Which Soil Is Best For Slow-growing Microgreens? We are Janette & Jesper, and we love microgreens. What better way to do What is a herb garden without dill! You buy normally the mats in rolls and cut them in the size to fit your trays. Growing your own microgreens is fun and rewarding. What I do know is that I have thrown quite a bit of coconut coir into the compost heap because it was stored too wet, and mold grew on it. There are many good brands of coconut coir to choose from. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, How to Prepare Coco Coir Bricks to Grow Microgreens. Where do fungus gnats come from anyway? I did over wet the coir in the video. (A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of the soil for healthier growths and to resist drought). Remember, even free shipping is free. It doesnt matter what type of soil you use, adding coconut coir will support loosening the texture and improve drainage. Even the fluffy coconut coir in the video not only dripped water, but it flowed out in a steady stream. As you saw in the Instagram video (@myviewfromthewoods), I just poured water into the nursery pot indiscriminately. Place the coir in a container with small holes in the bottom to drain out the excess water. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'microgreenscorner_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',139,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-microgreenscorner_com-banner-1-0')};Coco chips Coco- Chips are churns of coconut husk. So why all the fuzz about coconut coir? It weighed 1.45 pounds. I'll have to research that. That's because the pot has holes in the bottom, and any excess water will drain out. Unlike some mediums, coconut coir does not shrink off of the sides of pots when it is dry, making re-wetting easier. These are often used as a mulch or topper. If I tried to expand the 10-pound brick referenced above, I would normalize the water amount to a pound of coir and multiply by the density difference. As an amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Find their density and compare it to the 1.4-pound Coco Bliss brick and go from there. We love to use it not only as its ecological and environmentally friendly but because it is cost-effective and gives good growth. TIP: You can experiment with a small amount of coco coir and add a cup of water to get a feel for how much is needed to get the desired expansion. From these numbers, we can make cost comparisons to soil media products in stores. This post's actual purpose is to set up a series of articles using a variety of additives and fertilizers with pure coco coir to see how well it performs. Youll need to feed your seedlings regularly to enable them to grow. You dont want to over-hydrate it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Also, soil makes for a messy harvest, youll end up with a lot of it stuck to your greens, making washing them a chore. When the top dried out and was light brown, I mixed it up again to let the dry coir absorb some of the wetness and bring some of the moisture up to let the fan dry it. The electrical conductivity of saltwater can deter or prevent plants roots from effectively taking up the water. A soilless medium can be a great alternative choice. We love to use coconut coir as the main ingredient of our microgreen growing media. But for every positive aspect, there can also be a negative factor to take into account and find a solution to make it work. They are lightweight; 1 brick weighs 635 grams (23oz). You sure can! At the same time, the coir breaks down very slowly and the long fibers create air pockets in the soil, allowing water to drain away from the plants roots, helping prevent root rot. We will discuss each of these in more detail later in the article. So a 10-pound brick would yield 2,006 cubic inches or 34.7 quarts which is 1.2 cubic feet. To dry it out, I placed the container in front of a fan (not so close the coir flew out) and let some of the water evaporate. It also breaks down much more quickly than coconut coir and cannot be reused so more of it is needed for gardening purposes. Follow the recommendations in this guide and you'll be eating microgreens in as few as 7-days! Over wet or saturated coco coir will still mold if you're not careful. Growing Microgreens is easy if you follow the simple steps in this colorful 39-page guide. This will also keep them from creating more spores. Believe it or not, coconut coir can help with two seemingly opposing properties. This will probably not be the case with microgreens and you may be able to skip it. Somehow he snuck off to become a geologist and professor before coming back to his senses to write & lecture about microgreens and gardening. When watered the coir will release this salt into the water. However, What are theeasiest microgreensto grow? Soil bacteria produce a whole host of groups of enzymes that make these important nutrients available for the plants. Once expanded excess moisture can cause mold issues in leftover coir. We will calculate how many square inches are in a pound of compressed coconut coir to normalize the bricks. Moreover, coconut coir is both sustainable, reusable, and recyclable making it a great long-term use product. When it comes to how much it costs to grow in coconut coir, wed say that it costs about $0.80 per tray in general. Iron is a micronutrient that is essential for plants and plays a critical role in photosynthesis, respiration, and DNA synthesis. Some seed-starting