Coir Liners: The pros and cons of using coconut fibres in planters
A client recently challenged me to bring two old planters hanging by her front door back to life. They had become quite tatty over the year, and she presented me with a small mountain of coir

Fortunately, I’d come across coir a few times before. Made from the tough

Are coir liners really the answer?
From the looks of last year’s planters, it was clear that the coir
I began to empty the old compost and hadn’t dug too deeply before coming across a few nappies. Nappies maintain moisture levels so well that they have often been the answer when looking after coir-lined planters. The coir does have a tendency to dry out quickly, especially in warmer climates. So nappies at the bottom lock some of the moisture in, similarly to water-retaining granules. But once watered, coir does reabsorb water easily.
I decided to skip the nappies in this year’s planter design. I didn’t have any on me anyway! Instead, I used some stones at the bottom for drainage.
The old coir had started to come apart and hung through the wire mesh of the planter. I removed it completely and positioned the new coir liner, forming it gently to the shape of the container. It was surprisingly easy to shape it, and I could tuck away any loose bits by pushing them up from below.

Pre-formed coconut liners could have been more
Coir has its advantages
I filled the planters with fresh compost, mixing in some of the remnant coir. Coir is a perfect soil amendment, used often as a sustainable alternative to peat. Although peat itself is sustainable in that it regenerates over many years, high demand depletes peat bogs much quicker than they can regenerate. On the other hand, coconuts are ready for harvesting within one year, making it an ideal alternative to peat. The coir has a near-neutral pH, as opposed to more acidic peat, so it doesn’t change the soil environment as much. Coconut

To finish off the display, I planted an arrangement of hardy plants to last through this dicey winter: cordyline, primroses, trailing ivy, and two lemon cypresses. An added bonus of coir-lined planters is that once the plants grow too large for the planter, you can pop them out with the liner and plant directly into the ground. Since coir is a natural organic

Does it look better?
I really enjoyed the final look of the planters — natural and aesthetically pleasing. They will bring joy to the family for many months to come. I think the coir really tied the display together.
Coir is also naturally durable and resists rotting. It stores well in a dry covered place for years. I will be monitoring the display over time to see just how long it will last, and I will certainly be using more coir lining in the near future.

What do u do w/ them in the winter months? Bring them in? Or repot in a regular pot . I have a wandering Jew plant that wAs at a fair and I’d love to do that
What do you mean with the term ‘nappies’? My understanding is that a nappy is the same as a diaper?
That’s correct a nappy is a diaper.
Hi, we are producers and exporters of coir planters and coir pots for horticulture.
Coir planters and pots are ideal for raising seeds and replanting in the same way
without removing the plant, thus preserving the roots.
Coir Association Pvt Ltd
Sri Lanka
Hi, we are producers and exporters of coir planters and coir pots for horticulture.
Coir planters and pots are ideal for raising seeds and replanting in the same way
without removing the plant, thus preserving the roots.
Can the old coir liner be put in the compost bin?
Yes, I believe so as the fibres will biodegrade with time.