From the coconut tree to your garden: The coir manufacturing process

Coir, extracted from the husk of the coconut, is the fibrous material found between the internal coconut shell and the outer layer. The extracting and processing of coir is performed in accordance with a series of activities, resulting in coir that is used for the manufacturing of various environmentally friendly products; these are then used to help prevent soil erosion and in many horticultural procedures. The complete process that CoirGreen™ follows in creating coir is entirely environmentally friendly and has no negative impact on nature.

Fully mature green coconuts are either plucked from the tree after twelve months or picked once ripened and fallen from the tree to extract coir while unripe coconuts are spread on the ground to be dried.
There are two types of coir:

• Brown fibre
• White fibre

 Brown fibre, which CoirGreen™ mainly uses, is obtained from mature coconuts that are ready to be processed into copra and desiccated coconuts. The outer fibrous layer of the coconut is manually separated from the hard shell using a steel-tipped spike or a machine.

 Converting the fibre into coir


The extracted husks are then placed along river-banks, concrete tanks or suspended by nets and soaked in a slow-moving body of water so that the fibres swell and soften. Earlier, this action was carried out for 6 to 10 months; however, recently introduced mechanical techniques allow this process to be completed within 7 to 10 days. 

The fibre pulp is then beaten with wooden mallets in order to separate the coir fibres from the pith and outer skin of the coconut. Traditionally, this process was carried out manually, but in recent years, motorized machines are used to increase efficiency. The resultant fibres are washed and subsequently spread loose on the ground to dry.

Next, the fibres are combined with mechanical or manual carding tools and then spun to form fine yarn, which is later twisted to make long and strong coir strings. Finally, these coir strings are wound into bundles. This is carried out using hand spinning tools or automated spinning machines.
 Fibres that will not be immediately processed are collected and tied into loose bundles for storage and shipment.

Environmentally friendly coir making process

 CoirGreen™ ‘s ultimate goal is to be an ambassador for the environment by promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products. We spend an enormous amount of energy in making sure that our coir products do not harm the environment in anyway.

In the manufacturing of coir products, we make certain that all activities are carried out with minimal impact towards the environment. Such measures ensure that CoirGreen™ is conscious about its products and operations and reaffirm that the environment is indeed the lifeblood of the company. CoirGreen™ - Environmentally Friendly!

Visit us on www.coirgreen.com or follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/CoirProducts 

CoirGreen™ : Helping you think and act green

Many of us depend heavily on the environment to make a living. Yet, knowingly or unknowingly to us, our actions can have negative impact on the environment, such as leading to soil erosion and loss of vegetation. Therefore, it is vital that we take all necessary steps to protect and preserve the environment, while continuing our work.
Natural, bio-degradable and sustainable, products made of natural coir-fibre help you do just that!

Why coir?

A natural fibre extracted from the husk of a coconut, the uses of coir are varied. There are two main types of coir: The more commonly used is brown fibre, which is extracted from mature coconuts. Brown fibre is used to manufacture products such as coir brushes, coir doormats, coir logs, coir pallets and coir rugs. White fibre is obtained from immature green coconuts, and when spun into yarn is used to make products such as coir rope, coir geotextiles, erosion control blankets. Given its resistance to salt water, white fibre is also used to manufacture fishing nets.

Coir products offers a range of environmental benefits. A renewable resource with a low decomposition rate and having high strength compared to other natural fibers, it is also widely used to address the challenges of erosion and promote sustainable vegetation. A range of value-added products have been manufactured using natural coir fibre for the erosion control, horticultural and agricultural sectors. Environmentally-friendly and sustainable, products made of natural coir fibre are durable, absorbs water, retains moisture and provides good soil support. They are also 100% biodegradable, having high strength retention and a low rate of degradation.

Why CoirGreen™?

CoirGreen™ supplies a host of environmentally-friendly products made out of natural coir fiber for the erosion control, horticultural and agricultural sectors, helping you and your organization think and act green, while you go about your work. With preserving the environment at the heart of what we do, we are also committed in facilitating the efforts of others to do so. An industry leader, all CoirGreen™ products are cost-effective and are manufactured according to the highest industry standards, with our Q&A Department monitoring the entire process from the selection of raw material to the finished products. At CoirGreen™, products can also be customized to meet the needs and requirements of our partners.

For the horticulture industry….