mediums compact too easily, making it difficult for the tiny roots to take hold. Coconut coir usually comes in a compact brick. (And What To Do), How Long Do Peace Lily Flowers Last (5 Tips For Longevity). Coco fibers These are the long fibers which have not yet been chopped and ground up. Coir rope was used extensively for sailing in the 11th century, and in the first half of the 19th century was used in the UK for floor coverings. Coconut coir for microgreens will keep the seeds damp, yet allow for excellent air circulation, preventing rot. Saltwater conductivity will also make it difficult for the plant to absorb nutrients. Coconut coir is fluffy and soft and doesnt compact easily. Minute soil has tremendous water retention capabilities that both save water and gives you added flexibility in watering frequency. Therefore, we won't touch on those topics. Growing Microgreens Without Soil is it a Good Idea? I have run dozens of trials, most of them documented on this website. Remove as many roots as you can. You can also reuse the coir as mulch, or to amend difficult soils such as clay or other hard soils. He also writes for several other websites, including MyViewFromTheWoods.com. The smaller 1.4-pound coco coir brick is 1.7 times as dense as the 10-pound brick. We can also determine if it's wiser to buy more small bricks or larger bricks. Best Lights For Microgreens The Home Grower, Sunflower Microgreens Nutrition: Including 5 Awesome Health Benefits, Growing Cilantro From Seed to Soak or Not to Soak the Seed, Microgreens Seed Calculator Find the Perfect Seeding Density. Trays of microgreens also make great gifts! Adding coconut coir to your soil improves the growing conditions as it supports water retention. To estimate how much you should use for other blocks, find your brick's density and divide it by 0.022. Coconut coir can be used as a stand-alone medium or mixed in with other mediums such as soil or perlite. 5. Maybe they plan on using all of the coir? Beet Microgreens Does Soaking the Seeds Improve Germination? Always check the density of the coco coir bricks when you are comparing the cost. Mushrooms wont harm your plants, and in fact, the mycelium (or roots) of the mushroom add nutrients to the soil or help transfer nutrients to the plants. We don't recommend throughly wet soil when planting microgreens. Very gently press the seeds down with a piece of cardboard, or use your hand. Youll be feeding your plants by mixing fertilizer into the water you are misting them with. Mist the whole tray lightly with water. The coir should separate into chunks using a knife. Get the tips, tricks and latest news straight in your inbox! Its the substance that you will find in the coconut, between the outer coating to the inner shell. Soil can hold too much water, causing the roots of the seedlings to be unhealthy. Buying it loosely means high volume and heavy sacks, similar to soil. If you are buying your coconut coir online, the most economical option is to go for bricks. (Dont pour water on the trays as this will dislodge your seeds). The Home Microgreen Store has all the supplies you need to grow microgreens at home. They provide plenty of aeration and drainage and contains only coconut pith and fibers. Getting coconut coir as a mat is ideal for growing microgreens. Getting StartedCoursesResourcesMicrogreens PodcastHome Microgreens StoreGuest Post Policy, 2019-2022Todd Marsh Affiliates - Acceptable Use Policy - Cookie Policy - Privacy policy - Terms & Conditions - Disclaimer - DMAC - Refund Policy. (You can rinse and strain the coir in your yard or garden to take advantage of the soil-amending benefits of the coconut peat you are rinsing away.). We wouldnt use it again for growing microgreens but as mentioned, you can definitively compost it, mix it with soil, and get a new medium to use for growing outdoors. You should be able to use my numbers with other brands of coco coir bricks. So, dont munch on them. It's a woven fabric made from the skin of the jute plant, and an Microgreens can be grown through conventional methods such as soil or greener options, namely hydroponic techniques, meaning growing in water. The fibers absorb the salt and retain it when they are dried and packaged. Smaller seeds do not need to be soaked. It improves aeration and drainage as well. Expand the bricks slowly, adding a little water at a time. We will consider the density difference of the bricks and assume that this will normalize the expansion. Our compressed brick of coir was 64 square inches. I dont have the room to soak a whole bag. When you buy coconut in brick it has a very high compression ratio, so when you put it in water it will expand and give you a high volume of growing medium. Coconut coir can be bought compressed in bricks. Many growers show you microgreens, and they look great. If you live in a very humid area and the coir remains damp removing the roots will take a bit more time. Do you want to learn how to grow microgreens for profit? There are two varieties of coconut coir: Brown, from ripe coconuts, and white, from green coconuts. You will have a better idea of the cost differences. Your hand may have moisture on it, but if any water drips out of the soil, you shouldn't cover it tightly. From this, you can compare the costs with your favorite microgreen soil. Microgreens Podcast Episode 025. Plant growth can be limited by iron availability because ferric iron has very low solubility. But as mentioned, we will show those results in future