Crop steering in coco coir is often misapplied due to container volume based irrigation assumptions that do not reflect how water actually behaves in flexible grow bags. This article presents a field capacity based crop steering framework developed specifically for HortGrow coco grow bags, defining shot size, dry back targets, and irrigation windows in terms of plant available water rather than nominal liters. By...

The physical structure of a substrate determines how water, air, and nutrients move through the root zone. In controlled environment horticulture, this comes down to texture. The balance of particle sizes and fibers that make up the medium dictates porosity, water holding capacity, oxygen availability, and how evenly irrigation is distributed. Coco coir is naturally versatile, but its performance depends on how it is...

Selecting the right substrate is fundamental to crop success. Beyond physical properties such as water holding and porosity, the chemical behavior of a substrate determines how nutrients are stored, exchanged, and delivered to plants. A central property in this context is cation exchange capacity (CEC), which is the measure of how many positively charged ions a medium can adsorb and release. CEC is quantified...

"Is your coco already buffered? Is it already charged? And what nutrients should you feed first?” We hear these questions all the time. The good news? Our coco is prepped and ready to go—setting your plants up for strong, healthy growth from day one. Starting with the right foundation makes all the difference, giving your plants the best chance to thrive. First, what do...

In recent years, a belief has emerged within the organic soil community that coco coir possesses anti-fungal properties, purportedly inhibiting probiotic fungi and microorganisms in living soil mixes. While some fungi-inhibiting properties can be found in fresh coconuts, the myth that coco coir itself is antifungal has been thoroughly debunked—not only by experts in the growing community but also by mushroom cultivators who utilize...