Pain de fibre de coco compressé sorti de son emballage, bloc dense de fibre brune sur fond blanc

Fibre de coco réhydratée tenue à pleines mains, texture aérée mêlant tourbe, fibres et copeaux

Bloc de fibre de coco compactée UGro XL Rhiza 70 L, emballage complet vu de trois quarts sur fond blanc

Sac de culture UGro Slab Rhiza 15 L, pain de fibre de coco d'un mètre de long, sur fond blanc

Schéma UGro de mise en oeuvre du sac 15 L : découpe des fenêtres, hydratation, entailles de drainage, pose des mottes

Brique de fibre de coco compressée vue de trois quarts sur fond blanc

Pain de fibre de coco UGro Slab Rhiza 15 L dans son emballage blanc d'un mètre de long, posé en diagonale sur fond blanc

Hydrated coco coir expanded view – swollen coco substrate for aquaponic grow bed

Compacted coconut fiber

$14.00

Volume	Prix	Prix au L	vs 15 L
15 L	$14.00	$0.93	—
70 L	$31.00	$0.44	−53 %

UGro Rhiza coco fibre, double-washed in fresh water and factory-buffered: it comes out of the bag at pH 5.5 to 6.5, with an EC below 0.6 mS/cm.

The 15 L growing bag can be used straight from the bag for seedlings and row plants; the 70 L compressed block rehydrates to fill pots, baskets and growing beds. In aquaponics, allow for a commissioning rinse.

Volume : 15 l

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Payment in instalments, free of charge

The summary

What you receive: a washed and buffered UGro Rhiza coco block, in a 15 L bag or a 70 L block.
Rehydration time: 2 to 3 minutes of expansion for the 70 L block, a soaking period for the 15 L bag.
What you will need: 6.5 L of clean water for the 15 L, 18 L for the 70 L, and a container for the final volume.
Before use: a rinse with clean water, the runoff from which should not go back into the fish tank.
Maintenance: none for the grow medium itself, only watering or fertigation of your crops.
How to choose: the 15 L bag can be planted into directly, while the 70 L block is used to fill your own pots.

Washed and buffered coco coir for seedlings, pots and grow beds

A UGro coco brick weighs 1.6 kg and fits on a shelf. After a few minutes in a bucket of water, it yields fifteen litres of grow medium ready for planting. That is the principle of compressed coco: you store a dense block all year round and produce the volume of growing medium on the day you need it.

The raw material is the fibrous husk of the coconut, an agricultural by-product that was once discarded as waste. Simply Organic, the Spanish manufacturer based near Barcelona that publishes the UGro brand, has it produced in India, on plantations deliberately located inland to limit salt content, before washing, buffering and compressing it.

Washing, carried out twice in fresh water, removes the soluble salts that accumulate during retting. Buffering, which the manufacturer refers to as true buffered, saturates the coco's exchange sites so that it releases less sodium and potassium during the growing cycle. Simply Organic does not publicly detail the minerals used in this exchange process, but it does publish the resulting values: conductivity below 0.6 mS/cm in a 1:1.5 extract, pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Full details can be found in the technical specifications.

Coco, clay pebbles or sphagnum: which one for which purpose

Compared with clay pebbles

Clay pebbles drain very quickly and retain almost nothing: they are designed for a flood-and-drain bed with short cycles and for bottom drainage. Coco, on the other hand, holds moisture between waterings.

With sphagnum moss

Sphagnum moss retains considerably more water and holds its structure for a long time, but it is expensive per litre and is used mainly for cuttings, orchids and carnivorous plants. Coco is the choice for volume.

Compared to perlite and compost

Perlite is not a complete grow medium: it is added to coco to lighten it. Compost, on the other hand, introduces nutrients you cannot control, which is a drawback in soilless growing.

Preparation requires no special tools, but the method differs depending on the volume. The 70-litre block requires 18 litres of clean water and expands within two to three minutes in a large tub or wheelbarrow. The 15-litre grow bag is prepared differently: cut one of the four marked openings on the top, pour 6.5 litres of clean water through the opening, then allow the coir's strong capillary action to distribute the moisture before planting. One side of the bag may appear wetter than the other at first, the manufacturer confirms this is normal.

Choose carefully before ordering

The 15-litre version is a flexible grow bag approximately one hundred centimetres long, UV-treated, with four pre-marked cut-out positions on the top. It sits directly on a growing table or in a gutter and can be planted without any decanting.

The 70-litre version is a standard compressed block that needs rehydrating in a container: this is the format to choose if you are filling your own grow pots, baskets, and beds, and if you want to be able to prepare only a portion at a time while keeping the rest dry.

In aquaponics, coco is used primarily as a planting medium, in pots and net cups, rather than as a full fill for a flood-and-drain bed, where its fine texture would eventually compact the grow medium and impede drainage. It holds the root ball, keeps things cool around the roots, and provides a surface that bacteria can colonise. The key concern is chemical: even washed and buffered, coco releases a proportion of the potassium and sodium still bound to its exchange sites as soon as it comes into contact with soft, low-mineral water. Our guide on choosing a grow medium for aquaponics compares each option one by one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Skip the commissioning rinse. UGro's instructions don't mention it, but in aquaponics it prevents the first leachate from reaching the fish tank. Rinse the rehydrated grow medium under clean water and drain it away separately.

Over-saturating the block. Beyond the quantities stated by the manufacturer, the coco loses volume and compacts instead of staying aerated.

