There are many ways to prepare substrate for pots and plants, from the one that is limited to buying the universal substrate bag, to the one that is prepared at home with each ingredient separately, according to the needs of the plants that we want to grow. Both in some and others, there are not a few who choose in many cases to add coconut fiber to their chosen mixture. This material is one of the most used among those who mix their own substrate, as well as being very popular in hydroponic crops.
If you want to learn more about this material to grow plants, join us in this EcologíaVerde article in which we explain what are the properties of coconut fiber for plants and how to make it.
Importance of drainage and aeration of the substrate for plants
Coconut fiber stands out as a substrate for its ability to provide a base with very good aeration and drainage for plants. Both characteristics are vital in the cultivation of a large number of species, which is why this material has progressively gained ground over the classic peat.
The aeration in the substrate It is very important to provide a more comfortable rooting to the plant, where the roots don’t have to fight their way through a dense, matted medium. In addition, the best air circulation helps prevent fungus and unwanted pathogens.
On the other hand, drainage may be even more important in a huge number of species. There are many plants that do not support excess moisture in their roots, whether they originate in dry and arid environments like many succulents, or if they come from tropical regions like some plants appreciated for their flowers. A substrate that provides good water drainage It will allow the roots to absorb the amount of water they need and let the rest escape, thus avoiding prolonged waterlogging that can cause rot and weakening. Here you can learn more about drainage in pots.
What is coconut fiber for plants and its properties
What is bought as coconut fiber is nothing more than the short pulverized coconut fibers together with small particles of the fruit itself, which is sold in large dry and pressed planks, in the form of tablets for smaller surfaces or, even, it can also be bought without pressing.
There are a lot of properties and benefits of coconut fiber for plantsmore specific to prepare the substrate in crops and gardening:
- It has a great aeration capacity.
- It retains humidity but offers good drainage, so that it gives the plants a fair measure of water, retaining a small part of humidity that helps the plant to endure between waterings, but without causing harmful flooding.
- It offers a neutral pH between 5.5 and 6.5, inert for most plants.
- In a similar way to what happens with water, it has a great capacity to retain minerals and nutrients, which it later releases gradually and progressively.
- In addition to all this, coconut fiber is a natural and ecological product, so you do not need to worry about possible contamination by chemicals in your crop.
How to make coconut fiber for plants
Preparing coconut substrate is much simpler than it may seem at first. Actually, in many cases, it is enough to simply prepare the fiber and add some other nutrient-rich material or organic matter as compost. Here we tell you how to make homemade organic or natural fertilizer so that you can add it to the mixture with the coconut fiber for the substrate of your plants.
Although there are many recipes, here we are going to teach you how to prepare one of the best universal substrates with coconut fiber that you can find follow this simple step by step to prepare coconut fiber for your plants:
- The first thing you need is, obviously, the coconut fiber itself. This will occupy 60% of the mixture, but be careful because if you have bought it in the form of a sheet or pressed tablets, it will multiply its volume several times when you have moistened it and stirred it.
- Wet it and use a rake or some other tool to undo the block it forms, patiently and evenly. Once you have the fiber loose and moist, you can gather an amount that is 60% of the final mix and apply the other 40% of the base mix, which will provide the most important nutrients for your plants.
- We recommend earthworm humus for being a totally ecological product and one of the best natural fertilizers that can be found. In this other post you can learn how to make earthworm humus. Stir it together with the coconut fiber, making sure to mix the materials completely.
- Finally, the final touch is given with a small contribution of vermiculite and perlite, which help with just the right water retention that is needed, in addition to giving a small, very beneficial mineral contribution.
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