The pros and cons of coco coir vs cocomats for cultivating microgreens

The Pros and Cons of Coconut Coir vs Coconut Mats for Cultivating Microgreens

Cultivating microgreens has become a popular way for many to get their daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Microgreens are small, young vegetable greens that can be grown in the comfort of your own home with minimal effort and cost. Two common methods used by gardeners to grow microgreens at home are Coconut Coir and Coconut Mats. Both coco coir and coco mats provide an effective hydroponic growing medium, but they have different advantages when it comes to cultivating microgreens.

Coconut Coir and Coconut Mats are 100% organic growing mediums made from coconuts husks. It is an ideal material for cultivating microgreens, as it is lightweight, has excellent water retention properties, and allows for good oxygenation of the plants’ roots.

In this article, we explore both of these popular materials for cultivating microgreens, like:

Coconut coir description
Cococoir pros and cons in microgreens business
Preparing and using coconut coir for microgreens
Coconut Mats description
Coco Mats pros and cons in microgreens business
Preparing and using coconut mats for microgreens
Comparison table of cococoir and cocomats
Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Coco Coir and Cocomats

Cocomat-vs-cococoir-cover

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1. Coco coir description

Coco coir is a coco pith and coco chips ground pressed together medium that can be used as an effective hydroponic growing media. Coco Coir comes from coconuts and has brown fibers that come from older nuts for strength and white fibers taken from younger ones. It was used already in the 19th century, but in the 20th one got really popular! When it comes to cost, coco coir is typically less expensive than cocomats.

Coco coir holds moisture well and provides excellent aeration, making it ideal for germinating seedlings and growing microgreens. Make your plants feel like they are taking a relaxing spa day with coco coir. This organic, environmentally sustainable substrate is the perfect combination of aeration and water retention for ultimate root growth.

2. How to prepare and use cococoir for microgreens cultivation?

It may be stored easily in brick form, but it needs to be prepared with water before using. It is also easier to store and ship coco coir since it can be compressed into a much smaller size than cocomats.

To prepare the substrate:

Remember that cococoir comes without any nutrients included so, fertilizers need to be added into your nutrient mix for full results!
It takes arround 25-30 minutes.
to achieve around 7 volume liters of growing substrate.
you have to soak 650 grams of our MP Seeds Coco Coir in 4 liters of water,
Pro tip 1: For soaking CocoCoir use water with already added fertilizer, to get great start when sprouting in the blackout phase.
Pro tip 2: Add some vermiculite to your mix to get more aeration when growing overwatering sensitive microgreens varieties like Beet, Amaranth or Carrot.

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3. Coco coir pros and cons for microgreens business

Pros:

Great water retention
Boosts root aeration
Perfect for hydroponic setups
Budget-friendly

Cons:

Needs 30 minutes to be prepared
Needs to be fertilized
Dries little bit faster than soil
We do not recommend to reuse

4. Cocomats description

Cocomats are made of coco-fibers bound together using spun needles or with natural latex. They hold water well and provide good oxygenation to improve root growth.

5. How to prepare and use cocomats for microgreens cultivation?

Cocomats are also extremely easy to use and require minimal maintenance.

You just need to soak it with water hot or cold and sow the seeds.
Pro tip: Use hot water to soak the CocoMat - it will get more puffy and the seeds will get extra boost to sprout faster!
We reccomend to rub the cocomats to make them more fluffier.
Like with Coco Coir do not forget to add fertilizer for first watering.
After the greens are ready you just harvest them and throw the mat away to the composter.
At voila! In MP SEEDS You may meet two options of mats: single latexed Cocomats or Cocomats double layered.

6. Coco Mats pros and cons in microgreens business

Pros:

provides clean cultivation
almost not need preparation
keeps moist very well
good in hydroponic growing

Cons:

not reusable
needs to be fertilized
dries faster than soil
more expensive than coco coir
reuse is not possible

7. Comparison Table: Coco Coir vs CocoMats

Feature	Coco Coir	CocoMats
Thickness	1-2 cm layer, you set the depth	5-6 mm, or 6 mm double-sided
Weight	650 g brick, expands to about 7 litres	approx. 700 g/m², or 800 g/m² double-sided
Coverage	one brick fills about 2 trays at a 2 cm layer, or 5 trays at 1 cm (27 x 53 cm trays)	one mat per tray, cut to size
Prep Time	~30 min soak	Quick soak, ready to use
Cleanliness	Like peat substrate- not so clean	Very clean, no mess
Reusability	Not recommended	Single use
Storage	Compact brick	Bulky sheets
Cost	Lower	Higher
Water Retention	Very good	Very good
Suitable for Hydroponics	Yes	Yes
Fertilizer Needed?	Yes	Yes
Eco-friendly	Yes	Yes

Those two rows explain the cost line above. Coco coir is cheaper per tray because one brick fills several trays, while a mat is one piece per tray. A mat costs more and buys you back the time you would spend levelling loose fibre, and a bench that stays clean. If you want to see both formats next to each other, they sit in our coconut growing media category, alongside every other option in growing media for microgreens.

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8. Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Coco Coir and Cocomats

Both coco coir and coco mats are made from coconut husks – a natural byproduct of the coconut industry. That means zero waste and no need to cut down extra trees to produce them. Win-win!
Coco Coir is super compact (brick form), which means lower carbon footprint during transport – more substrate, less space, less fuel burned = good for the planet 🌍
CocoMats are 100% biodegradable and compostable – after harvest, just toss the mat into the compost bin. Simple, clean, and no landfill guilt.
Neither of them contains harmful additives, chemicals, or synthetic components. They’re safe for your plants, your customers, and your soil if reused or composted.
Choosing either material supports a sustainable cycle of farming and reuse – and shows your customers you care about clean, conscious growing.

To sum up

So, depending on your preferences, the scale of cultivating and budget coco coir or coco mats can be a good option for cultivating microgreens.

In conclusion, coco coir and coco mats both offer effective hydroponic growing media that are easy to use and require minimal maintenance. Depending on your preferences, coco coir may be more cost-effective while coco mats may provide better organization performance of growing process. Consider the pros and cons of each option before selecting one for your next microgreen cultivation project or order both to compare!

We hope this article has helped you decide which method is best for you when it comes to cultivating microgreens: coco coir or cocomats. Check our CocoMat or CocoCoir and...

Keep Growing,

Caroline

FAQ – Coconut Coir vs Coconut Mats for Microgreens

What is the difference between coconut coir and coconut mats for microgreens?

Coconut coir is a loose, hydrated substrate made from coco pith and fibers. Coconut mats are pre-formed sheets made from compressed coco fibers. Coir offers flexibility and lower cost, while mats provide cleaner, faster setup.

Which is better for growing microgreens: coconut coir or coconut mats?

Both work well. Coconut coir is better for budget-focused or larger-scale growing. Coconut mats are better for clean, organized production and fast workflow, especially for beginners or professional farms.

Do coconut coir and coconut mats need fertilizer?

Yes. Both substrates contain no nutrients. Fertilizer must be added to the water from the first irrigation for proper microgreen growth.

Is coconut coir reusable for microgreens?

Reusing coconut coir is not recommended for microgreens due to hygiene risks and inconsistent results.

Are coconut mats reusable?

No. Coconut mats are designed for single use. After harvest, they should be composted.

Which substrate is easier to use for beginners?

Coconut mats are easier. They require minimal preparation and provide a clean, mess-free growing process.