Coconut fiber and vermicompost to prepare the BEST UNIVERSAL SUBSTRATE

If you're not yet familiar with this organic and 100% ecological mix, we recommend you keep reading this Gardenweb article. In addition to showing you how to prepare it with a simple step-by-step guide, we will also explain the different benefits it can provide to your plants. Take note!

Ecological substrate with coir fiber and worm castings – Why is it so highly recommended?

Although we can find a wide variety of substrates for our plants in any garden store, more and more growers are currently choosing to make their own from natural and organic ingredients. Among the most used products to prepare ecological substrate are coir fiber and worm castings, as they offer the following benefits.

Benefits of coir fiber

Coir fiber is a 100% natural and renewable organic substrate pressed into blocks to minimize transportation costs and facilitate user handling, thanks to its easy rehydration. Among its benefits are the following:

• It is a material with excellent water retention capacity: coir fiber stands out as a product that retains moisture in plants so that it can last between waterings with that percentage of water.

• Great aeration capacity: although it has these moisture retention properties, the fiber also stands out for its excellent drainage which helps to aerate the soil where the plant grows and thus prevent waterlogging.

• Slowly releases nutrients: in addition to water, coir also retains minerals and other nutrients to release them so that they are progressively absorbed by the plant.

• Offers a neutral pH: thanks to its pH that ranges between 5.5 and 6.5, this material is usually suitable for most plants, making it ideal for universal substrate preparation.

• It is an ecological resource: in addition to not polluting the environment, coir fiber can provide everything your plants need without the need for chemical products.

Benefits of worm castings

Worm castings, also known as vermicompost, is an organic and ecological fertilizer produced from soil that has previously been digested by worms, creating a natural material that is very beneficial for our plants as it keeps them healthy and protected from fungi and bacteria. Among its benefits are:

• Promotes plant growth: due to its high mineral content such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, worm castings help plants grow stronger. In fact, as it also promotes nutrient absorption, this organic matter encourages larger and more colorful fruits.

• It is ideal for transplanting: hummus protects our plants during transplanting from possible diseases and injuries. In addition, as it also has the ability to retain water, it prevents dehydration in these cases.

• Protects crops from pathogens: due to its high load of "good" microbes, vermicompost is a natural product that protects plants from various diseases.

• Promotes fertility: thanks to its richness in nutrients and organic matter, hummus makes both our plants and the soil where they grow more fertile.

• It is a 100% organic and ecological material: like coir fiber, vermicompost is an excellent alternative for farmers who do not want to use chemical products for their crops.

How to prepare one of the best substrates with coir fiber and worm castings

Now that you know why the mixture of coir fiber and worm castings results in one of the best universal substrates you can prepare, below we show you how to make it with these steps:

1. First, you will have to prepare the coir fiber for the mixture. To do this, you will have to gradually remove it from the block you purchased (as it will multiply its volume when moistened) and add it to a carrier tray.

2. Add a little water and, with the help of a rake, gradually break it up. You should keep in mind that coir fiber will occupy 60% of our natural substrate.

3. Once you have prepared the proportion of coir fiber we indicated, you will have to add the remaining 40% of worm castings. To prepare it, we recommend reading our article on how to make worm castings.

4. Once you have added the vermicompost to the same place as the fiber, you will have to mix everything again until you obtain a homogeneous and uniform mixture.

5. Optional: to give it an extra boost of minerals, we also recommend adding a small amount of vermiculite.

6. You will now have one of the best 100% organic and ecological universal substrates ready.

If you liked this article, we recommend reading other posts in the ecological ideas category.

Buy pressed coir fiber blocks online at GARDEN WEB, a 100% organic and renewable material

You can find coconut fiber in our online store. It is currently for sale at GARDEN WEB at an economical price, pressed and dehydrated in blocks of approximately 4.5 kg. Once moistened with water, the block expands to a volume of about 70L.

In the same section where you can buy these coconut blocks, you will also find other products to feed your plants, such as universal substrate, blonde peat pellets, and a wide range of chemical fertilizers to give your crops an extra boost of nutrients.