Plant Cultivation in Natural Media: Soil & Coco

There are many different ways of growing plants these days and the choice depends very much on the grower’s preference.  There are two popular choices when it comes to ‘natural media’ – Soil and Coco. These materials are organic and can vary widely according to the source, understanding the source of your media can lead to a grower getting better results.

So let us firstly talk about Soil, I know what you’re thinking right, isn’t dirt just dirt?

Soil as used in containers for indoor growing is a very different proposition from soil in the garden. Garden soil is usually far too heavy and dense for indoor use and should be avoided.The best soil to use is that which is formulated and blended specifically for use in pots and containers. Typically this kind of soil mix will contain sand, grit or perlite

The best types of for indoor growing are generally the lighter, free draining mixes. Loam is not important really, provided that a proper nutrient solution is used throughout the crop. If there is any doubt about which soil to choose we would suggest that two or more types are used and compared. They will perform differently and it will be easy to see which is more suitable for the task in hand.

Alpha Mix: This is a sensational development in professional soil formulation. Alpha-Mix is significantly drier than other soils on the market. It is designed to offer maximum aeration to the root zone and to resist water logging. This is the characteristic that delivers faster and more vigorous growth, and is a product of the careful professional approach to the formulation of this product. ….Read More

How to pot/repot a seedling or cutting in soil? 

1. A suitable pot will need to be chosen. Virtually any plastic pot will do provided it has drainage holes underneath and a saucer/tray stand in. The size of the pot will need to match the eventual size of the plants. For large plants the pot should have a capacity of at least 10L if not larger with 15L.

2. Many growers like to place a drainage layer in the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay or gravel can be used for this but it is not essential provided the soil mix is free draining.

3. Moisten the medium thoroughly with a hose or watering can. It is highly recommend using a solution of GreenMyst Humic for this purpose. By adding the concentrated humic and fulvic acids to the soil it is being enriched with the essence of fertility from ancient soil deposits. This will greatly enhance its nutrient profile and can lead to massive improvements in plant vitality and crop performance – definitely a product worth having on hand if you’re a soil grower.

4. Make a suitable hole in the centre of the pot and place your seedling or clone in it. Add more medium as required and rake it around the plant then firm it down gently. Do not compact the soil any more than necessary to support the plant.

5. Water the new plant thoroughly with a dedicate Soil nutrient solution, Ionic for Soil for example, ensuring that the reservoir (saucer/tray), is about ¼ full. With soil, always water from the top, through the medium, until the saucer has a small amount of liquid in it. The saucer should not be full as this will water log the soil. A small amount of liquid will show that soil is moist and as the saucer dries it will show that more watering is necessary. While the plants are small they will probably only require watering every three days or so but they will grow very quickly and before long they will be needing water every day.

It is advisable to flush your pots by watering with a plain tap water, until it runs out at the bottom of the pot, about every three weeks to remove any potential build-up of salts.

Also known within the industry as coir, or sometimes as coco-peat, this great growing medium is actually a by-product from the processing of coconut husks and comes from the tropics, most notably from Indonesia, Thailand and Sri-Lanka. Apart from its good growing properties it has two added advantages. In the first place it is a good thing to be using a product from third world countries, that is adding value to what was essentially a waste product, which is  providing income and employment where it is most needed. Also the product is easily recyclable; used coco can be simple dug into the garden to improve friability of flower beds and other areas.

BE AWARE however that all coco is not the same. The piles of husks are often stacked on the beach for months or years and can become impregnated with mineral salts from this exposure. A good quality product is achieved by prolonged and careful washing in pure fresh water to ensure that the residual salts are washed out before it is sold to the marketplace. The best source of clean coco is your local hydroponic store (locate your nearest store). The products they sell will have been sourced exclusively for plant cultivation and there are unlikely to be problems with the quality. Coco sold in a garden centre, on the other hand, is intended as mulch or a soil additive and may well not be washed as thoroughly. Over mineralised coco will produce pale sickly plants and must be avoided. If you are in any doubt about a particular brand or source of coco then ask for an analysis. The manufacturer should have an analysis of every batch.

UGro is a range of high quality coco substrates that is peat-free, biodegradable and eco-friendly. It is designed to help you achieve best results with rooting, growing and flowering while protecting the environment. Using UGro will help you reduce your carbon footprint and preserve peat lands, home to many rare organisms and a vital habitat for birds, dragonflies and plants..…Read more

Coco can be purchased loose in bags and also in compressed form as ‘bricks’. These bricks need soaking to allow the medium to break up and become loose and friable. All coco products tend to be inert, meaning it holds no residual nutrient value within the medium. Ensure, when soaking or watering for the first time, to pre-charge the coco with a nutrient solution (GreenMyst Humic solution is recommended).  Coco is also available in grow bags or slabs which can be laid out and watered with drippers similar to RockWool slabs. The most common form however is the loose crumbly material sold in bags and this is treated in many respects like soil.

TOP TIP: Using coco loose from a bag? Break up any large chunks of coco that maybe clumped together. This will ensure better aeration within the media and allow your roots to breathe.

How to pot/repot seedlings and cuttings in coco?

1. A suitable pot will need to be chosen. Virtually any plastic pot will do provided it has drainage holes underneath and a saucer/tray to stand in. The size of the pot will need to match the eventual size of the plants. For large plants the pot should have a capacity of at least 10 Litres.

2. Moisten the medium thoroughly with a hose or watering can, allowing fibers to break up (should you buy the coco in bag form this may not be necessary).

3. Make a suitable hole in the centre of the pot and place your seedling or clone in it. Add more media as required and rake it around the plant then firm it down gently. Do not compact the coco any more than necessary to support the plant.

4. Water a new plant thoroughly with a dedicated coco nutrient solution, Ionic for Coco for example, ensuring that the reservoir (saucer/tray) is about ¼ full. With coco, always water from the top, through the medium, until the saucer has a small amount of liquid in it. The saucer should not be full as this will water log the coco. A small amount of liquid will show that the medium is moist and as the saucer/tray dries it will show that more watering is necessary. While the plants are small they will probably only require watering every three days or so, but they will grow very quickly and before long they will be needing water daily.

Never let the saucer/tray dry out completely. It is advisable to flush your pots by watering with plain tap water until it runs out the bottom of the pot, about every 3 weeks to remove any potential build-up of salts.