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...

In today’s blog post, we will be discussing pros and cons of various growing methods and media types, as they apply to commercial production of high value horticultural crops. Although there are nearly infinite ways to grow plants, we will only focus on the more popular methods that are often employed by large scale operations and methods that are popular in today’s production environments....

The value and benefits of a well textured coco coir Coco coir has proven to be a popular high performing substrate for growers of high value specialty crops in recent years. Coco coir is a sustainable and renewable resource that is cost competitive with other substrates. A well textured coco coir with ideal porosity and water holding capacity is precedent in a horticultural operation...