ASK THE EXPERTS
Q
I am thinking of switching from dirt to coco and am looking for
advice on watering, and whether or not you can still transplant
to larger containers when using coco. Also, are the yields any better?
Thanks!
Kelly
There are several grow
media options out there
gardeners can choose
from, each with their
strengths and weaknesses.
Dirt, soilless mixes and
straight coco are just three choices
among many. True dirt (soil) is
commonly used in fields and backyards,
but rarely in containers used indoors.
It is what covers much of the land
on Earth, and is mostly comprised of
weathered mineral particles with just a
little bit (10% or so) of organic material
mixed in. It is plentiful and cheap,
but it is heavy and tends to compact.
It is rarely used in modern container
gardens, and it is not what most indoor
gardeners mean when they use the
terms “dirt” or “soil.”
Potting mixes, on the other hand, are
an improved alternative to soil. They
generally have a higher organic content, which makes them lighter and
better able to retain moisture. Peat
moss, coco peat (coir), compost and
A
perlite are common ingredients in
potting mixes, but there are many different ingredients that can be added.
Some potting mixes may or may not
contain additives such as additional
nutrient sources, fungal inoculates
or other beneficial materials. Even
though these mixes are referred to
as soilless, the slang terms dirt and
soil are often used to describe them,
which is where the confusion sets in.
Using coco peat alone is similar to
using pure peat moss or pure perlite;
it is a slightly different experience, but
still much the same idea. Coco is made
from shredded and prepared coconut
husks. It has little-to-no nutritional
value by itself. If you are accustomed
to using a potting mix that has a
starting nutrient value, the nutrient
schedule for coco peat alone should
be altered to accommodate the difference. Many gardeners will add a bit
more calcium and magnesium to their
nutrient schedule when adjusting for
coco. The quality of the coco will also
COCO
DIRT
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Maximum Yield USA | July 2015
have an impact on your nutrient regimen, as poor-quality coco may be salty
or incompletely composted, which
may require rinsing or additional
nitrogen to offset these qualities. As
for watering, keep the coco a bit wetter
than you would a potting mix—don’t
let the top dry out! Go ahead and
transplant as normal.
The yields you get from using coco
alone may or may not be better than
what you get from other media,
depending on your gardening style.
Coco peat would be a better choice
over a high-compost potting