Everyone is accustomed to using soil for seedlings, ornamental crops and houseplants. But today gardeners and amateurs have just found a worthy alternative to the soil - coconut fiber. It has advantages and unique properties, which gives an advantage over other biomaterials. Coconut substrate is made from it in briquettes, which contain crushed fibers of this plant.
Substrate and tablets for plants: description and composition
The coconut substrate consists of 70% coconut fiber, and 30% coconut chips. The process of preparing a ready-made product takes about one and a half years. To begin with, the rind is crushed, then fermented, dried and pressed under pressure. 
There are several types of the finished product: in the form of tablets, briquettes, mats.
- The coconut substrate in briquettes looks like a brick and when soaked in water for several hours gives about 7-8 liters of ready-made soil for use.
- Tablets are made of different diameters and placed in a fine-meshed mesh to avoid spilling the product.
- The substrate is produced in the form of mats, which, when filled with water, increase in size up to 12 cm.
Since the substrate has a neutral reaction, it can be mixed with the soil, which does not damage its acidity. One of the positive properties of this product is that it does not crumble. It contains quite a lot of air, it allows young roots of plants to grow rapidly. Young saplings grow and develop better in the coconut substrate, but as soon as they gain strength, it will be better to plant them in the soil, where there are more useful minerals for development. 
Did you know? The structure of the tablets has a porosity. They nair-saturated, well absorb moisture, do not form a crust on the surface and, unlike peat substrates, do not precipitate.
How do coconut fibers affect plant development
Coconut soil has a beneficial effect on the development of plants. Here is his main advantages:
- Coco-soil maintains optimum soil acidity (pH 5.0-6.5), which contributes to the growth and development of any plants, even the most capricious.
- Provides good conditions for growing high quality seedlings with healthy roots.
- Gives access fluid with nutrients in the root system, and also creates an excellent air exchange.
- The substrate is convenient and easy to use. Unlike peat substrates, coconut ones do not become limp when overwetted and do not form a crust.
- If it is necessary to transplant, it is enough to simply transplant the sapling together with the container, without removing it from the substrate. This guarantees that the root system will not be damaged and the plant will take root 100%.
Important! The air intensity of coconut fiber is 15% higher than that of the soil, thus creating optimal proportions of oxygen and humidity, and therefore the seedlings develop faster.
Use in the garden, garden and indoor floriculture
As mentioned above, the substrate is a versatile tool in both horticulture, horticulture, and in indoor floriculture. Let us examine each group in more detail. How the coconut substrate behaves for growing seedlings, how it is used for indoor plants and how to use it for seedlings in the garden. 
For seedlings in the greenhouse
There are several options for those who dream of a greenhouse or already own it.
1. Mini-greenhouses. Coconut seedling tablets are already sold in the form of ready-made mini-greenhouses. They are designed in such a way that in each container an ideal moisture and ventilation regime is ensured. Such greenhouses do not take up much space and are very easy to operate.
To use them, it is necessary to fill with water the tray included in the package, wait until the tablets swell, and plant the cuttings or seeds, then close the lid. In this way it is ideal to cook seedlings of vegetables and flowers. You can use this greenhouse unlimited number of times. 
2. Greenhouses. If you own a much larger greenhouse, using coconut fiber for seedlings will greatly facilitate your work. The substrate can be mixed with the soil for best results. This method of cultivation allows the plants to be fertilized with mineral fertilizers.
In advanced Holland, a bio-boom began long ago. He got to us. The cultivation by all of us of our favorite foods, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in greenhouses, has long been taking place in various substrates.
To improve the properties of earth mixtures used in greenhouses, it is enough to add coco-soil, and it will improve the looseness, permeability, moisture capacity (retains moisture, even when fully dried). This will allow you to save water and reduce watering. For greenhouses, it is optimal to use a mixture of coconut fiber with the ground, or use coconut mats containing a mixture of 50% cocotrop and 50% cocochips.
Mats are easily placed on the racks, they are covered with a special two-layer film that protects the bio-soil from overheating. It allows to use mats both in greenhouses, and in an open ground. 
Important! The mixture of cocotrop and cocochips does not require disinfection when used for the first time, and only as needed it must be disinfected. The substrate is suitable for 3-5 years and is an economical option.If you properly disinfect the coconut substrate, it can be used not only for seedlings, but also for growing oyster mushrooms. It is also used for the temporary germination of tubers and bulbs (for example, garden and indoor plants).
Effectively use the coconut substrate in hydroponics. It does not clog the solution supply system, does not accumulate heavy metals in itself, has aeration and always maintains its acidity neutral. 
Did you know? Unused wet substrate can not be kept closed in a container or bag, otherwise it will turn sour. To start dry it (ideally do it in direct sunlight), then just pack it. To re-use it is enough to moisten the soil again.
For outdoor crops
The substrate is also used for the cultivation of vegetable crops in open soil. Let's talk about coconut chips, its benefits and harms in the garden.
For planting, make grooves in the ground, where they spread the seeds and sprinkle with all the coconut fiber. From this, the seeds sprout faster, warm up well and have enough moisture. Also, a crust does not appear above the soil, which allows the seedlings to breathe. Such a substrate would be ideal for adding to heavy clay soil.
Thanks to coconut fiber, seedlings sprout a couple of weeks faster than when planted in regular soil. This makes it possible to get more healthy and strong seedlings, and hence the harvest. There is practically no harm from coconut chips. But if it is used in contaminated soil, it will spread the disease to all plants and spoil the crop. 
Important! Coco-soil utilization occurs in fields and gardens. It is an environmentally friendly product, it is enough just to plow a field or dig up a vegetable garden, and the used substrate will serve you instead of fertilizer.
For decorative crops
Coco-soil is also suitable for the cultivation of ornamental crops (shrubs and perennial flowers), it is ideal as a baking powder of the soil. Perhaps its use as mulch. In this biomaterial there are no harmful organisms, it allows you to forget about the struggle for the purity of the soil and all sorts of diseases. Coconut substrate is biologically active, which contributes to its colonization with useful microflora and protection of your ornamental crops from pathogenic microorganisms.
For indoor plants
Houseplants are very delicate, especially those with tubers. To obtain a light and useful soil for their growth and development, it is enough to simply mix the substrate with coco-primer. However, its concentration should be 1/3 of the main volume of the soil.
For home plants, other substrates are also used: peat, humus, perlite, vermiculite.
Coconut fiber will help your indoor plants to quickly strengthen the root system if the flower is replanted. If the flower is young, then it will quickly gain strength and soon will delight you with flowering. The substrate will be useful in growing orchids, gerberas, royal pelargonium, saturate the plants with moisture and air, and protect them from harmful microorganisms and diseases.Advantages of the substance
The advantages of using coco-soil are obvious:
- This is a 100% organic product.
- It absorbs and retains moisture, giving the liquid 8 times more than its mass.
- Minerals that dissolve in water, firmly held inside the substrate and gradually moisten the root system, which allows not to fill the plant, and therefore not to spoil it. Also, soil compaction does not appear.
- Due to its looseness, it retains oxygen.
- Does not slyozhivatsya, keeps its volume.
- Since the coconut substrate remains dry on top, this prevents the development of a fungal infection.
- Lack of weeds and diseases.
- It has a neutral acidity (pH 5.0-6.5), ideal for most plants.
- It contains potassium and phosphorus, which is necessary for young seedlings and plants.
- Coco-soil possesses excellent heat-conducting properties.
- Economical, because it decomposes slowly, so that it can be used up to 5 years.
- Easy to recycle and recycle.
