1. What is South Sun Coconut Coir?
Coconut coir is a byproduct of the coconut husk grinding process. After grinding, the coconut husk yields three main components: coconut core, coconut fiber, and coconut coir. After separating and sifting the coconut fiber, coir is obtained (which accounts for 70% of the fiber). This is considered a clean raw material used as a growing medium for plants and is widely used by many farms and nurseries for ornamental plants and flowers.
Coconut coir is also referred to as coconut fiber, coir dust, or coconut coir. However, unlike coconut fiber, coir has been sifted to include only the coir dust, without any of the fibrous strands.
2. How to Identify Processed Coconut Coir
Coconut coir, once separated from the coconut husk, cannot be used immediately because it contains two substances that affect plant roots: tannins and lignin.
Currently, coir is often sold in the market in reused bags or packaging without labels or clear origins. Buyers rely solely on the seller’s information to determine whether the coir is processed or unprocessed, making it difficult to differentiate, leading to potential deception. Here are some solutions to distinguish between processed and unprocessed coir:
- Color and Appearance: Unprocessed coir is light yellow, while processed coir is reddish-brown and has high moisture content. Some sellers soak coir in water, and if it turns red, it indicates unprocessed coir. However, some types of coir remain brown even after processing, so this method only aims to ensure standard processing and may not accurately differentiate.
- Qualitative Assessment: Unprocessed coir has poor water absorption, while processed coir retains water well.
- Quantitative Assessment: You can apply two indicators, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH level, to evaluate the coir. Unprocessed coir typically has moisture content of 45-55%, EC > 2.5, and pH 5.5 – 6.5. In contrast, processed coir has moisture content of 70-80%, EC ≤ 0.5, and pH 6 – 7.
3. How to Process Coconut Coir Upon Purchase
Processing coconut coir involves removing tannins and lignin from the coir while retaining beneficial components, as tannins and lignin directly inhibit plant growth. They obstruct the air and nutrient uptake of plants and are difficult to decompose. Particularly, lignin only dissolves in alkaline environments, which can stunt plant growth, lead to dwarfism, cause toxicity, and eventually kill the plant.
Follow these steps to process coir:
There are several methods to remove the bitterness from coir, but the following is the simplest and most convenient for small quantities:
Materials Needed: Coconut coir, lime powder, and clean water.
Instructions:
- Soak the coir in clean water, ensuring there is enough water to fully submerge it. The more water used, the faster and more thoroughly the bitterness will be removed, though this will consume more water.
- After soaking for 2-3 days, drain the water and replace it with fresh water for another 2-3 days, then drain again.
- Mix lime water using 5% of the dry weight of the coir, then soak for approximately 5-7 days.
- After soaking in lime water, drain it and rinse with clean water 1 to 2 times. When the water runs clear or slightly yellow like diluted tea, it is ready for use.
- Let it dry and then begin using it.
4. How to Mix Coconut Coir for Planting
Processed coconut coir serves as an excellent substrate for root development, increases fertility, enhances microbial content, and boosts nutrients in the soil. To ensure the highest efficiency of coconut coir, it can be mixed with various substrates in appropriate ratios, such as:
- For sprouting: Use 100% coconut coir as the substrate.
- For seedling propagation: Mix coconut coir and organic fertilizer (earthworm castings) in a 7:3 ratio.
- For planting vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants: Coconut coir should make up ⅓ of the total substrate.
- For hydroponic growing media: Use 100% coconut coir.
- For soil amendment: Use 15-20%.
- Additionally, coconut coir is used for propagating orchids and growing melons.
5. Where to Buy Coconut Coir?
To ensure healthy plant growth and disease-free conditions, use processed coconut coir. Currently, instead of buying unprocessed coconut fiber or coir that requires soaking in lime and sifting—which can lead to the risk of fungal contamination—contact us to purchase South Sun processed coconut coir, which will be your top choice.
- Easily available in all 63 provinces and cities.
- Assurance from a sustainable brand in the market.
- Quality is always a top priority.
- Pricing in line with quality.
- Dedicated sales and technical consulting services.
To purchase wholesale or become a distributor, call the hotline at 0933.158.156 to receive:
- Comprehensive technical advice from a team of professional engineers.
- Detailed product information tailored to your needs.
- Convenient and accurate purchasing information.