articles and add those costs to the ones shown below. Using the prices at the time of publishing this article, let's calculate the cost per quart of expanded coconut coir. We will link the articles here once they have been published. From then on, all Hell breaks out. We may earn a small commission from the companies mentioned in this post at no additional cost to you. It has been used for long by growers in countries where coconut grows naturally. The Coco Bliss coco coir brick dimensions in the video are 8- by 4- by 2-inches. Copyright 2022 - microgreenscorner.com. Evenly cover the seeds with a very thin layer of coir. You can also use coconut coir to mix with soil. it doesnt break down and ends up in stockpiles or landfills. You can also mix it with soil to improve the texture and ph of the soil. Seems like a simple problem to solve, but as the video showed you, coconut coir is really good at storing water and not looking wet. Beneficial bacteria also help your plants by increasing the amount of nutrients the plant is able to absorb. Strange, but at the time of publishing, Coco Bliss is only offering a minimum of 20 1.4-pound bricks. These smaller bricks sold by True Leaf Market are great for smaller crops and home growers. Also, it incorporates 30% perlite for better aeration and drainage. Hopefully that changes. Slowly pour a little warm water over the coir. That is 8.25 quarts for those familiar with the 8-quart bags sold by garden centers. Coconut coir is an excellent soilless medium for growing things, including the many varieties of microgreens available. Our prices are as competitive as the larger seed sellers. If your coir has been soaking for about an hour and it has a soil-like texture, but theres still water in the bottom of your container, youve added a bit too much water for the coir to completely absorb. Most videos or articles say to add water and dump in a random amount. I was surprised by how this coco coir brick expanded. Coconut coir is a great medium in many ways. Our kit and seed prices are very competitive if not the lowest on the internet. Below are the top sellers on Amazon. Soak your coconut coir in a solution containing the nutrients the coir naturally attracts and retains that we mentioned earlier(calciumand magnesium). It's built into the cost. Sprinkle your microgreen seeds evenly over the surface of the coir, or place them in rows. We respect your privacy. Coconut coir has a neutral pH. Density is equal to the volume (length x width x height) / weight. It should take an hour or so for the coir to completely absorb the water and expand to its full size. Before we get to recommendations, let's go over the numbers and make a couple of assumptions. On the pro side, it is virtually pest-free and resistant to many unwanted growths, including various molds. Brown coir, harvested from ripe coconuts, contains less cellulose and more lignin than other plant fibers such as cotton and flax, making it less flexible, but stronger. It comes in a finely ground form that is good for starting seeds and doesnt carry the risk of soil-born disease that potting soil and compost do. We have wasted coco coir from bricks because of improper handling. Once your coir has soaked up all the water it can and has achieved a fluffy, soil-like texture, now its ready to use. Note: steps one through three may only be necessary if there are a lot of roots to remove from your coir. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can get the coconut material in different textures and shapes; as a mat, dried and pressed into bricks which expands when water is added or bagged up as organic mulch. Place the coir in a bucket or wheelbarrow sufficient to contain its expanded form. Microgreens Humidity And Temperature (Complete Guide), The Beginners Guide to DWC Hydroponics (Complete Guide), How Do You Use Rockwool In Hydroponics (A Complete Guide), How To Grow Asparagus Hydroponically (Complete Guide), How To Grow Strawberries Hydroponically (COMPLETE GUIDE), How To Grow Hydroponic Habanero Peppers (Complete Guide), advantage of the soil-amending benefits of the coconut peat, 6 Advantages And 5 Disadvantages Of Coco Peat, Everything You Need To Know When Growing Vegetables In Coco Coir, How To Deadhead Sunflowers (And Should You), 5 Reasons Your Aloe Vera Is Turning Yellow, Why Are Your Mint Leaves Turning White? Are They Different From Sprouts? Discuss how well pure coco coir grows microgreens. As you saw in the video, coconut coir has the uncanny ability to look perfectly moist, but in reality, it's saturated. If you have too much water, just squeeze it out with your hands. (Make a solution following the instructions on your cal/mag fertilizer container (some suggest a 150% solution) and soak the coir for at least 8 hours.). Grow microgreens as a side hustle, retirement income, or maybe even as an occupation. 64 divided by 1.4 is 45.7 cubic inches per pound. Coconut coir is the fiber from the outer husk of coconuts. Instead of pails, I now store soil in totes. 792 divided by 10 is 79.2 cubic inches per pound. Below are links to a couple of articles that show how well microgreens germinate in coir but then stall out. Which medium to grow your microgreens in is an important choice. Below is a video of a coco coir brick expanding. The only negative that we have found, which you may take into consideration, is that due to its nature it doesnt contain any nutrients but only potassium which helps seedling grow well. We have always used Coco Bliss bricks and have found them to be consistent and always clean. Coconut coir will germinate plants well, but it needs additives (granular or liquid) to grow good plants. Of course, we will be comparing how the additives do our own Home Microgreens potting mix and pure coir. We hope that their quality control is top-notch. This is true of any soilless medium. