Coco Peat in Nigeria (1kg/5kg blocks)

Coco peat is a form of natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut. Coco peat is used as a substrate for the growing of vegetable seedlings.

Cocopeat is commonly used for the raising of tomato and pepper seedlings. It is also used for the raising of the seedlings of other vegetables like cucumbers, watermelon and okra etc. Over 80% of the coco peat used in Nigeria is used for the raising of tomato and pepper seedlings.

Should you need to buy coco peat in Nigeria, you can call Veggie Concept through 08025141924 or send an email to sales@veggieconcept.ng.

What is Coco Peat?

Coco peat also called coco coir or coconut fibre is a type of fibre gotten from coconut husks. It is used for raising seedlings in nurseries. Coco peat is a growing medium favoured by a lot of farmers in Nigeria.

Coco peat is also used for bedding flooring, furniture, oil and fluid absorption, animal bedding and the making of construction materials.

In Nigeria, coco peat is sold in blocks. At Veggie Concept, we have the 1kg block and the 5kg block.  A 5kg coco peat block can fill up 13 of the 104 cell seedlings trays.

Price of Coco Peat in Nigeria

The price of coco peat in Nigeria varies according to quality and other factors. At Veggie Concept, we our 5kg block of cocopeat for ₦3,000.

We also have 1kg blocks which go for ₦600 each.

We also have coco peat in bags of 20 litres and 50 litres.

Factors to consider before buying coco peat in Nigeria

The following factors should be considered before buying coco peat in Nigeria:

Price: Yes, it is good to buy things at a cheap price but you need to be very careful when it comes to coco peat. Do not jump at coco peats that are ridiculously cheap, you may be buying a low quality coco peat which will not work well for your seedlings. Be very careful when you see coco peat blocks that look very cheap.

Quality: Some coco peats are unwashed and not buffered, if you use this type of coco peat, your seedlings will be negatively impacted due to pH problem. The quality of coco peat matters when you need to buy one. Never buy a low quality coco peat substrate.

Seller: Would you rather get healthcare from a medical doctor or a roadside untrained herb seller? It is always advised that you buy coco peats from sellers who are well skilled in horticulture, farming and agronomy. Do not buy from traders or those who know nothing about horticulture and agriculture.

Type of crops to grow: If you want to use coco peat for nursery or hydroponic growing, you should know that some crops do well on coco peat substrate than others. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers do very well when they are grown on coco peat growing medium.

Are you doing hydroponic growing: If you are considering hydroponic farming, you should check if 100% coco peat will work for you or you need to mix the coco peat with other substrates. Some hydroponic farmers mix soil and perlite with coco peat for optimal growing of crops.

Buffering of Coco Peat

Coco peat has to be washed and buffered before you use it for nursery or seedlings raising. Coco peat is usually very high in sodium and potassium, the potassium and sodium has to be reduced by water soaking and draining.

Using an unwashed coco peat without buffering will lead to EC problem. EC problem in growing can lead to disaster for your seedlings as they will not grow optimally, absorption of other nutrient especially other cations will be affected.

How can coco peat be buffered or washed? The first step is to saturate the coco peat with water. The water will wash out a lot of the potassium and sodium in the cocopeat substrate. Calcium nitrate should also be added to the water in order to wash out the potassium and sodium in the coco peat growing medium.

High potassium and sodium in coco peat often lead to deficiencies in calcium and magnesium; this is why coco peat should be washed.

Where to buy Coco peat in Nigeria

Coco peat and other soilless growing media can be bought at Veggie Concept, should you need any of these growing media, you can call Veggie Concept through 08025141924 or send an email to sales@veggieconcept.ng.

We have stores and agents in Lagos, Abuja, Jos, Kano, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Owerri, Port-Harcourt and other major cities and towns in Nigeria.

Advantages of using coco peat for raising of seedlings

Coco peat has a very good air to water ratio. This improves aeration in the substrate. Using coco peat reduces the possibility of excessive water and diseases. Aeration can also negatively impact the growth of harmful microbes.

Coco peat when used for nursery can reduce transplant shock. It also reduces the chances of the roots of seedlings having wounds. Wounds can be entry points for pests and diseases in plants.

Coco peat absorbs water efficiently and effectively. This improves the growth of the seedlings and ensures they have adequate water always.

Coco peat is 100% organic.

Coco peat is easy to handle.

Coco peat is easy to transport as a lot of it comes in blocks.

Disadvantages of using cocopeat for raising of seedlings

The cost of coco peat can increase the overall costs incurred by farmers. However, the increase in yield can erase the effect of the high cost of the substrate.

Types of Coco Peat

The following are the types of coco peat sold by suppliers or vendors in Nigeria:

Coco Peat Block: This is a type of coco peat that comes in blocks. The blocks make it easy for handling. To use coco peat block, the block must be broken and placed in seedlings trays.

Coco Peat Soil: This comes in bags. There are 20 litres and 50 litres bags of coco peat soil. This is very easy to use for potting and nursery.

The following are the steps to take when using coco peat for the raising of seedlings:

• Get your coco peat from reputable dealers. Quality matters when using coco peat.
• Cover the soil or floor with a plain paper of polythene material. This is done to cover the soil or the floor. It prevents contamination of the coco peat.
• Break up the coco peat into smaller or finer particles.
• Fill up the seedlings trays with the coco peat.
• Saturate the seedlings trays with water. Using good volume of water will remove the excess salt in the coco peat.
• Add a solution of calcium magnesium nitrate to the coco peat. This will buffer the coco peat.
• Dip one seed into each hole in the seedlings trays.
• Ensure that the coco peat does not get dry at any point in time. Wetting is essential.
• Wet the coco peat intermittently till you transplant the seedlings.

Should you want to make coco peat at home, you can read the guidelines here.

Should you need to buy coco peat in Nigeria, you can call Veggie Concept through 08025141924 or send an email to sales@veggieconcept.ng.