Coco coir substrates are a popular choice for cannabis cultivation due to their numerous benefits. They are sustainable and renewable resources that can be easily composted after use.
Buy these substrates loose, compressed for container growing, or as compressed grow cubes. Either way, they are an excellent alternative to rockwool blocks.
Coco coir can be used once and discarded. Or you can use it as a top dressing for raised beds and field soil to increase organic matter and moisture retention in heavy clay or sandy soils.
To manage substrate moisture and nutrient availability in coco coir for commercial growing, know the key terms:
Substrates like coco coir contain high organic matter and will decompose during the production cycle. This leads to changes in the air-to-water ratio.
This also highlights the importance of consistent moisture monitoring and irrigation adjustments based on moisture readings. A soil moisture sensor that measures volume water content (VWC, %) is a simple tool that can be placed in the root zone to monitor moisture.
Using the Solus Teros 12 substrate sensor, coco is fully saturated at 40% and needs water near 20%.
Adopting a proactive approach to irrigation is key. By appropriately timing your irrigation, you can ensure consistent moisture levels and delivery of cannabis nutrients without the risk of overwatering or overfeeding.
Before planning your irrigation, use the sensor test above to identify the saturation range to the wilting point. This gives you a clear plan of action.
Irrigation timing and volume largely depend on environmental conditions and irrigation system components.
The first irrigation typically starts one hour after lights on or sunrise and ends one hour before lights off or sunset.
Depending on conditions, irrigations for cannabis plants can be scheduled hourly or more frequently. Excessive dry down between irrigations may increase soluble salt concentration and contribute to the substrate’s hydrophobic properties.
Rx Green Technologies offers a variety of commercial cannabis cultivation supplies. We offer many coco coir substrates, such as loose coco and coco grow bags.
CLEAN COCO is available as loose coco coir in 100% coco and 70% coco/30% perlite blends.
Our new Ready-To-Use Coco Grow Bags deliver an effective cannabis growing medium for cultivations of all sizes.
CLEAN COCO grow bags contain a compressed brick of pure coco coir in a disposable mesh bag.
CLEAN COCO cubes contain a compressed brick of pure coir packaged in a mesh bag that allows root penetration.
All coco substrate products should be stored in a dry area, off the ground, and protected from the elements. Loose coco is sold in biodegradable bags. Used loose coco coir for cannabis may be reused, composted, or disposed of in a landfill. Read more about Clean Coco Storage in our Rx Resources.
Want to try our premium commercial cannabis grow supplies and see the results for yourself? Contact an Rx Green Rep and schedule a product trial to try our top-quality, R&D-tested cultivation supplies in your grow.
Soil moisture meters
Aroya Teros 12 Substrate Sensor, https://aroya.io/cultivation/