We, at CoirGreen™, bring to you a range of products that are widely used in the horticultural sector, including Coco Peat, Husk Chips, Grow Bags, Coir Disks and Coir Pots. All these products are 100% natural, organic and bio-degradable. They absorb water better and ensure a strong and healthy root system.
Environmentally sustainable, these coir products are renewable and can be re-used for several crop cycles, depending on your needs and preferences. Environmentally sustainable, coir products does not alter the physical make-up of the environment. After use, coir can be added into the ground as a soil conditioner, having no adverse impact on the environment we live in.

For erosion control…

CoirGreen™ provides a variety of solutions and techniques to address the challenges of soil erosion, landslides, and water erosion. CoirGreen’s natural coir products, such as Geotextiles or Coir Netting, Coir Blankets or Erosion Control Blankets, Coir Logs and Coir Pallets, can help stabilize sediments in the bank.
Resistant to rod, mold and moisture, provides adequate strength and durability to protect slopes from erosion while allowing vegetation to flourish. Hazardous chemicals or synthetic materials are not used within the matrix, and over time, coir completely disintegrates, leaving only humus, which enriches the soil!
For more details on our natural, environmentally friendly coir products, their usages and how CoirGreen™ work, please visit - http://www.coirgreen.com or simply email us on info@coirgreen.com

CoirGreen™ Growbags combine the benefits of coir and growbags

The global gardening culture is changing. In the days gone by, people had to till the soil, get dirty and possibly sweat after a gardening workout. However, now,  gardening has become easier and we have a variety of tools that do the work for us. One such tool is the CoirGreen™ Growbag, a 100% biodegradable product.

A combination of the benefits of coir and grow bags

Combining the benefits of both growbags and coir, CoirGreen™ Growbags provide more growing space and planting options. They are also easy to use and are less messy. They provide high yield from a small space and thus are ideal for patio gardening; the bags are also extremely versatile.

Coir has become popular as a potting medium in greenhouse and nursery production. Qualities of coir that make it a good growing medium include high water holding capacity, excellent drainage capacity, physical resilience, and the fact that it is a renewable resource.

It has also been demonstrated that coir can suppress certain soil borne plant pathogens. Combining the disease suppressive properties of coir with other management strategies such as fungicide application in an integrated pest management program may result in more effective and less costly management of soil borne diseases in greenhouse and nursery production.

Benefits of CoirGreen™ grow bags

• High quality consistent product.
 • Stability of structure during culture.
• Steers your crops for maximum yield and fruit quality.
• Equally good for vegetables, flowers and fruits.
• Minimizes the risk of disease with stronger plants.
• Purpose made slabs with pre cut plants/ drain holes reduces labor costs in installation.
• Ideal air water ratio.
• Optimizes the use of water and fertilizer.
• Faster and dense root establishment due to porous structure.
• Fully organic environmentally friendly substrate with no disposal problems.
• User friendly product.
• Convenient and cost effective transportation and storage of compressed slabs.

The CoirGreen™ Growbag can be used to grow tomatoes, paprika, cucumber, aubergine, gerberas, roses, ornamental plants and other vegetables and fruits.

How to use the CoirGreen™ growbag
●    Cut 3 – 5 holes per bag (depending on size of bag)
●    Insert water, gradually, until medium expands fully
●    Insert relevant seeds
●    Ensure there is an outflow of water at the bottom of the bag

Growbags Properties 

•        pH Value                            -    Between 5.4 – 6.8

•        EC Levels                          -    Below 1500

•        Air water ratio                    -    20/80% - 70/30%

•        Organic Matter                   -    95%

•        Dry matter                          -    85%

•        Cationic exchange capacity  -   (meq/1 OOg) - 60 - 130

More information on how to secure CoirGreen Growbags, please visit our website on www.coirgreen.com

CG Coir pots – An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots

From cell phones and computers to water bottles and bags, plastic has moulded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. However, this ease of living has come at a huge environmental cost.

Since mass production of plastic began in the 1940’s it has grown to become an essential item in the society. More than 280 million tons of plastic were manufactured in 2012. In fact, according to a report by the British Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society the amount of plastic manufactured in the first 10 years of the 21st century is equal to the entire amount produced in the 20th century.

Plastic is an environmental nightmare. The chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that harm people and the environment. For example:

• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other negative human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals are often ingested by marine animals and can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of the world’s oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process

Plastic is widely used in agriculture and the plastic pot has become a common sight in flower gardens, greenhouses and nurseries. At CoirGreen, we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable and this mindset led us to create the coir pot as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic pot.

