Coco coir
Also known as: Coconut coir, Coco peat, Cocopeat
Properties
| pH effect | slightly acidic |
|---|---|
| Water retention | high |
| Drainage | good |
| Oxygen to roots | moderate |
| Bacterial surface area | moderate |
| Reusability | low (1-2 cycles) |
| Cost tier | low |
| Weight | light |
How it affects the system
- Natural pH typically 5.5-6.5; well within most crop targets without adjustment
- High cation-exchange capacity: binds and slowly releases calcium and magnesium, can mask Ca/Mg deficiency until it depletes
- Untreated/cheap coir is salt-laden from saltwater processing; buy buffered/washed grade or rinse with calcium-magnesium solution before use
- Breaks down over 2-3 cycles; eventually compacts and loses drainage
System compatibility
Works well in:
- drip
- dutch bucket
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Avoid in:
- NFT channels
- deep water culture (rafts)
- media bed (ebb and flow)
Care notes
Frequently mixed with perlite (50/50 or 70/30) for hydroponic dutch-bucket systems to add drainage. Pure coir works well for hand-watered or drip-irrigated dutch buckets. Buy buffered coir (RHP-certified) or pre-rinse cheap coir with CalMag solution before planting.
Crops that work in coco coir
171 edible crops in the catalog list this medium as compatible.
- Aji amarillo
- Aji dulce
- Aleppo pepper
- Anaheim chile
- Anise hyssop
- Arugula
- Banana pepper
- Batavian lettuce
- Beefsteak tomato
- Beet
- Bell pepper
- Bird's eye chile
- Bishop's crown
- Bitter melon
- Bok choy
- Borage
- Broccoli
- Broccoli rabe
- Brussels sprouts
- Bush beans
- Butterhead lettuce
- Cabbage
- Calamondin
- Cantaloupe
- Cape gooseberry
- Carolina Reaper
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne pepper
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Celtuce
- Chamomile
- Cherry tomato
- Chervil
- Chicory
- Chile pequin
- Chiltepin
- Chives
- Choy sum
- Cilantro
- Collard greens
- Cubanelle
- Cucumber
- Daikon radish
- Dandelion greens
- Datil
- Dill
- Dwarf banana
- Dwarf mango
- Dwarf papaya
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Epazote
- Espelette
- Fatalii
- Fava beans
- Fenugreek
- Florence fennel
- French tarragon
- Gai lan
- Galangal
- Garden cress
- Garlic
- Garlic chives
- Genovese basil
- Ghost pepper
- Ginger
- Green onion
- Ground cherry
- Guajillo
- Habanero
- Honeydew melon
- Huauzontle
- Hungarian Hot Wax
- Hyssop
- Iceberg lettuce
- Jalapeño
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna
- Korean chile
- Korean perilla
- Lambsquarters
- Land cress
- Leaf amaranth
- Leeks
- Lemon balm
- Lemon drop
- Lemon verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lima beans
- Long beans
- Loose-leaf lettuce
- Lovage
- Mâche
- Malabar spinach
- Manzano
- Marconi pepper
- Marjoram
- Mexican mint marigold
- Mexican oregano
- Meyer lemon
- Mibuna
- Mint
- Mitsuba
- Mizuna
- Molokhia
- Mustard greens
- Napa cabbage
- Nasturtium
- New Zealand spinach
- Okra
- Onion
- Orach
- Oregano
- Padrón
- Pandan
- Papalo
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Pasilla bajío
- Pea shoots
- Pepperoncini
- Pimenta de Neyde
- Pimiento
- Poblano
- Pole beans
- Pomegranate
- Potato
- Purslane
- Radish
- Rocoto
- Roma tomato
- Romaine lettuce
- Rosemary
- Rutabaga
- Sage
- Salad burnet
- Scented geranium
- Scotch bonnet
- Serrano pepper
- Shallot
- Shelling peas
- Shishito
- Shiso
- Shungiku
- Snap peas
- Sorrel
- Spigarello
- Spinach
- Stevia
- Strawberry
- Summer savory
- Sweet cicely
- Sweet potato
- Swiss chard
- Tabasco pepper
- Tatsoi
- Thai basil
- Thai chile
- Thyme
- Tomatillo
- Trinidad Scorpion
- Turmeric
- Turnip
- Vietnamese coriander
- Watermelon
- Winter savory
- Zucchini
Sources
Data drawn from: rhp-certified-coir, cornell-cea. Last verified 2026-05-13.
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