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'microgreenscorner_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',142,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-microgreenscorner_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; They contain pure, untreated, raw fibrous coconut coir that is compressed into light convenient discs or blocks that quickly expand into an amazing grow medium when you add water. The material, while made of natural minerals, is not compostable i.e. Note: if you are growing microgreens from larger seeds, such as sunflowers, peas, or wheat, soaking them overnight in warm water will assist with germination. The coir can also attract and hold some nutrients, namely calcium, magnesium, and iron, meaning you may have to add more of these to your fertilizer mix to get the right balance for your plants. Over wet coconut coir will not store well and, in most cases, will grow mold. Adding beneficial microbes to coir can prevent the growth of this potentially unwanted fungus. If you dont want the mushrooms in your microgreens trays you can remove them as they pop up. So although we can provide a price comparison without the additives' cost, it's a moot point. Coco Bliss by Platonix has many great reviews on Amazon. Potting soil or other soil-based seed starter medium may seem like the easiest way to go, but that might not be the case for a couple of reasons. There is only one ingredient listed for this product: Coconut Coir Pith. Here are some points to consider when deciding if you want to use and expand coco coir bricks to grow microgreens. Several different methods and processes are detailed. This unique mix incorporates 70% of the finest coconut pith and fiber blend. In spite of this, modern manufacturing sometimes treats the coconut fiber as a waste product. These bricks from Plantonix are 100% natural and organic. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'microgreenscorner_com-leader-1','ezslot_3',141,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-microgreenscorner_com-leader-1-0')};Now when you know what coconut coir is and why its a great medium to chose for growing microgreens, well share some factors to consider and which can help you find the best product. It is OMRI listed for organic use. Since the 10-pound brick is 0.57 times as dense, I'd use 815-mL per pound of coir. Remember, we want to expand the coir to the moisture level to store it without having mold grow on it. Rinse the coconut coir to remove excess dust (coco peat). Its a dark brown and fibrous material with fibers that are very strong and easily managed. Rehydrate your coir. It makes an ideal medium for tiny seedlings to establish healthy root growth in. This is a readymade mix of coconut coir and perlite. chinensis), Microgreens Lighting Guide: Choosing Lights and Setting Them Up. Besides its many applications in yarn, string, and other cordage, coconut coir is also used to make floor mats, brushes, mattresses, sacking fabric, and upholstery padding. Coconut coir expands up to ten times its own weight. The type that is used to grow plants in is the brown coir. Instructions are included as well as email support. Some nutrients can decrease pH, as can watering and humidity. Some coconut fibers are soaked in saltwater as part of the processing. If you're using all of the coconut coir from a brick, moisture isn't a problem. While coconut coir is nearly neutral in pH its a good idea to check the pH periodically if you are reusing the medium to make sure it is staying in the neutral/very slightly acidic range. If you are unfamiliar with coconut coir, what it is, where it comes from, how it is processed, its advantages, and the renewable & sustainable properties; in that case, we have published an in-depth article that has become very popular. The density of the 250-gram brick is between that of the 1.4- and 10-pound bricks -- about 30% less coconut coir per pound, or 5.8 quarts per pound. Larger seeds like sunflowers may have the challenge to settle into the medium. Step-by-step video instructions are included for the most commonly grown microgreen varieties. All you need is a little effort to remove old roots and rinse the coir to prevent salt build-up. It used to be that you could choose to purchase 1.4-pound coco coir blocks in any quantity from 2 to 50. We don't give up trying to find the best combination to grow microgreens. A brick does expand to 8.25-quarts, so a quart will cost 48-cents. We will also explain the following. Coconut coir is an organic material that is a more sustainable option than other soilless mediums such as peat moss, and Rockwool. Check the moisture of your seed trays every day and mist them at least once a day. