UGro produces ecological coco substrates and protects peat ecosystems
It has been more than 20 years since the UGro brand was founded in Barcelona, with a vision from the outset of producing high-quality coconut substrates with sustainability and the protection of peatlands in mind, which on our planet represent the largest natural carbon store. We have recently added new products from this traditional Spanish manufacturer to our range, led by coconut compressed cubes, ideal for outdoor and indoor plant cultivation, including hydroponics. As you will learn in this article, they are easy to use and you will quickly come to appreciate them as a natural growing medium.
Compressed coconut cubes
UGRo products, such as an organic coconut substrate for indoor and outdoor use, which you can see in the first image, are made from coconut husks in India. And so, in the field of coconut substrates, the comparison with a rare spice immediately suggests itself. You can rely on all the important parameters of UGRO substrates, which we will mention below, remaining the same from the moment they are packed until you open the packaging yourself. That is, after all, a major practical advantage of dehydrated coconut - long shelf life while preserving the original properties and easy handling or transport. We can also immediately add recycling, or the possibility of repeated use of the growing medium. If you would like more general information about the advantages of coconut substrates and their use not only for hydroponic plant cultivation, read the separate article: Growing in coconut.
However, both types of UGro coconut cubes have a slightly different composition from what we are used to with other coconut brquettes and mats. Whether you choose the UGro BASIC or UGro RHIZA version, the dehydrated and compressed block of premium coconut substrate made from high-quality coconut peat in the form of fine particles contains a low proportion of fibres.
You will also probably have noticed that the left-hand coconut cube for plant cultivation shows the BASIC version, while the packaging on the right looks very similar but bears the RHIZA label. So what is the difference? You will pay a few crowns extra for the second-mentioned version, but the reward will be a composition enriched with endomycorrhiza for better nutrient uptake.
While we are on the subject of which UGro coconut cube will suit you better, it naturally also depends on the scale on which you grow your plants, whether outdoors or in the comfort of your home. In this respect, UGro again offers professional and hobby growers two options:
- UGro Coco XL: a 5 kg block of dehydrated Indian coconut for plant cultivation turns into 70 litres of unique coconut substrate, ready for immediate use, after adding 18 litres of water.
- UGro Coco Small: the smaller and more affordable pack weighs 650 grams. If you add 3 litres of water, you will obtain 11 litres of natural coconut substrate.
Advantages of the UGro Organics Coco compressed coconut cube
And now back to why you should definitely try these dehydrated compressed coconut substrates:
- Excellent water and air retention properties for a healthy and richly developed root system - the basis of a vital plant and a successful harvest. To be precise, we state a water retention capacity of 910%, both for the BASIC and RHIZA versions.
- Better uptake of nutrients dissolved in water. As a result, fertiliser and water use falls by up to half when using UGro coconut substrates!
- Optimal EC levels (< 0.6 ms/cm ) and pH (5.5 - 6.5).
- A universal natural growing medium for cultivation in a grow box and under open skies.
- Perfectly clean composition without soil pathogens, odours, roots or other impurities.