Coconut palms were used in the past for three main purposes:

    • The fatty flesh of coconuts was turned into coconut oil;

    • The shells of coconuts were used as fuel;

    • The soft fibers from immature coconuts were made into nets and mats.

The woody fibers from mature coconuts were considered waste, which was either dumped into the sea, disposed of, or burned.

 

©Hannelore Goos 2025

A few decades ago, people started grinding this material and using it as a peat substitute. It has different names:

Wikipedia refers to it as "coco peat," while in stores it is also called "coco soil" or "coco block," since it is usually sold as a dry block.

Benefits of coconut soil (100% coconut):

•      Rapidly renewable resource,

•      Retains moisture well,

•     Does not acidify the soil (for use in moor beds, coffee grounds can be mixed in),

•     Draws less moisture from the surroundings when well-watered before processing.

Drawbacks:

•     Long transport distances (using heavy oil-burning ships),

•     Requires additional nitrogen as it is a wood material (e.g., horn shavings).

Since coconut palms often grow near the coast and ripe coconuts fall into the sea, cheaper coco peat may contain salt that can harm plants. Therefore, always check for labels stating "salt-free," "washed," or "suitable for hydroponics!"

Opened ripe coconut

Source:: Wikipedia, Autor: Ivar Leidus

This block of 20 x 5 x 10 cm
swells with water to 9 liters of coco peat.

For several years, there is sold a mix with neem cake, which is another byproduct, available as soaking pots or pressed soaking discs. They are made up of 90% coco peat and 10% neem shells. Due to neem's effectiveness as a plant protection agent, they are especially useful for growing young plants indoors, as they prevent fungus gnat infestations. I do not use them in the garden because of neem's insecticidal characteristics..

Neem Net Coins
The coins swell to 9 times their volume when water is added.