Coco Coir + Organic Growing

Hey RIU! Just wanted to stop by the Organics section and ask the people best equipped to answer this question.

I’m a relatively new grower, but during my time growing, I’ve taken the road less traveled and instead of just picking one style, one strain, one medium, one container, organic vs chemical nutes, I’ve done it all at once. While it certainly hasn’t made my grow easily managed, it has allowed me to learn and experiment with what I enjoy most. I’ve also gotten to learn about cannabis horticulture in a more comprehensive way. That said, at this point in my growing experience, I’ve developed a strong preference for organic and living soil, with high quality composts and organic amendments, compost teas, bennies, etc. The quality and appearance and resistance of the plants grown in organic, nutrient-rich soil, in my opinion, is far and away superior to using chemical fertilizers with an inert medium. However, there are some aspects of coco coir that I really, really like.

I have found rooting to be stronger, faster, and thicker in coco coir. The overall growth rate, height, and thickness of the stems and branches seems a bit better. I also like how it is nearly impossible to overwater, and is a hydroponic medium.

TLDR: I strongly prefer organic growing in nutrient-rich living soil to chemical ferts in an inert medium, but really love the rooting and growth rate of plants grown in coco coir. What would you all suggest for the best method to incorporate both and enjoy the best of both worlds?

Happy Growing!

You can just replace Peat Moss with Coco in pretty much any soil recipe. Typical soil mix is 1:1:1 ratio of Peat, aeration, and compost; as well as organic amendments and minerals of course. Just replace Peat with Coco and you'll be fine in pretty much any recipe.

While Peat Moss is in fact superior to Coco, not many people (myself included) water properly in a peat based soil. Peat Moss has nearly twice the CEC as coco does. However, peat moss is hydrophobic once it gets dry and the result is dry spots in your pots. This is why most people have more success with coco, because coco is like a sponge in the sense that it cannot be overwatered. Peat moss has to be kept moist, constantly, otherwise you'll have dry spots unlike coco as you've already noticed.

I use Coot's/Cornell University's soil recipe. Equal parts peat moss, perlite, and compost. 1/2c of Kelp, Neem, and Crab Meals per cuft of soil, and 4c of minerals (3c Basalt+1c Glacial Rock Dust) per cuft of soil. I'd recommend using the same recipe, just swap out the peat moss for coco and you'll be golden.

Hope that helped.

Coco can absolutely be overwatered


i would suggest you use a salt-based base nutrient but have all additives be organic...the organic base nutes ive tried didn't work so well in coco or i had to use a ton of it....house and garden makes an organic base and so does bioizz, both of which i have never tested out in coco, so maybe test out those and see how they work if you want an organic base nute.

I root cuts in coco in 9 oz party cups. I water coco with either fresh young coconut water or slf-100 and then use fresh aloe gel as the cloning gel.

Then I transplant them into peat based soil into half gal pots, then 1 gal, 2 gal, sometimes 3 gal, then the final 15 gallon or larger pot.


I do all those pots so I can keep them in a small area for 2 months without getting root bound. If I put them in 2 or 3 gal right away after rooting. They would be root bound in 30 days

I use tupur, what is essentially coco with perlite. I add dry amendments, and my own homemade worm castings. Still drains well, Ive yet to overwater, and like you, I experience extensive root systems. Good luck on your next grow.

I dont use peat moss...I use coco, castings, real soil that I dig up, compost, and perlite as my base, it works wonderfully. I don't check pH but research would say that the coco will keep a more stable pH than peat will, plus from an environmentally conscious standpoint coconut husks are way more replenishable than ancient peat bogs....people forget about adding real dirt for the clay and CEC properties it brings to the table by adding surface area and nutrient retention to your soil

I started adding ecothrive charge and worm castings to my coco, haven't noticed any improvement over straight coco coir.

I’m using Tupur with Earth Juice Green Reign 5-5-5 and Earth Juice Verde Fire bloom 0-9-3. Hope it goes well, willgrab other amendments soon.