Each part of the VerdeGarden is selected with your health and the planets' in mind.
Why Coconut Coir?
Coco coir is increasingly popular in gardening and hydroponics, and for good reason. There are many benefits to growing with coco coir. Coir is the husk from the coconut, which prior to being used in gardening was considered a waste product from the coconut industry.
Benefits Include:
- Retains moisture and provides a good environment for water retention, promoting water conservation.
- Promotes healthy root development and is pH neutral
- Environmentally safe – coco coir replaces peat moss, which was traditionally used in gardening and hydroponics to retain moisture. Peat bogs are one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet, there is no denying the environmental concerns that harvesting peat moss poses.
- Coconut coir is a re-purposed waste product from a renewable resource.
- Insect neutral - insects do not like settling in coco coir.
Biodegradable:
After harvesting a plant in your VerdeGarden the coconut puck can be added to your compost, house plant soil, or outdoor garden as a mulch.
Hydroponic Grow Mediums to Avoid:
- Rockwool is made by heating rock and sand at very high temperatures. It does not breakdown after use, can be hazardous to your health if you breath in the dust, and is takes some expertise to maintain the correct pH.
- Peat holds 1/3 of the world's soil carbon. When it is mined, carbon is released into the atmosphere. It takes centuries for a peat ecosystem to grow, growing at 1/16 of an inch/year. Peat is the best vegetative carbon sink we have on the planet, so let's keep it that way!
Coconut husks accomplish the same objectives as Peat and Rockwool, holding water, while allowing for the optimal mix of oxygen within the plant's roots. We've had better success growing with coconut than any other medium, and we feel really good about using a waste product that is safe for you and the planet.