have to be extracted annually, mainly from the northern German moors. Normal potting soil consists of up to 85 percent and potting soil even to almost 95 percent of pure raised bog peat. The mining not only destroys the habitats of rare plants and animal species, it also accelerates global climate change. Moors are great stores of carbon dioxide. Increased drainage releases a large amount of greenhouse gas and releases it into the atmosphere. Worldwide, peatlands only make up around three percent of the area. However, these store just as much carbon dioxide as all of the vegetation on planet earth.

This fact should be taken into account when purchasing conventional potting soil. Coconut potting soil is a good and environmentally friendly alternative. Normally, however, this is not a soil in the actual sense, but it is made from coconut fibers.

Coconut soil is made from the shell of the coconut, a by-product of the manufacture of Coconut oil. Because they were difficult to compost, they were simply incinerated. But now it is processed into a coconut substrate. The fibers are chopped up, then sterilized and finally pressed. Coconut potting soil is available in different forms, such as

• Coconut pellets
• Pellets or
• in brick shape

tip: To produce one liter of coconut substrate, for example, 14 coconut pellets and 500 milliliters of warm water are required.

Coconut soil is 100 percent natural and organic potting soil. The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is native to the tropics and is a constantly renewable raw material there. The production of coconut potting soil is not done at the expense of the environment, but it is ecologically perfectly compatible and, above all, completely biodegradable.

Every time you buy normal potting soil, you should therefore also consider this alternative. But there are also other advantages that may make this decision a little easier.

advantages

Of course, protecting the environment should always be mentioned first. The coconut substrate can, however, score with other advantages. More on this below.

Easy transportation

• drying and subsequent pressing make the substrate very light
• Compared to potting soil, only a third as heavy
• a humus brick has a weight of 600 g
• dried substrate can be kept almost indefinitely
• does not lose good properties

Note: With the addition of five liters of boiling water and a swelling time of one hour, nine liters of potting soil are produced from one humus brick.

Free from pests and weeds

• By heating the coconut fibers, all organisms and seeds present are killed
• so no fungi, bacteria, spores and insects present
• therefore ideal as a seed and cultivation soil
• In contrast, in conventional growing or potting soil, uninvited "guests" (weeds, whitefly, ...) appear after four weeks.

Good water storage

• Due to the special cell structure, a lot of water and nutrients can be stored
• both are given evenly to plants
• therefore has to be poured less
• Coconut fibers absorb ten times their weight in water
• The substrate should always be moist, especially when growing seeds
• Check humidity before every watering

Slight moistening after drying out

• easy water absorption after complete drying out
• Fibers are not water-repellent

Resistant to mold

• The substrate is sterile
• free from pollutants and fungi
• This deprived mold of the base
• important for sowing and cultivating soil
• especially for seeds with a long germination time
• mold occurs in normal soil

Excellent root ventilation

• loose structure after watering
• This means that the roots are optimally ventilated
• the more oxygen that gets to the roots, the better the growth
• healthy roots are a prerequisite for good growth, abundant flowers and healthy fruits

Pour-proof and structurally stable

• Coconut fibers always retain their structure
• excess water flows off unhindered
• with frequent watering no compaction of the earth

Note: The only disadvantage of coconut soil is the higher price. In order to achieve a better price-performance ratio, it is recommended to mix coconut substrate with normal potting soil.

Use of coconut soil

This purely organic soil is versatile due to its good properties. The coconut potting soil does not contain any fertilizers. It is therefore ideal as a seed and cultivation soil, but also as a plant substrate for flower pots, pots and window boxes. But then a regular supply of nutrients is necessary.

