Hydroponics – Using Coconut fibre As A Growing Medium

Yesterday I received the special coco coir that I ordered. It did have a scent that was a little bit different from the regular coco coir that I am used to, but it was very light. Hopefully the Mycorrhizae will help the seedlings grow strong.

The net baskets didn’t fit the canning jars I intended to use, but I have found alternatives, so it worked out.

It was easy to cut/scrape off some of the coco coir block and hydrate it with filtered water. The squash plants, the sunflower plants, corn plants and chilli plants received some of this growing medium and now their roots can grow even stronger and stretch beyond what would be possible with the fibre mats.

Beans

I am still waiting for a few of the bean plants to grow tall, but I have a handful of bean plants that are ready. When I get another container to repurpose, I will give them some coco coir as well.

Corn

The corn plants are still adjusting to the new growing medium. They will definitely need another week before they’re ready for the outside world.

Flowers

The flower seeds are still germinating and only the calendula seedlings are ready.

Peppers

The pepper plants appear to like the growing medium. Though, I wish I could have simply transferred them to the coco coir rather than add the coco coir on top. They’ll need at least one more week before they can go outside.

Squash

The squash plants loved the coco coir and they now have new leaves growing. They’re ready to go outside, though they’ll have to be patient for another week.

Sunflowers

The sunflower plants didn’t really care one way or the other. They’re established enough that they aren’t influenced by small changes like being introduced to another growing medium. They’ve been ready since last week.

Tomatoes

The tomatoes are doing well, but they will certainly need another week. They haven’t formed their true leaves yet, and they need to do that as well as grow sturdier before I feel comfortable planting them outside.

Hydroponics

Did you know that fibre mats and coco coir are both considered hydroponic mediums?

The same goes for clay balls, but they are more expensive and more time and resources go into making them.

Hydroponics isn’t as complicated as some would have you believe. It’s not that different from growing plants in soil. You need a growing medium to surround the seeds/roots. That part is the same for both methods. When you grow in soil you water the soil. When you grow plants in water, you submerge the growing medium in water. When you grow them in soil, you add fertiliser to the growing medium. When you grow in water, the fertiliser is added to the water. So while there are differences, the level of skill required is the same.

To grow food hydroponically you really only need a handful of things, and you don’t necessarily need to spend any money to get started.

You need a container such as a glass jar. It needs to be dark, so you cover it with brown paper or paper tape. You’ll also need a net basket. You can buy one, make one or repurpose one.

I find it is easier to grow seedlings and then place the seedlings in the growing medium. If your growing medium is too loose, there’s always a risk that the seed slips through and ends up with the bottom of the container instead.

You make sure the container is clean and sterile and then you add filtered water and some fertiliser. I use seaweed and epsom salt to make mine. And then you add the net basket to the container.

A grow light is recommended and a heated mat can help, but it isn’t essential. Other than that, you’re good to go.

Have you ever tried hydroponics?

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