When transplanting plants it helps to have a great container that allows the seedlings to flourish. I’ve found over the years that coir pots are a great option. I used to use them as part of my farmer’s market plant sale business. Today I use them in my garden every year as I transplant tomato, pepper, and all sorts of other plants.
What are Coir Pots?
Coir pots are a waste product made from coconuts. The are formed into pots of various shapes and sizes. The coir pots I use the most are 3″ round pots and 4″ square pots. Both are easy and convenient to use. I begin my seeds in plastic cup greenhouses then separate the young seedlings into coir pots when they begin to develop their first sets of real leaves.
The seedlings grow through the potting mix and into the coir pots. When planting time arrives I can plant the entire pot in the soil. The pots don’t prevent the roots from emerging into the soil and it makes for a fast and easy process to plant the plants into the garden.
Why I Like Coir Pots
Check out this video to see more about why I like the coir pots. I go through some of the cons as well as the pros so you can get a realistic perspective on why these could be good for your garden. Also below the video is a list of pros and cons so you can compare them. I don’t know about you but sometimes I’d rather just read a post than watch a whole video!
Table of the Pros and Cons of Coir Pots:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hold soil well and allow roots to dry out as needed | Roots can grow into other pots if they are too close together |
| Prevent waterlogging, avoiding overwatering issues | Pots may tip over if there is space between them in trays |
| Bottom watering is easy and efficient | 6-pack coir pots need to be cut apart, which is less convenient |
| Good for root development, allowing roots to penetrate through the pot | Roots might become intertwined with neighboring pots |
| Biodegradable and environmentally friendly | May not keep roots entirely contained |
| Made from coconut waste, a sustainable alternative to peat pots | Can break down after about 2 years in the garden |
| Convenient for transplanting plants without disturbing the roots | May leave behind small remnants in the garden after decomposing |
| Easy to upsize plants to larger containers | |
| Useful for transitioning plants from seedling stage to garden | |
| Lightweight and reusable for many years |
This table summarizes the main benefits and potential drawbacks of using coir pots as discussed.
Where To Get Coir Pots
If you are interested in purchasing some you can find them at Greenhouse Megastore. Here are some affiliate links to the one’s I generally use:
A Surprise Lurking Beneath the Ivy
When I was out and about in the yard with my daughter on Monday I made a small discovery. It was lurking beneath the overgrown ivy topiary in a planter we have had for several years. From time to time we have planted different things…
5 Money Saving Gardening Ideas
The economy is still in disarray and all of us are trying to find ways to do things cheaper and more efficiently even in the garden. Fortunately gardeners are experts at finding ways to be cheap. Let’s look at some easy to do ideas that…
Yesterday I was Floored
Or rather my garden shed was! I laid down part of the brick flooring that will eventually cover the entire shed floor. You can take a good look at the floor at the Garden Shed page!
How to Make a Dry Creek Bed for Downspout Drainage
The other day I just happened to have some extra stone that I had bought a few weeks ago on a large palette with some miscellaneous landscaping supplies. I thought that a dry creek bed might look better than the cheap looking plastic tube that…
A Garden Update: The Tomatoes
We have tomato weather but no tomatoes! That’s not surprising for June here in TN as most tomatoes don’t produce ripe fruit until July. Knowing that fact though doesn’t diminish the desire for that first fresh from the garden homegrown tomato! Our plants are doing…
Of Birds, Gardens, and Nature
My recent fascination with the snowy owl visiting our town isn’t something new, I’ve always been interested in birds and wildlife. Gardening and nature to me are so closely woven together in the tapestry of life that you don’t get one without the other, and…
Discover more from Growing The Home Garden
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.