CoirGreen pots (CG pots) are 100% biodegradable and transform into organic matter on decomposing. They are made for use in horticultural farms, flower gardens, greenhouses, and nurseries. The coir pot provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold is great for greenhouses. Commercial growers can use the pots to grow plants- skipping the transplanting step which often leads to ‘transplant shock’.

Plants growing in traditional plastic pots tend to develop tightly massed root systems that do not take full advantage of the allocated growing area. If grown in coir pots, plants grow throughout the whole pot, and grow into the pot wall. Once the roots reach the outer edge of the wall, they stop growing out and continue to grow inside the pot; contact with the air stops the roots from growing, root buds start to appear and secondary roots start to develop throughout the pot. This phenomenon is known as “aerial root pruning”.

If roots are not exposed to air (aerial root pruning) they continue to grow around the container in a constricted pattern. The roots may spiral, twist, kink or become strangled. When the plant is later installed it will likely fail to establish a normal root structure, and instead will have reduced uptake of water and nutrients. Eventually abnormal growth should be obvious and could cause the plant to fail. Damaged root systems also cause leaves to turn yellow or brown, shrivel or drop. Healthy, highly branched root structures allow a plant to more efficiently uptake water and nutrients while increasing growth and overall plant health. A strong root system will make a plant better able to establish itself when installed in a restoration project.

Benefits of using CG Organic Coir Pots
● Pots remain stable above ground for a year and biodegrade in the soil after 2 – 3 months
● Pots add texture to the soil as they degrade
● Can also be added to the compost heap as a valuable source of carbon (brown material)
● Plants grown in these pots benefit from air pruning
● Plant roots will grow through the pot walls, encouraging a strong root system.
● There is no transplanting shock
● Ideal for cucurbits and courgettes in particular
● Absorbs water better
● Moderates moisture and increase microbial activity
● Has high tensile strength and lignin content
● Is environmentally sustainable

Contact CoirGreen for more information on Coir Pots ( marketing (AT) coirgreen (DOT) com

CG Coir pots – An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots

From cell phones and computers to water bottles and bags, plastic has moulded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. However, this ease of living has come at a huge environmental cost.

Since mass production of plastic began in the 1940’s it has grown to become an essential item in the society. More than 280 million tons of plastic were manufactured in 2012. In fact, according to a report by the British Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society the amount of plastic manufactured in the first 10 years of the 21st century is equal to the entire amount produced in the 20th century.

Plastic is an environmental nightmare. The chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that harm people and the environment. For example:

• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other negative human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals are often ingested by marine animals and can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of the world’s oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process

Plastic is widely used in agriculture and the plastic pot has become a common sight in flower gardens, greenhouses and nurseries. At CoirGreen, we have always been driven to create products that are environmentally sustainable and this mindset led us to create the coir pot as an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic pot.

CoirGreen pots (CG pots) are 100% biodegradable and transform into organic matter on decomposing. They are made for use in horticultural farms, flower gardens, greenhouses, and nurseries. The coir pot provides nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold is great for greenhouses. Commercial growers can use the pots to grow plants- skipping the transplanting step which often leads to ‘transplant shock’.

Plants growing in traditional plastic pots tend to develop tightly massed root systems that do not take full advantage of the allocated growing area. If grown in coir pots, plants grow throughout the whole pot, and grow into the pot wall. Once the roots reach the outer edge of the wall, they stop growing out and continue to grow inside the pot; contact with the air stops the roots from growing, root buds start to appear and secondary roots start to develop throughout the pot. This phenomenon is known as “aerial root pruning”.

If roots are not exposed to air (aerial root pruning) they continue to grow around the container in a constricted pattern. The roots may spiral, twist, kink or become strangled. When the plant is later installed it will likely fail to establish a normal root structure, and instead will have reduced uptake of water and nutrients. Eventually abnormal growth should be obvious and could cause the plant to fail. Damaged root systems also cause leaves to turn yellow or brown, shrivel or drop. Healthy, highly branched root structures allow a plant to more efficiently uptake water and nutrients while increasing growth and overall plant health. A strong root system will make a plant better able to establish itself when installed in a restoration project.

