...Only we use much larger bales, due to the large volume of coir we consume. The final product of this expansion process is a chunky organic substrate similar to peat moss. What makes Sun Gro’s coconut coir different than the other coconut coir products out on the market is our quality system. Sun Gro’s quality system is a comprehensive approach to quality from start to finish. All raw materials, including coconut coir, are pre-qualified before they are used in any Sun Gro product. Fortunately, Sun Gro has a team of seasoned horticulturalists that are responsible for developing standards and then securing products that pass those standards for use in consumer and professional horticultural products.

Coconut coir is produced all over the world. India and Sri Lanka account for the majority of the coconut coir produced. Just like many other products, the quality of coconut coir varies depending on where it is produced and how it is processed. The most important concern Sun Gro has when it comes to sourcing coconut coir is the level of salts contained within. A large portion of coconut coir is grown near an ocean. Between the natural salts in the soil and the salt from the ocean water/mist, coconut coir sourced from coconut farms near an ocean is often full of salts (mostly sodium chloride, aka table salt). When this high salt coconut coir is used, then the potting soil and the plants grown in it are affected. The affected plants would have stunted root and shoot growth, tip die back of new growth and dead or brown sections on older leaf margins. None of those traits are very desirable, particularly if they can be avoided.

To avoid the issue, Sun Gro sources coconut coir from inland coconut farms that have rigid production processes which includes washing the salts out of the coconut coir at the source. The manufacturer is required to test the coconut coir and only ship the coconut coir that pass Sun Gro’s quality specifications. Once the coconut coir arrives and we begin the expansion process, which washes it another time, we test the coconut coir once more to ensure that it meets or exceeds our quality standard. The goal is to provide coconut coir that provides the wonderful horticultural traits we desire without the high salts.

Why do we go through all of these additional steps just to supply the coconut coir necessary for our products like Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend? Because Sun Gro is a horticultural company not a marketing company. Our desire is to have lifelong customers, and we believe the easiest way to make that a reality is to produce a consistent high quality product, so that you have gardening success every time you use our gardening products.

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