How to Mix Coconut Coir & Soil

Coir comes from coconut fibers. It substitutes for peat moss in gardening and soil amendment. Peat moss comes from peat bogs that take thousands of years to develop, making it an unsustainable choice in the garden. Coir, made from fibers of the fast growing coconut, acts similarly to peat moss. Coir comes in dried, compressed bales. Once soaked in water, the fibers absorb and hold moisture while adding bulk and drainage to heavy soil and planting materials.

Bucket
Bucket with holes
Soil
Sand
Compost
Garden fork

Instructions

- 1
  Unwrap the coconut coir from the plastic wrapping and put it in a bucket or plastic tub. Add water until the brick is submerged. Pull the fibers apart as they begin to absorb moisture and swell.
- 2
  Place the dampened coir in a bucket that has holes in the bottom. Run water through the mix to rinse out any salts or impurities.
- 3
  Add soil to the bucket. Potting soil mixes vary depending on the type of seeds or planting you are doing. Use coconut coir to replace peat moss in all soil recipes.
- 4
  Mix coconut coir to make a standard potting soil mix. Combine one part topsoil, one part coir and one part rich compost and use it to pot up annuals and perennials.
- 5
  Make a potting soil mix for plants that need good drainage, like cacti and succulents. Combine one part coir, one part loamy garden soil and one part clean sand.
- 6
  Add a 2- to 4-inch layer of coir over the soil in a prepared garden bed. Dig the coir into the soil to improve drainage and add organic matter.

Inactive Ingredients in Fertilizer

Soil Types & Their Effects

Soil