Coco coir bricks are made from coco coir, which is the husk of a coconut. Coco coir is processed to make into bricks that can be used in many different ways. If you would like more knowledge about coco coir and what they are made of, where you can buy them and how to use them for your gardening needs, then keep reading!
How to Use Coco Coir Bricks for Growing Microgreens
Coco coir bricks are a great, affordable way to grow microgreens at home. Coco coir is made from shredded coconut husks and then processed into bricks. These bricks are then typically compressed into smaller sizes, rehydrated with water to form coco coir, and can be used in many ways. Coco coir is a sustainable growing medium for microgreens and other types of vegetables.
When you buy coco coir bricks, they will typically come compressed into a smaller size that makes it easy to store it or to transport if necessary.
It's best to rehydrate the coco coir brick before using them so they expand back to their original form which can be done by soaking in water for 24 hours at room temperature. Then place the coconut husk material inside your container with drainage holes on the bottom. Coco coir is an awesome growing medium for microgreens because it retains water well but also drains easily.
The final step is to add your seeds and then water as needed. You'll want to keep an eye on the moisture levels in the coco coir so that you don't overwater or underwater your plants. For most microgreens, you'll want to water every day or two.
Coco coir bricks are a great, affordable way to grow microgreens at home and can be reused multiple times. They're also a sustainable growing medium that is environmentally friendly. So next time you're looking for an easy and affordable way to get into indoor gardening, try using coco coir bricks to grow microgreens. You won't be disappointed!
You can find coco coir bricks at most garden stores or online. Be sure to rehydrate them before use!
How to Prepare Coco Coir Bricks
Rehydrating Coco Coir
If you're not using the coco coir bricks right away, they can be stored in a cool, and dry place for six months. When you're ready to use them, just rehydrate by soaking in water for 24 hours at room temperature and then drain before planting.
Coco Coir as a Soil Amendment
In addition to growing microgreens, coco coir can also be used as a soil amendment. When added to soil, it helps retain moisture and improve drainage which is great for plants that need well-drained soils like azaleas or gardenias. It's also an organic matter so it will break down over time and improve the overall quality of your soil as it decomposes.
Reusing Coco Coir
When coco coir is used as a growing medium, you can re-use it by adding to garden beds or container gardens. I usually put the used coco coir in my worm bin with the roots of previously grown microgreens.
Medium | Water Retention | Nutrients | Price | PH |
Peat Moss | Good | None | Higher Priced | Acidic |
Coco Coir | Good | None | Lower Price | Neutral |
When you are gardening, you will probably come across two different soil amendments: coco coir and peat moss. Both of these have some pros and some cons, but which one is the better choice for your garden?
Water retention in Peat Moss and Coco Coir
Coco coir is made from husks of coconuts. It has a high water retention capacity, making it a great choice in places where water is scarce. This is the reason why it works great as an amendment to sandy soils.
Peat Moss also has a high water retention capacity, making it a popular amendment for gardeners. However, peat moss can be detrimental to the environment if overused, because of the bogs that are slowly declining.
When used correctly, coco coir and peat moss can both help improve soil quality while retaining moisture in the soil.
Nutrients in Peat Moss and Coco Coir
Both mediums do not contain nutrients.
Price
Coco Coir is lower cost than peat moss.
PH Level
Peat moss is acidic and Coco Coir is neutral. Coco Coir is also anti-fungal and pests don't like living in it.
Which one you choose to use is ultimately up to you. Just make sure that you are using these amendments correctly for the plants you are growing. I will say I prefer the coco bricks because it's less expensive and it is not causing declining bogs.
If you would like to improve the structure of your soil by adding organic matter that will retain moisture in sandy soils or if you just need a little extra help with hydration for plants that don't like wet feet, consider using coco coir bricks.
Where can I buy them?
There are a few places where you can buy coco coir, but your best bet is going to be gardening supply stores or natural feed and grain shops. If those options aren't available to you then online retailers like Amazon also sell coco coir.
If you are using it for microgreens why not just get it from Amazon through my affiliate link now? This is the one I like to use.
Have you used coco coir for your growing medium? Share with us how it worked out, and what else you use in addition to the coco coir. Did any of these make a difference? I would love to know if some of you have tried using this material before!