Benefits of using CG Organic Coir Pots
● Pots remain stable above ground for a year and biodegrade in the soil after 2 – 3 months
● Pots add texture to the soil as they degrade
● Can also be added to the compost heap as a valuable source of carbon (brown material)
● Plants grown in these pots benefit from air pruning
● Plant roots will grow through the pot walls, encouraging a strong root system.
● There is no transplanting shock
● Ideal for cucurbits and courgettes in particular
● Absorbs water better
● Moderates moisture and increase microbial activity
● Has high tensile strength and lignin content
● Is environmentally sustainable

Contact CoirGreen for more information on Coir Pots ( marketing (AT) coirgreen (DOT) com

Coco peat (Coir pith, coir fiber peat) is an Environmentally Sustainable Product for the Horticultural & Agricultural sector

Coconut fiber usage has become very common among professionals in various industries due to the versatility of the product. In the horticultural, agricultural, or erosion control sector, coir has a remarkable reputation for its superiority to other available natural materials in the market. 

Coir fiber is found between the husk & the outer shell of a coconut husk. The individual fiber cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale when immature but later become hardened and yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls. The high lignin content (46% by weight) of coco fibers makes it naturally resistant to mold and rot and requires no chemical treatment. Lignin is a complex chemical compound and is an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. It is known to be on e of the most abundant organic polymers on Earth.

Cocopeat is a natural, renewable product produced from coconut husks. Coco peat add value to potting mixes by adding 10‐50% good quality Cocopeat to their potting mixtures. The plants grown in Cocopeat require less frequent watering as a result of more water holding capacity of the Cocopeat. More number of finer roots in a shorter time can be seen in potting soil containing Cocopeat. The roots get more aeration resulting in healthier plants.

 

The Cocopeat ensure sufficient amount of water for the plant without compromising on the drainage capacity. This in turn will result in more available water for the plants as well as better aeration for the roots. And the result of this can be observed in production and quality.

Benefits of using CG Coco peat/Coir peat/coco pith

• CG peat is 100% Natural, an organic Bio‐degradable matter.

• CG peat is an Eco‐friendly renewable resource.

• CGpeat is a viable alternative to peat moss.

• CGpeat is a perfect multipurpose growing media.

• The right CGpeat has high aeration (air porosity)

• CGpeat absorbs water easily but doesn’t absorb too much.

• CG peat Enhance strong and healthy root system

• CGpeat is a very stable product that can be used for many years

without decomposition affecting its physical make‐up.

• Cocopeat can be treated.

Chemical Effects

• Increased potassium levels

• Improved phosphorus levels

• Increased cation exchange capacity

• Improved nutrient retention

• Reduced frequency and rates of fertiliser application

CoirGreen ™ is an Environmentally Friendly company based in Sri Lanka, manufacturing a wide range of products for the horticultural and erosion control sectors. All products manufactured by Coir Green are environmentally sustainable and made out of natural coir fiber as a raw material. More information can be obtained by visiting Coir Green website on www.coirgreen.com. 

Use environmentally sustainable products and help protect our environment for future generations to come. 

Growbags ( Coco slabs)

Keeping up with the latest grow techniques and products are probably becoming increasingly important for an ardent farmer or gardener in today’s rapidly changing world.  Cultivating fast growing plants is becoming a priority especially if it is a method that is 100% natural. Designed and created to suit all requirements Coir Grow bag, also known as Coco slabs, is an easy, useful and effective method to growing healthy plants.

Coir, an amazing product produced from the finest of coconut husks is the fundamental product of grow bags as it is made out of coco peat (coir pith) or husks chips (coco chips) or a combination of both. Coir pith is thick, fibrous and is the sponge like particle in the middle layer of the coconut. It can be used for any kind of cultivation such as agriculture, hydroponic, organic, indoor planting, home gardening, botanical and even soil treatment. Coir is a product that is completely sustainable and renewable as coconuts are grown in abundance in tropical regions. Its widely used to cultivate bigger crops, better expansion and stronger roots, snail repellant, reduction in disease and fungus netting, to hold more air, better water retention, helps reduce frequent irrigation and is completely recyclable as it is 100% organic. 

Gaining popularity among the hydroponic farmers for growing of fresh vegetables and flowers coir pith is used instead of rock wool and peat moss. Interested in growing various tomatoes? Then this is the ideal method because the plants do not have deep roots and needs more space for the tomato vines to grow. It is also highly efficient when growing other green house hydroponics such as cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, strawberry, rose, gerbera, orchids and also chrysanthemums.

 
Grow bags or coco slabs are developed with a particular mixture to provide the maximum results and suit every individual crop. The coir is commonly enclosed in a plastic bag that can be recycled with drain slits and plant holes that are pre-cut and stick holes to meet the individual hydration system. They are completely easy to use, cost effective, as it reduces on labor, is highly successful in a controlled growing environments, easy to transport and even store. So why not take on an environmentally friendly approach to growing plants that will increase yields and save money. This is only the beginning to a revolutionary growing experience. 

