Coco fiber or coco coir has been used as a hydroponic growing medium. For many years, coco fiber has been famous as a soil conditioner. This fiber also replaces the use of another medium called peat moss. But actually, which one is better between coco fiber vs peat moss?
Both coconut coir and sphagnum peat moss are both excellent soil additions. They are all plant based and natural. Both of them are able to improve the sandy soils’ water retention and break up the heavy clay soils. However, every single product comes with different nutrients.
Understanding Peat Moss Before Purchasing Any
To understand the differences between coco fiber vs peat moss, you need to understand every single product first. Peat moss is a traditional growing medium that is soilless and comes from something called peat bogs. And peat bogs themselves are marshes or swamps.
Those marshes or swamps are filled with sphagnum moss that is decomposed. The final peat moss products are fluffy, light, and soil like material. This medium became famous to gardeners in the middle of the 1900’s. Peat moss is able to manage water efficiently.
Peat moss is also able to improve the coil’s consistency and texture. But before choosing this product, know some more details about coco fiber vs peat moss.
Learn About Coconut Coir
Coconut fiber or coco coir comes in various forms. People have been using coco coir in hydroponic gardening since it is an excellent soil alternative. This medium has a great water retention. Another ability of coco coir is the deterrence of certain diseases and fungus gnats.
People also love coco coir because of the structure that is able to support the root. The function of this incredible coco coir is much like the sphagnum moss’s function. The coconuts’ fibrous husks are decomposed or ground to produce something that looks like peat moss in texture and weight.
Though the texture and weight of coco coir is similar to peat moss, the color of coco coir is darker. Which one is better for your gardening project?
Advantages of Coco Fiber Vs Peat Moss
Similarities in texture and weight don’t mean that both products are totally similar. Each product has different qualities. They have different advantages for your garden. Understand the advantages of each product to find the right product for your own garden.
- Advantage of peat moss
Peat moss is able to soak water about 20 times its own weight. This medium is also able to release the water content very slowly. This medium is great for those who don’t water their plants very often. Peat moss is going to make sure that the plants will still survive with enough water.
Unfortunately, peat moss is an acidic medium. This isn’t good for many plants. However, you can handle this problem by watering the plants with tap water. Tap water is often alkaline and will neutralize the acidic of your peat moss. Many people especially love peat moss because of its low price.
- Coco coir advantage
Coco fiber is made of coconut pith that contains cellulose and lignin in high levels. Those contents are going to prevent the substance from shrinking and decomposing. This is going to let the coir hold the water for a long time. The pH level of coco coir is between 5.8 and 6.8, close to neutral range.
The pH level makes coco coir a better option for many plants. There is no need to add some limestone just to adjust its acidity levels.
–Which one between coco fiber vs peat moss is a better option for your own garden? Find quality things that will help you with gardening on our site. We have quality products that will ease you in growing those plants.