Coconut Coir Mats: Our Top 5 Recommendations
Everyone knows about Coco coir nowadays. Coco coir is used in plantations as a soilless growing medium because of its porosity. Mats are being made from coco coir and they have a unique purpose.
Because of their moisture-holding capacity, these Coco coir mats are being used for lining hanging planters and can also be used as a growing medium for microgreens. You can easily shape them into whatever you want and can easily be folded into the hydroponic net pots. The best thing about the coco coir mats is that they are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
In this article, we are going to tell you about the best recommendations for coco coir mats. We will also discuss the pros and cons of the coco coir mats. These pros and cons will work as a buying guide for you. Let's get into the article!
Coconut Coir Liner Roll 2433inch:
Pros
If you are planning to decorate your garden with hanging baskets then you should go for a coco coir liner roll. This mat is purely made from natural coconut fiber.
It is easy to use. You can easily fold it into the basket, whatever size it has. The basket will help you to reduce the watering time because this coco coir mat locks the moisture inside the basket
You can also use this coco coir mat for decorating the baskets of the wedding garden. This mat can also be used as a reptile carpet.
Cons
One drawback of this coconut coir mat is that it is a bit thin and can easily have holes in it.
Bosmere 60″ x 20″ Coco Liner:
Pros
If you are looking for low-cost options in coco coir mats, Bosmere 60″ x 20″ roll is what you want.
The thickness of this mat is 1/4″. It is the most suitable thickness for growing microgreens. For more durability of coco coir mats in baskets, use double thickness.
If you are a beginner in gardening then this is the best recommendation because it provides a plentiful supply of coco coir mat
In addition to its popularity for baskets and microgreens, this mat is also used as a fertilizer coating. For this, you need to soak them before laying them on the surface of your soil. if you are using a watering tool like soaker hoses then it is recommended that they should be underneath your fiber. By doing this the soil moisture will not evaporate
Cons
It sometimes gets hard to unroll Bosmere 60″ x 20″ coco liner. The layers can get stuck together resulting in unrolling it causes one layer to stick to the next.
CoirPlus Premium Coco Grow Mat:
Pros
If you want something thicker and stiff then CocoPlus coir-based mat is the right choice for you. This mat is made by blending the coco peat and coco fiber. Which makes them thicker.
The denseness of this mat makes it difficult for thicker taproots to pervade. So, the microgreens that have thicker taproots cannot be grown on this material e.g., sunflower. The microgreens that have thinner roots can grow extremely good on this mat e.g., alfalfa, onion, and broccoli
Thinking about growing prized plants, these mats work as an excellent fertilizer for them.
Cons
The cutting of these mats will also be difficult because of their thickness so it is recommended to use a sharp razor blade with multiple passes
These mats can only be used for growing microgreens. It is because they are less flexible.
For growing prized plants they are a little expensive.
Gardman R989 Coco Liner Bulk Roll, 24" Wide x 33' Long Roll:
Pros
If you are looking for a coconut coir fiber mat that will provide you a tremendous amount then this mat is worth it.
This mat comes in a large role having 24" width and 33 feet long.
If you compare the price with the quantity then it is a reasonable price. By soaking them in water will wipe out any smell that comes from the packaging. Water will also wash away coconut dust that may stain it.
As the quantity is large so these mats will be best for using as mulch. These mats can be good enough for microgreens and hanging baskets as well.
Buying this mat for one time will cover up most of the needs of coconut fiber mats. It is a great option for small microgreens businesses
MEWTOGO 3-Pack Coconut Fiber Substrate Mat:
These mats are used for reptile cage liners. But because they are thick enough so can be used for microgreens and seed starting
To make them well hydrated these mats should be soaked before use. After soaking them let the extra moisture drain out. In this way, you can use them a couple of times before making them useless.
As these mats are thicker than other coconut coir fiber mats so they are a little bit more expensive than others. But it is no doubt that these are the best options for more depth for roots to hold into
Cons
The smell might not be pleasant for certain people.
All About Coir Fiber:
Different types of coconut coir fibers available in the market have been discussed in this article. The method of using them is also discussed. The mats are purely made from coconut fibers. No peat-like pith or coco chips have been used in these mats.
Their porous nature can hold water more than their weight. Coconut fibers are removed from the coconut and then tangle together in the form of mats.
The pH of the coconut coir fiber is neutral so it will be not acidic or not even basic for plants. Peat moss, which is also a very popular growing medium, is a bit acidic for plants.
Because these mats can hold moisture so they will prevent the soil from drying out. This is why these mats can work as a mulch around young trees and bushes.
Preparing and Using Coconut Fiber:
Never forget to soak and rinse the coconut coir fibers mats before using them. This will help you to drain any amount of salts present in the mats.
The coconut coir fiber mats can be cut into the shape you want while they are dry.
Always measure the size of the container in which you are going to put the mat. Once you cut them into shape press them into the baskets. You can keep a few inches extra so that you will not short off.
One square shape is final then put into the water. Keep them in the water for about 30 minutes to an hour. After an hour, squeeze them out and then fill the container of water again for soaking them again in freshwater. Wait for another 60 minutes. Repeat this procedure about 2-3 times.
After soaking the mat for the last time, squeeze it gently to remove the excess water. After that place the mats in trays, now they will be easier to get into shapes.
When you use coconut coir mats in baskets there will be some amount of mats still visible outside of the basket. You can use them to anchor the wires.
If you are going to use coconut coir mats for net pots. Net pots are being filled for deep water culture or a Kratky system then the strips of coconut fiber should be cut according to the width of the inner side of your pot. Soak them before folding them into your pots. After filling the pots use a screwdriver to punch a hole into the fiber for cuttings or seeds.
After using the coconut coir fiber mats for your purpose then toss them into your worm farm or compost file. The maths work broke down and renewed.