Coir planters

For those of you trying to foster ways to go eco-friendly, shifting from plastic pots to coir planters will add another feather in your cap.Read more to learn about this.

As opposed to plastic made pots, coir pots are completely bio-degradable and readily transform into organic matter on decomposing.  Made from outer husk fibre of coconuts, coir pots provides myriad of benefits to the gardener as well as the plants.

Coir planters
Coir window box planters

Making of Coir Planters

Starting from separation of coir fibres from coconut husks to packing of finished coir pots, the coir planter undergoes several steps in the making. With gardening industry blooming into a larger full-scale industry, the pots are also being machine made to match the demands. But a typical handmade coir pot would undergo the following process.

  1. Separation of coir fibres from the coconut husks
  2. Removal of coir granules by tossing the fibres in a drum
  3. Washing of the coir with fresh water and air drying it
  4. Treatment of coir with steam to a temperature of 50ºC to remove unwanted bugs and weed seeds

Over this period the fibres of the husk become separated giving out stronger fibres that can be used for pot making. The fibre is formed into pot shapes by being pushed into various sizes of pot moulds. Finally, the pots are dunked in latex to make then sturdy and then dried in the sun to be packed and delivered to your garden. There is a wide variety of pot shapes available such as square pots, round and cylindrical pots and hanging coir planters.

Planting in Coir Pots

Planting seeds in the coir pot is easy and follows same procedure as any other pot. To begin, fill the pot about halfway full with potting soil and place the seeds in the pot. Fill in the rest of the pot with soil so that the roots of the seedlings remain covered. Water the new seedlings immediately and don’t forget to check the moisture level in the soil at least once a day.

Coir planters
Coir hanging planters

To prevent plants, that like to stay moist, from drying out quickly, place a plastic wrap at the bottom of the pot. Cut a few holes in the plastic so that it does not block the drainage completely. If you are using a hanging pot then place the plastic on top of the coir liner.

Transplanting Coir pots directly into the Soil

  1. Water the soil in the pot thoroughly until the moisture drains freely from the pot.
  2. Cut off the rim of coir pot with shears so that it levels with the soil. Coir wicks moisture away from plant roots if it extends above the soil after transplanting.

    Transplanting coir planters into soil
    Transplanting coir planters into soil
  3. Transplant the pot into a prepared planting hole, leaving coir pots in place. Fill-up the hole with soil so the top of the coir pot is covered with a thin layer of garden soil, which prevents moisture-wicking problems.
  4. Check soil moisture near the plant every other day. Stick your finger into the soil, 1 to 2 inches away from the stem. Water the plant if the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry.

Follow regular watering practices for the plant once the coir begins to break down into the soil, usually within two weeks of transplanting.

Benefits of using Coir Planters

  • Aerial root-pruning: Plants grown in coir pots undergo ‘aerial root pruning’ which promotes root distribution. When plants are grown in a coir pot, the roots quickly penetrate the pot walls. On coming in contact with the air, the roots stop growing and new root buds start to appear leading to secondary roots that start to develop throughout the pot. Thus, allowing complete usage of the pot by dense network of root hairs. In containers with impermeable walls, such as plastic pots, a few very long roots use all the area around the pot.

No transplanting shock with coir planters

  • Biodegradable: Another advantage is that the plant, along with the fibre pot, can go straight into the ground without causing any root disturbance or transplant shock to the plant. The plant settles into the soil easily. The coir is biodegradable and it turns into organic matter in due course of time. Once into the soil, the roots that became dormant during aerial containment also become active.
  • Nourishment: It also provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to a plant’s growth.
  • Balances moisture content: On one hand, the porous nature of the pot prevents water-logging in the soil and minimizes the risk of root decay and mould formation while on the other hand, the coir itself holds onto some moisture so the drainage doesn’t occur too quickly and the soil doesn’t dry out completely, hence maintaining a soil-water balance.
  • Light weight: The light weight of the pot makes it ideal for terrace gardening.

In the end, here’s a little piece of advice- Don’t dispose off your old coir pots, rather dig them into the garden for soil conditioning.

Check out our exclusive collection of Coir planters.

Happy Gardening

ram.peace@gmail.com'
July 31, 2018

Madam, Are the clay pots doesn’t air/root pruning like coir pots ?

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