Skip to main content

What coconut fiber can do for your plants

Gaining in popularity from skin products to gardening solutions, the coconut is a mighty plant. Unlike other options, coconuts are often ethically grown and are a renewable source. This makes using it in products great for the environment, as well. Every part of the coconut has a beneficial use, from the tough exterior to the milk inside. However, we’re most interested in the tough fibers between the shell and the milk for gardening purposes. 

What is coconut fiber?

The fibers between the shell and the nut full of milk are hard to get to and there’s a lengthy process to prepare it for use. Manufacturers have to soak the fibers and then dry them out for a year before preparing them to be used in gardens. 

Recommended Videos

Coconut fiber is known for many different gardening products such as coconut coir, molded pots, compact coir disks, seed starter pellets, and more. Gardeners might be most familiar with bagged coconut coir that can be added to the soil for better water retention or used as a medium for a hydroponic system. 

The benefits

As mentioned above, coconut coir is an excellent alternative to soil and can be used in a hydroponic system. It still looks and feels like soil, making the transition from soil gardening to hydroponics much easier. 

Coconut coir is also great at retaining water to keep moisture-loving plants happy in a dry pot or hot climate. It can hold up to 10 times its weight in water, making it great for amending dry soil or sprouting seedlings. 

Not a fan of peat moss? Then give coconut coir a try. Peat moss is not a renewable resource and impacts the environment negatively. Coconut coir is a fantastic renewable resource, and coconut coir itself is a waste product that has been repurposed. So not only is it renewable, it’s a product that companies once threw away, and we have now found a way to use it productively. 

If you’ve struggled in the past with pests and insects, coconut coir is an ideal option to keep these irritating bugs away. They don’t like to move into coconut coir, making it a great defensive line for your seedlings. 

The downsides

Coconut coir has no nutritional value and will not supply plants with vital vitamins and minerals. This means you’ll have to add things like fertilizers. However, this isn’t a big deal if you’re using it to amend dry soil. 

When purchased from garden centers or online, coconut coir is typically dried and often compacted. To use it within the garden, it will need to be rehydrated. This can be done in a plastic tote and a water hose and isn’t too hard.  

coconut coir for seedlings

When and why you should use it in the garden

Knowing the benefits of coconut coir helps us know when to use it within the garden. Its water retention makes it a great solution if a plant is drying out too quickly or needs more moisture than your climate can provide. Adding coir to soil or pots can help keep water near the roots longer. 

Since it is a clean and pest-resistant soil-like substance, it’s a great way to start dipping your toe into hydroponics. It feels and looks like soil, which makes the transition easier for you and the plants.  Coconut coir is also a super option for starting seeds. As long as you’re providing a liquid fertilizer when you water, seeds looking to sprout love the moisture retention qualities of coir. 

When gardening, there are lots of things to consider. Factors like renewable resources that can feel overwhelming to think about shouldn’t be ignored. Coconut coir is the perfect option for those looking to grow their garden with healthy options for themselves and the environment. Coconut coir also has many benefits and uses within the garden that can make gardening easier! 

Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
Wondering what to do with dead flowers? Our favorite ways to give them new life
Turned into decorations or used as jewelry, flowers can keep looking beautiful long after they've died
Placing pressed flowers in a frame

Fresh-cut flowers are beautiful additions to your home, but they don't tend to last long. It's always a little sad to watch them wilt before you toss them out. What if there was a way to keep them around? Well, good news! You can keep your bouquet long after it fades with these easy projects. If you have a dead flower bouquet and just can’t bring yourself to put it in the compost, then it’s time to get crafty. Keep reading to find out what to do with dead flowers and how to keep them looking great in new ways.
Make a dried bouquet

An easy way to preserve cut flowers is to dry them. Use your dried flowers to make a decorative dry arrangement — a quick spray with unscented hairspray will protect them against petals dropping.

Read more
Zone 10a planting guide: Here’s what you need to know about what you can plant
Plants and their growing schedules for this zone
Woman reading book by plants

Consisting of the southernmost parts of the U.S., zone 10a is a rich region for a wide range of plants. While you might need to keep an eye out for your tender herbs and cold-hardy plants, many flowers, succulents, and plants can thrive in zone 10a's warm temperature outdoors. Below, we've put together a zone 10a planting guide to break down all that you need to know about this welcoming environment for nourishing foliage life.

What is a climate zone? 
With the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has divided the country into 13 different climate zones based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. Zone 1 has the coolest temperatures, while zone 13 has the warmest ones.

Read more
Can you grow plants in water beads? Here’s what you need to know
Find out what common houseplants you can grow this way
A tulip in a vase with water beads

Keeping your plants healthy includes keeping them hydrated, but what is the best way to do that? There’s traditional watering, automated watering systems for when you’re out of town, and even water globes. One option you may have heard about is growing plants in water beads. Is this really an effective way to keep your plants hydrated, though, or are the potential risks more troublesome than they’re worth? This guide to gardening with water beads will answer all your questions.

What are water beads?
Water beads are gel spheres that come in a variety of sizes and colors. They absorb water and slowly release it over time, which is why some gardeners use them to keep their plants watered. Water beads can be made from a variety of materials, including both naturally occurring and manufactured substances.

Read more