Understanding Washed Coco Coir.
What is coco coir washing? And why is it important?
What is Coco Coir Anyway?
Coco peat, also known as coco coir, is a natural fiber extracted from the husk of coconuts. It is widely recognized for its excellent water retention capabilities, aeration properties, cation exchange and sustainability. Coco peat is a byproduct of the coconut industry, making it an sustainable choice for gardening and commercial growers.
What is Washed Coco?
Washing coco coir refers to coconut coir that has undergone a water washing process to remove excess water soluble components like sodium and potassium. Unwashed coco has a very high EC which is undesirable.
Washing Process
Washing coco coir is an important step to prepare it for use as a growing substrate or soil amendment. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of the process at our factory:
1. Water Soaking: Once the coco is sorted and processed, the coir is soaked in a large custom made reservoir filled with clean fresh water. The amount of water used is sufficient to fully submerge the coir. The coir is left to soak for several hours or overnight. This soaking process helps to rehydrate the coir and loosen up any remaining compacted fibers.
2. Mixing and Agitating: After soaking, the coir is thoroughly mixed and agitated. This can be done manually using hands (other factories) or with a special machine to ensure that all parts of the coir are exposed to water and that any debris or dust is dislodged.
3. Draining: Once the coir has been sufficiently mixed and agitated, it is allowed to drain. The water is drained from the factory reservoir and sent to a water treatment. This step helps to remove excess water and allows the coir to reach a suitable moisture level for further processing.
4. Repeat Washing (Optional with most factories, standard at ours): Depending on the initial cleanliness of the coir and its intended use, we repeat the washing process enough times to ensure thorough cleaning and removal of any residual salts and/or debris.
5. Drying: After complete washing, the coir is spread out in a thin layer to dry. This is done outdoors in the sun, in a well-ventilated area, or using a drying rack or screen during bad weather. It’s important to ensure that the coir is completely dry before storing or using it to prevent mold growth.
6. Final Processing: Once completely dry, the washed coco coir can be further processed as needed. It’s commonly used as a growing medium for plants in hydroponic systems, mixed with soil for container gardening, or used as a mulch or soil amendment in traditional garden beds and even reptile bedding.
By washing coco coir thoroughly, you remove the excess salts, debris, and dust, ensuring a clean and suitable medium for plant growth. This process helps to optimize the coir's water holding capacity and ensures it is free from contaminants that could potentially harm plants.
Why Washing is Essential
The washing process is crucial because raw coco coir initially has a high EC and contains loads of salts, which can be harmful to plants if not properly removed. Washing coco coir THOROUGHLY provides a stable and balanced growing medium that supports super healthy plant growth without causing nutrient imbalances or toxicity issues.
Conclusion
Most Coco Coir on the market these days is washed but it may not be washed enough. Make sure you know exactly what your buying. Check the EC of your coco or ask for a lab report. For reference, Pure Coco has an initial EC of less than 0.5. Our Pure Coco is also the only coco coir on the planet which is buffered organically. This is a patented process to ensure surrounding waterways are not polluted with high levels of calcium nitrate.
Don't just grow. Dominate.