Swelling tablets

Since the soil is poor in nutrients, it can be used as a seed and cultivation soil. This ensures the growth of strong roots. Coconut pellets are then best suited here. The procedure for sowing is as follows:

• Place several tablets side by side in the seed pot
• pour water over them
• Let the tablets swell for five minutes
• Remove any remaining water from the pot
• Tablets have enlarged significantly
• they are surrounded by a fine mesh, which ensures stability
• Cut the net on the surface before sowing
• Press the seeds into the soil with a prick stick
• Do not cover light germs, just press lightly
• Lightly cover the dark germinator with soil
• Distance between seeds 1 to 2 cm (is already given when using source tablets)
• Roots then have enough space
• Place the pot in a bright, warm place
• optimal germination temperature 22 ° C to 28 ° C
• keep evenly moist
• ensure good ventilation
• preferably water with low-lime water
• Repot as soon as roots are well developed
• Seedlings are then usually 8 to 10 cm high
• Mesh breaks down after a while

Compared to this soil made of coconut fibers, the normal potting soil is very fine-crumbly and dark in color. After pouring, this compacts and becomes very solid. Water can no longer drain properly. Waterlogging occurs, the roots begin to rot and the leaves turn yellow.

Coconut bricks

This soil is suitable for all types of container and house plants, herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and courgettes. Not only for cultivation, but also afterwards. Humus bricks can be used for this. However, regular fertilization is then also necessary, as the coconut substrate does not contain any nutrients. It is best to use humus bricks for this. The production of the substrate is quite simple:

• Put the bricks in a plastic tub
• Pour 5 liters of boiling water over it
• let soak for an hour
• We recommend a mixture of coconut substrate and normal, commercially available plant substrate or garden soil in a ratio of 1: 1
• Mixture becomes airy, loose with good water retention
• offers excellent growing conditions
• Mixing in of sand or perlite is also possible
• Mixture supplies plants with minerals
• Perlites also act as drainage

tip: Azaleas and rhododendrons grow excellently in a mixture of coconut soil, bark mulch, leaves and spruce needles. You will be supplied with all the nutrients you need.

Fertilize coconut soil properly

Since it does not contain any nutrients, fertilization is necessary. It should only be avoided when sowing and growing plants. The addition of fertilizer can be done in two different ways:

• either addition during the swelling process via the spring water or
• regularly with the irrigation water
• Frequency depending on the type of plant
• for example the use of slow release fertilizers
• Submission then takes place over a longer period of time

Note: Do not use organic fertilizers. The coconut fibers are sterile, so they do not contain any microorganisms. However, these are necessary to make the organic components of the bio-fertilizer usable for the plants. The use of mineral fertilizers, for example container plant fertilizer, is recommended.

Buy coconut potting soil

There are different manufacturers here. The products differ mainly in quality and pack sizes. This plant substrate is offered as pellets, humus bricks and coconut pellets. When buying, you should pay attention to the following:

• only buy all-natural products
• Substrate must not contain any additional ingredients
• always look for a certified seal
• Use customer opinions, experiences and test reports

Note: Very inexpensive coconut soil can sometimes contain eggs from sciarid gnats, as these were not completely killed by the thermal treatment.

These plants love coconut

Coconut potting soil is not only ideal for growing young plants, but various vegetable and indoor plants love the coconut substrate. Either the plant substrate should consist of a mixture of commercially available soil, including garden soil and coconut fibers in a ratio of 1: 1, or only coconut soil. However, regular fertilization is then necessary here. A mixture is particularly suitable for

Vegetables and herbs

• Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, parsley, basil and chives can be sown in coconut substrate
• After pricking, a nutrient-rich mixture of normal soil and coconut fiber is ideal
• the mixture is loose and stores water well
• It is important to have a regular supply of nutrients with special fertilizers, for example tomato fertilizer
• The exception is chilli
• this prefers a slightly acidic soil during the cultivation and also afterwards
• Pure coconut soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5) and regular fertilization with tomato fertilizer are optimal here

Houseplants

• Bonsai like a mixture of coconut soil and expanded clay
• this is loose and at the same time a high water reservoir
• the same applies to cacti
• Orchids make special demands on the substrate
• a mixture of special orchid soil and coconut is ideal for your growth

In short, a mixture of soil and coconut is particularly good for plants in the room and garden that need a lot of moisture. The coconut substrate forms a good water reservoir here and then gradually releases the water.

tip: Many hobby gardeners also rely on a suitable plant mix of earth and coconut for roses, strawberries and also types of bamboo in the garden.