I bought a big block of coconut coir soil because it was inexpensive, but I'm having a tough time with it. Chopping it up to fill my pots was a hassle, but I managed. I used it to top up a container of regular soil where I was growing some tomato plants, but sadly, they all died within a month. I also put coir in three pots with dill, and all but one died. The coir seems really hydrophobic when dry — it took forever to absorb water, and even after some rain, the soil below 2cm was still dry. I'm wondering if this is a common issue with coconut coir or if I'm doing something wrong?
3 Answers
It sounds like you're trying to use coir too much like regular potting soil! It's really meant to be mixed in rather than used alone. Try combining it with other materials for better results.
You definitely need to rehydrate the coir before using it! It comes compressed and dried. It's typically used as a soil amendment to hold moisture and provide aeration. You might want to mix it with perlite or compost for better performance.
Did you make sure to wet the coir before planting? Just like regular potting soil, it can become hydrophobic when dry. You really need to mix it in with something else to help with drainage and aeration. Straight coir can be a bit tricky!