Coir vs Compost: Which Should You Use?

Plants, whether indoor or outdoor, have some basic needs. They all need the right levels of sunlight, water, and nutrients to promote healthy growth, develop flowers, and eventually develop seeds for reproduction. Sunlight and water are easy when you put the plant in the right place and water it often enough. Nutrients can be a little trickier. Generally speaking, gardeners will use nutrient-rich compost as a base for their containers and beds. Additional feeds and pH regulation can improve the condition further.

However, this approach doesn’t suit all situations. Many, especially those looking to grow indoors, are turning to coir as an alternative. Coir is highly regarded as an eco-friendly and user-friendly option because coconut fibers are used, but is it better than compost? Here are some of the pros and cons to consider when making your choice.

The Pros Of Using Compost

Let’s start with why people love using compost for pot plants and gardens. It’s often the most cost-effective solution, especially for those with large gardens and outdoor containers. You can buy large bags in bulk or work on creating your own in bins at home. The better the quality of the compost, the more you pay. You can then portion out the compost as needed for your gardening projects and get a new bag when it runs out. It’s the easiest and most accessible option for a lot of gardeners and makes the most sense for larger projects. As a result, many people who might like the idea of small-scale growing in kitchens or on balconies may be turned off altogether.

The Cons Of Using Compost

The biggest downside of compost is the mess it creates. This isn’t an issue for all those who enjoy getting dirt under their nails while gardening, but it isn’t great for those looking to grow plants indoors. It’s not the easiest thing to try and use and store when you’re in a small apartment.

Another problem to keep in mind with compost is the use of peat. The removal of peat from the natural landscape is an environmental disaster. Peat traps carbon and should be kept in place in the fight against climate change, not dug up to be used in gardens. Peat-free compost does exist, but you have to check the origin with the suppliers. If you want to be sure of a peat-free and more efficient option, you can go for coir instead.

The Pros Of Using Coir

When you switch to using coir for your gardening needs instead of compost, you end up with something that’s a lot more user-friendly. Coir comes dry in little plugs or larger blocks; you just need to add water. This approach means you have several of these pieces in storage in your home without worrying about where to put them or any mess they’ll create. They might be a little dusty, but it’s not the same as having the dirt from compost getting everywhere. The coir bricks and plugs also mean that you can enjoy indoor gardening more easily, especially if you live in an apartment without access to a garden. You can set up little pots of herbs on a kitchen windowsill and learn about the wonders of house plants.

These coir blocks are so easy to use because all you have to do is add water, pot up the saturated block, and add your seeds or cuttings. The dry pieces can take in a surprising amount of water when left to soak for a while. What starts as a compact, user-friendly disc can swell into something that will act as a vital little plot for your plants. Furthermore, they can retain water for a long time, which makes drainage and watering cycles less of a concern.

The Cons Of Using Coir

Of course, using coir instead of compost isn’t completely positive, as there are some drawbacks and risks. The biggest downside is the lack of nutritional value in coir compared to compost. Many gardeners love the process of creating and using their own compost because it’s so satisfying and helps ensure a great life cycle. The extra nutrients that come from the broken-down ingredients can help more problematic plants thrive. You don’t get this with coir. Instead, you may find that you have to add extra nutrients to the mixture in order to promote healthier growth. It will all depend on what you’re growing and where.

Finally, there’s the potential issue of biosecurity risks. What this means is that these dry materials, with all that coconut fiber, could end up harboring other organisms. They could be as large as bugs and beetles that somehow make their way into the mixture or as small as parasites. This is bad enough when they are shipped between locations domestically because you don’t want additional pests in your coir. However, it’s an even bigger problem if the coir is shipped in from overseas. That could introduce creatures that are non-native and end up disturbing the balance of the ecosystem. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.

Coir Or Compost? Which Is Best?

There is no black-and-white answer here. In some cases, composting will be the best option. Good quality compost, such as one made at home, is a cost-effective way to bring in more nutrients and give garden plants what they need. You can’t go too wrong if it’s a peat-free product. As for the coir, disregarding the rare threat of biosecurity issues, there’s very little not to like. It’s a great alternative to compost for those growing plants indoors who don’t have the space for compost or the patience to clean up after using it. Coir may not be as nutrient-rich, but the water retention and overall quality of the blocks make it worthwhile. The best thing to do as someone keen to try alternatives to compost for pot plants and gardens at home is to get a few small discs, try them out, and see how it goes. You may find that you’re converted.