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our thoughts on coconut coir bricks and their usage (in no particular order). Also, you must make sure to regularly feed your plants nutrients that coir does not contain, but the same is true for any soilless medium. Check out the distributor of the brand of coconut coir you are thinking about purchasing and find out how their coconut fiber is processed. I had intentions of fast-forwarding through much of this, but I brought up some good points throughout the video. The products produced vary for a variety of gardening uses. We also have our own soil, microgreen kits, and trays! Use a strainer with a very fine mesh to retain the longer strands of coir. The mushroom itself is considered inedible and mildly toxic. We have listed some brands which we have researched and found offering good quality products. Ancient peoples of South Asia and southern India made rope and other cordage from the coconut fibers and used them in the building of their houses and boats as well as for daily tasks. As it has more or less the same texture as the soil you can grow basically any microgreens in this medium. Assuming that a particle of coir is the same weight once expanded. Once the coco coir brick was expanded, the volume was measured to be 476 square inches. Reduces shipping cost both for seller and buyer. What I have now is a beautiful container of coco coir that smells like earth and not mold. Coir hydrates more quickly than peat moss, but it will still require some patience. These fibers form between the outer cover and the hard, internal shell around the meat of the coconut. This when the coco is ground up but not down to soil-like texture. Coconut coir is susceptible to infection with Leucocoprinus birnbaumii. According to reviewers the product is low in salt (so you dont have to rinse it yourself) and has a neutral pH. Unsubscribe at any time. The mats hold moisture great and roots grow through the coir mats easily. Peat moss grows very slowly and is not considered a renewable resource, although some companies grow and harvest it sustainably. Coconut fibers absorb and hold water, keeping moisture near the roots of the plants. Even if you plan on using all of the coir, don't oversoak the coir as it retains a lot of water and may impact seed germination. Burlap is an economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable growing medium. Coconut coir has taken the gardening world by storm and its popular for its use as a medium to grow microgreens. Microgreens are a quick and easy crop that you can grow yourself year-round. But first, the pros and cons of coco coir bricks. These show that with the correct additives, coco coir outperforms peat moss based potting mixes and for sure any fiber mat. As mentioned, I've thrown out quite a bit of coir when I was messing around with hydroponics. According to Amazon, the 10 pound Coco Bliss (same brand) coir brick is 12 by 12 by 5.5 inches. Coco Bliss now also offers 250-gram bricks (~1/2-pound). These enzymes act as catalysts that break down the molecules of the nutrients fed to the plants into forms that are easy for the plant to absorb and use. His microgreens have appeared in Better Homes & Garden magazine and other websites.Todd worked at a large farm market, garden & nursery center for 20-years. Unlike soil, coconut coir contains very few nutrients. Water was dripping out even after quite a bit of mixing. They require little space and make a delicious and healthy addition to your meals. Then multiple that value by 1.4 to find out how many liters of water you need to add per pound of your brick. But know they sell them in 5-packs. Lets first start by understanding what it is and why its such a great growing medium.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'microgreenscorner_com-box-4','ezslot_1',138,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-microgreenscorner_com-box-4-0')}; Coconut coir is a lightweight soilless medium made from coconut husks. Fill a seedling tray with about an inch of coconut coir. We go deep into the numbers later in the article to figure out the best way to buy coconut coir. We present the tests, and you can make up your own mind on how you want to grow microgreens. Other brands might be as good, but we have no experience with them. How to prepare the growing mat for microgreens. Click the button to sign-up for new article notifications. I recommend the Coco Bliss brand because it's certified organic and one of the larger companies. So adding enough water to the brick without over-saturating the coconut coir is the trick we need to learn. A brick should expand to 34.7-quarts, so a quart will cost $1.01. This is of debatable significance to the environment, but in case it is important to you to use a product that will eventually break down, there is that consideration. The more common are peat, fibers, and chips. The ebook comes in two versions, one version includes instructions to grow the most commonly grown microgreens. One way that beneficial bacteria do this is with specialized proteins known as extracellular enzymes that they release into the soil or soilless medium. Coconut coir soilless medium is fluffy, soft, and soil-like once hydrated and is easy to use. Learn how your comment data is processed. But first, let's expand a brick of coconut coir! If your coir is dry these are easily pulled out. Some of the great things about using coconut coir for growing microgreens are: Summing up the above, you can see that coconut coir has so many benefits. All the supplies and microgreen seeds you need to grow beautiful and nutritious microgreens at home! You can buy them in packs with 3, 5 and 10 bricks. Its only important to remove the biggest roots or big clumps of roots. The next time I went to use some, sure enough what remained in the bucket was covered in mold. The product listing should contain the size of the bricks.