Top 1 Reason To Choose A Good Soil Mix - Coconut Coir vs Potting Mix Test : Soil Porosity Explained

We face off coconut coir potting mix vs ready to use bagged potting mix and see which one performs better. We also explain what porosity is for container gardening and how to create a nice and porous medium for growing your container plants.

There are various types of planting mix available to grow your plants. Coconut coir (pronounced coconut core) or Coco coir is a great porous medium for starting plants and growing them too. We compare it with a ready to use potting mix. The roots of the plants grow differently in coconut coir vs potting mix. The results are interesting so do check out the comparison of these two planting mixes.

Potting soil vs potting mix is an interesting comparison - it tells you which is better - potting soil or potting mix. So find out!

[TheASTrader]

The roots in the coco lead me to conclude that 50/50 coco/perlite or 100% coco coir plus nutrient supplementation might be the best combination.

[OneYardRevolution]

Interesting results! I'm going to use a simple mix of 80% coconut coir and 20% fresh worm castings this year.

[paulprv]

I suggest a test with a cocopeat alone, cocopeat + compost, and potting mix. Maybe a fourth with perlite also just for reference to the actual mix you create. My results have been best with cocopeat + perlite + compost. Also making your own mix gives the flexibility to adjust it to the plant you are planting. Some prefer less water holding to others and some don't need as much compost as others.

[anthonymarsico]

I live in Belize and see a ton of coconut husks being discarded. I think with a small shredder/ masticator I could help a local get started with his own micro business here. First buy educating and supplying local farmers and landscapers and then perhaps compressing and exporting. I found this while researching mediums for my vertical garden and it was great info. Thanks

[silverfoxes]

I would have added weak hydroponic fertilizer solution after the first set of leaves. I think if you tested in this manner you would have much better results from the coir.

[golinsky]

Great comparison, thanks for the details. I followed your last video and I am growing my plants in coconut coir, compost and vermiculite and they are doing very well, thanks.

[mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies]

Always great when one gets to watch a side by side comparison video!

[quantumchang]

Another reason the roots from the coco coir is much longer and more developed is because the coco coir is so poor in nutrient and that forces the plants to send out more roots to suck up whatever little nutrients there are. You don't get that situation with the potting mix because it has added slow release fertilizers and therefore the plants don't need to be that desperate for nutrients as to force them to extend their roots out too long.

[eleanorcm]

Root growth is much better in the coconut coir. It's ideal for starting seeds that you plan to transplant later into soil or compost

[wipeoutxl]

the roots looked much better in the coir, i bet with a bit of fertilizer they would have blown the potting soil away

[dibyendumukharjee]

In order to perform as a potting mix, coconut coir need to be composted, so that it can supply nutrients to the plants.
Nice video.

[tbelle]

Learned a lot from this informative video. I liked the fact that you started from planting to end stage harvesting so that we were able to see the result. Would it be o.k. to add fertilzer to Coir in the later stage? And, is Coir good for container flowers? Thanks.

[ceciliasoans]

being a new student, your video was very useful to understand. thanks for educating me

[Dlgeis]

For sunflower seed micro greens I like 1/2” of coir on a screen with 3% hydrogen peroxide sanitized seeds on top. I cover with pressure until radicals extend well below screen I then bottom water with H2O and reverse top blackout pressure tray, after top radicals get to 2”. - 2 1/2” I reverse blackout cover and bottom water with very week hydroponic solution. Always leave air between water and mesh/coir (Kratke method variation).

[OverGrowTheUk]

give nutrient to the coco then re test coco will blow away the (potting mix)

[hudsonbay]

Discovered coir a few weeks ago.  Used it as a replacement for peat.  A bit pricey but it works as advertised. Made a soil mix of approximately 30% soil, 25% coir, 25% manure, 20% peat (kept the peat low to maintain the ph value.  Seedlings are thriving.

[HeatherRawVeganHenry]

I use coconut coir for my citrus trees.. amazing stuff & zero fungus gnats too!

[tecsonics]

Nicely presented info. Clear pics. Good close up. Thank s

[Dollapfin]

mould -perlite-little bit o' rock dust-worm castings-compost. My plan for a potting mix+fertilizers. Ik it's compicated.

[patchesor]

Thanks for the video. I use an organic seed starter soil but next year will add some coir to for moisture retention. I'm will be using coir in my container garden this year to condition the soil and help with moisture retention.