Coco peat vs Coco coir
Mostly the same thing
Coco peat is coco coir: the fine, dusty part of coconut husk, also sold as cocopeat, coir pith or coir dust. A bag labeled “coir” may hold fine material, fibers, chunky chips or a blend. Fine coir holds more water; chunky coir holds more air.
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How the coco peat and coco coir labels compare
| Compare | Coco peat | Coco coir |
|---|---|---|
| Names on the bag | Coco peat, cocopeat, coir pith, coir dust | Coir, coco coir, coconut husk fiber |
| Part of the husk | The fine, dusty part only | Any part: fine pith, fibers or chips |
| Water and air | Holds a lot of water, with good aeration | Chunky forms drain better and hold more air |
| Before use | ||
| In a pot | ||
| In a raised bed | ||
| In the ground | ||
How coco peat and coco coir hold air and water
Water coats the small coco peat crumbs and the larger coir pieces and fills the gaps between them.
After draining, air returns to the gaps, which are larger between chunky coir pieces than between fine coco peat.
As the coir dries, fewer water marks remain in both pots.
- Particle
- Water
- Air space
Where are you using it?
Pick a setting to see the reason behind each rating in the table.
In a pot
- Both
- Typical use
Fine coir can serve as the base of a mix; chunky coir gives a coarser, airier structure.
In a raised bed
- Both
- Sometimes used
Coir turns up in bagged bed products: Rutgers lists coconut husk fiber among their usual ingredients.
In the ground
- Both
- Case by case
Coir is organic material, and Rutgers says organic growing media can improve garden soil that is low in organic matter.
What this comparison can't tell you
- Which form is inside a package labeled only “coir.”
- The salt level of a particular brick.
Compare two bags with the bag worksheet, and see what a comparison can and cannot settle.
What to look for on the bag
Selected setting: In a potIn a raised bedIn the ground
Common mix-ups about coco peat and coco coir
- “Coco peat comes from a peat bog.”
- It comes from coconut husks. Bog peat is partly decayed bog plants.
- “Every coir brick behaves the same.”
- Coir comes from many countries and is hard to characterize; Arkansas Extension advises checking its salt information.
Where coco peat fits in the coir family
Coconut coir
Coco peat · coir pith · coir dust
Names for the fine, dusty part of the husk.
Fibers and chips
Longer fibers and chunky pieces, which drain better and hold more air.
Each form shown here comes from coconut husk. A bag labeled only “coir” may hold any of them.
Questions about coco peat and coco coir
Does dried coir rewet easily?
Purdue calls coir readily wettable, and Arkansas Extension says it rewets more easily than peat. Iowa State cautions that dried coir can still resist wetting. Follow the preparation directions for your product.
Does coir break down in a pot?
Coir can decompose and lose volume. Arkansas Extension says it may resist breakdown more than peat, and Kentucky lists decomposition and shrinkage among its drawbacks.
Sources
Each claim on this page traces to a university extension guide, agency page or published study.