Can you make Cocopeat?

The internet says you can.

And that to make 5kg of cocopeat you will need 40 coconuts. Assuming 1 coconut is Kshs. 50, the 5kg of cocopeat costs a minimum of Kshs. 2000. On the other hand, ready-to-use coconut costs Kshs. 80 per kg.

If you have coconuts on your farm, then it does make sense to make your cocopeat.

The math done, I understand this question is less about DYI and more about the frustration of knowing where to find cocopeat. Because you will not find cocopeat in your local agro vet.

What is cocopeat?

Cocopeat is a common form of media used in soilless farming.

If you bought seedlings in a tray from a propagation company, you have encountered cocopeat. Most seed propagation companies use cocopeat in their nurseries.

Cocopeat’s properties make it suitable as a medium for growing in hydroponic systems.

Cocopeat is:

1.??? Relatively easily available to find.

2.??? Relatively cheap compared to other media.

3.??? Has a very high moisture retention capacity.

Cocopeat can be used alone – as is often the case in seedling nurseries. Or mixed with other media such as pumice – as it is done at Kibiko farm.

Cocopeat is often mixed with others to get the better of two media.

For example, pumice is cheaper than cocopeat. Pumice is also highly porous – meaning it will not hold water for long. Pumice and cocopeat are mixed to get an ideal water retention capacity as well as to keep costs low. ?

What happens when you cannot find a suitable conventional growing media?

When you understand the role of a growing media in a hydroponic system, then you know you don’t have to use cocopeat or any other commercial media.

In hydroponic, the media has one 1 job – to hold plant roots.

Therefore, other locally available materials that can hold plant roots would work too.

These include sawdust, gravel, or rice husks (Mwea people).

Each media will have different properties as you will learn. For example, sawdust and rice husks decompose quickly – may need to be replaced or topped up often. Gravel is extremely porous - might need to be mixed with another media.?

There is a version of hydroponic that does not require a growing media.

It is called the Kratky method.

This is where plant roots are placed directly into a nutrient solution. In the Kratky I did, I used a little cocopeat to hold the roots.

However, you can also use the sawdust, gravel or rice husks. This article also provides an extensive list of other materials you can use as growing media.

Only ensure that they are clean.

As we wait for our dedicated hydroponic agrovet, we use what we have, until we have what we need.

Until next time.

***

My name is Gathoni Mwaniki. A hydroponic farmer at the start of her journey. Reach out if you are walking, want to walk or already walked this journey. 2 are better than 1. My email is [email protected] .