Coconut coir - the natural fiber

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Coir - A Versatile Natural Fiber

Coconut Coir is the fibrous layer outside the coconut shell. Brown coir fibers which are harvested from ripened coconuts are thick, strong and have resistance to abrasion. Therefore they are used to make floor mats, brushes and sacks. They are also used to make twine. Other major applications of treated brown fiber includes packaging, insulation, mattress padding and rubberized coir is used in upholstery padding of automobile seats in Europe.

Coir fiber industry is an important industry in some parts of the developing world. India and Sri Lanka are the biggest coir producers in the world. Most of the white coir and significant percentage of brown coir comes from the coastal region of Kerala in India.

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Coco Peat - the green growing medium

In recent years a Coir byproduct called Cocopeat has found a growing use in the horiculture industry. Cocopeat also known as Coirpith derived from fibers of coconut husk is an organic and ecofriendly alternative to peat, which is mined from the earth.

The cocopeat makes an excellent plant growing medium because it has excellent water absorption and retention properties. The spongy structure of the cocopeat allows it to absorb almost 8-9 times its dry weight in water. It is highly resistant to bacteria and fungal growth. It is also very stable due to high content of Lignin in the mature brown husks used to make cocopeat.

Cocopeat by itself does not have any nutrients for plant growth. Necessary nutrients can be added and plants can be grown excusively in cocopeat. Cocopeat may also be mixed with sand, compost and fertilizer to make good quality potting soil.

Cocopeat is commerically available in grow bags, briquettes, slabs and as compressed bales like these ones that are available from Amazon.com