More information or the secure these organic coir Growbags (coco slabs), contact CoirGreen on infoATcoirgreenDOTcom or visit www.coirgreen.com 

CoirGreen - Your Environmentally Friendly Company

Being a friend to the environment is becoming an ever increasing priority and responsibility among everyone today. Companies especially are taking on the environmentally friendly persona so that the challenges and demands of our rapidly changing world are met. Companies such as CoirGreen^(TM), manufactures and supplies products that are considered 100% organic for Erosion, Horticulture and Agriculture industries. CoirGreen^(TM) develops a wide range of natural products that are to the highest industrial standards. Its biodegradable and environmentally sustainable products are made out of an important commercial product obtained from the husk of the coconut, Coir Fiber.

With a reputation for being a far more superior natural ingredient than any other, Coir Fiber is a useful commercial product among professionals in various industries. Widely known for its ability to reduce soil erosion and assist the horticulture and agriculture sectors due to its hard structural fibers. Coir can be found between the husk and the outer shell of a coconut. When immature they are pale but subsequently it becomes harder and yellow as a layer of lining begins to form on their walls. There are two varieties of coir; Brown coir is harvested from fully ripened coconuts that contain more lignin and less cellulose. This makes the coir stronger but less flexible. While the white coir fibers are harvested from the coconuts before they are ripe. These fibers are much smoother and finer but are also weaker. 

Nurseries, Greenhouses, Farms and even households are seen using Coir products as a growing medium. It increases the capacity to hold water which remains available at low tensions and it maintains air porosity even after saturated with pore space allowing the water to drain easily. For horticultural purposes CoirGreen^(TM) produces Coco Peat, Growbags and Husk Chips where it can be added into potting mixtures adding value to the soil. With this, the growth of finer roots within a short period of time can be seen in the plants. Coir disks on the other hand are used for natural weed control and used mainly in large scale nurseries and green houses. Grow Bags and Coir Pots is specifically used for growing vegetable and flower plants and can be used even in your own home.

CoirGreen^(TM) also manufactures products for erosion control. Erosion is inevitable in our environment. Usually occurring because of wind, water or ice; by down slope creep of soil and other materials under the force of gravity or by animals and humans. 40% of the world’s agricultural land is degraded. Fertile soil is lost in large amounts due to drought, deforestation and climate change. According to studies increased rainfall amounts and intensities will lead to higher rates of erosion. Generally, soil erosion is being controlled with a physical barrier such as vegetation or rock to prevent water or wind creating a soil loss. However now you can use CoirGreen’s products designed and manufactured specifically for the purpose of soil erosion. Erosion Control Blankets (coconut blankets), GeoTextiles (Coir netting), Coirlogs (waterlogs/Biologs), Coir Pallets (coir pillows) and Jute products are all produced by CoirGreen to help prevent the erosion of soil. Erosion Control Blankets which are made out of coir are known to have a high performance as it does not rot, needs no chemical treatment and is hard and strong which provides adequate strength to prevent slope from erosion, provides landslide stabilisation and river bank protection. It can be easily transported and expected to become part of the soils structure as it’s steadily set in place. Ideal for landscaping, vegetation control and sediment control. Coir logs or also known as Biologs or Waterlogs are a cylinder round shaped netting packed with coir fiber (also come in square shape logs). It is used mainly for stream bank stabilization, shoreline protection, wetland mitigation, channel edge liner, wild life habitats and landscaping. This too is easy to install, allows for deep rooting of plants while providing nutrients and can be customised to your specific requirements. Another cost-effective method is the use of Coir Pallet or Coir Pillows especially for establishing marginal vegetation around lakes edges and watercourse banks. The high lining in the product is able to tolerate high energy of water flows and has a long degradation period of 3-5 years.

  A family business, Coir Green’s goal is to value its employees and customers and at the same time to be an ambassador for the protection of our environment by using environmentally sustainable products. A tremendous effort is made to provide their partners and customers products of the highest quality because the company is keen to meet their every need. Their greatest asset, their employees, ensures that every product goes under strict quality control methodologies. Coir Green is also involved in the handling and testing of raw materials, record keeping, standards for cleanliness and safety, production and process controls, labelling practices and warehousing and distribution as well as dealing with ethical business practices. Coir Green believes that their customers are their life; therefore it is guaranteed that they deliver products and services to them with quality and professionalism. It’s no wonder they take pride in manufacturing some of the finest Coir products in the world! 

More details on CoirGreen, please visit www.coirgreen.com