Using it at the bottom of a flood-and-drain bed. It's too fine, it migrates towards the strainer and the pump.

Relying on it to feed your plants. It provides virtually no nutrients: fertilisation remains entirely your responsibility.

What happens to it after harvest

Healthy coco can be reused. At the end of a crop, remove the larger roots, re-moisten the material and let it rest: its fibrous structure will generally hold for a second season in the pot, provided the previous crop did not suffer from root disease. Once it becomes too fine and retains too much water, it works very well in a compost heap or as a mulch around the base of a border. Both sizes belong to the Rhiza range, which the manufacturer states is enriched with endomycorrhizae, the symbiotic fungi that colonise the roots and improve uptake of mineral nutrients.

Technical specifications

The essentials

Volume once hydrated: 15 or 70 litresDepending on the size chosen, volume stated by the manufacturer
Rehydration water: 6.5 or 18 litresDo not exceed this level: beyond it, the coco compacts rather than staying aerated
Grow medium pH: 5.5 to 6.5Range at which most vegetables absorb minerals most effectively
EC conductivity: Below 0.6 mS/cm1:1.5 extract on fresh grow medium, before any fertiliser application

Grow medium analysis

Water retention: 40 to 65 % depending on size40 to 45% for the 15 L bag, 60 to 65% for the 70 L block
Dry matter: 79 to 85 %79 to 85 % on the 15 L bag, 82 to 85 % on the 70 L block
Organic matter: 95 to 98 %Expressed as a proportion of dry matter
Chlorides: 70 to 80 mg/LLow value, a result of double rinsing with fresh water

Format and packaging

Net weight: 1.6 or 5 kg5% tolerance as stated by the manufacturer
Compressed volume: 4.3 to 11.3 litres4.27 to 4.72 L in 15 L, 10.26 to 11.34 L in 70 L, storage footprint
Dimensions of the 15 L bag: Approximately 100 x 15 x 3 cmPrices gathered from retailers, not published by the manufacturer
Dimensions of the 70 L block: 32 x 32 x 14 cmStores flat on a shelf, film with a handle

Processing and origin

Rinsing: Two times in fresh waterFlushes out the soluble salts that build up during retting
Buffering: Labelled true bufferedTerm used by the manufacturer, who does not detail the minerals used in the exchange
Enrichment: Endomycorrhizae, Rhiza rangeThe manufacturer states neither strain nor dosage on these two grow medium references
Coco structure: Medium Coco, Fibres and ChipsCoco blend, long fibres and chips in 15 L; medium coco with an average fibre content in 70 L.
Stated purity: Free from pathogens and rootsManufacturer's declaration, with no published third-party certification on these references
Origin: India, brand UGroCrops grown inland, Simply Organic packaging, Spain

10 further specifications are available in the detailed view.

In the box

1 UGro Slab Professional Rhiza growing bag, 15 litres hydrated, with 4 marked planting positions ready to cut, drainage holes on the underside, and a UV-treated film (15 L variant)
1 compressed UGro XL Rhiza block, 70 litres when hydrated, 32 x 32 x 14 cm, shrink-wrapped with a carrying handle (70 L variant)
Nothing else in the parcel: the rehydration container, water, pots and fertilisation remain your responsibility.

Values published by Simply Organic for references UGS15R-1 and UGXLR-1. Water retention and dry matter differ between the two; details are given under each line. The dimensions of the 15 L bag come from retailers, and no RHP or OMRI certification is claimed for these references.

15 litres or 70 litres: which one is right for you

Both sizes contain the same washed and buffered coco, but they are not prepared in the same way and are not suited to the same use.

Not sure whether to go for 15 or 70 litres? Answer three quick questions and we'll highlight the size that suits your needs.

	Volume once hydrated (L)	Clean water required (L)	Weight of parcel to carry (kg)	Packaging	Coco structure	Water retention	Enriched with endomycorrhizae	Prepared in several stages	Ready to plant with no repotting needed	Fills your own pots and baskets	Price	Best volume-to-price ratio
15 L grow bagYour choice	15 L	6,5 L	1,6 kg	Flexible bag, marked slots to cut out	Medium coco, long fibres and chips	40 to 45 %	yes	no	yes	no	$14.00	no
Recommended 70 L compressed blockYour choice	70 L	18 L	5 kg	Block in film, 32 x 32 x 14 cm	Medium coco with an average fibre content	60 to 65 %	yes	yes	no	yes	$31.00	yes

15 L grow bag

Format and rehydration

Volume once hydrated (L)15 L

Clean water required (L)6,5 L

Weight of parcel to carry (kg)1,6 kg

PackagingFlexible bag, marked slots to cut out

Grow medium behaviour

Coco structureMedium coco, long fibres and chips

Water retention40 to 45 %

Enriched with endomycorrhizaeyes

Prepared in several stagesno

In use

Ready to plant with no repotting neededyes

Fills your own pots and basketsno

Price$14.00

Best volume-to-price rationo

70 L compressed blockRecommended

Format and rehydration

Volume once hydrated (L)70 L

Clean water required (L)18 L

Weight of parcel to carry (kg)5 kg

PackagingBlock in film, 32 x 32 x 14 cm

Grow medium behaviour

Coco structureMedium coco with an average fibre content

Water retention60 to 65 %

Enriched with endomycorrhizaeyes

Prepared in several stagesyes

In use

Ready to plant with no repotting neededno

Fills your own pots and basketsyes

Price$31.00

Best volume-to-price ratioyes

The prices shown are those of the two variants on this page. Technical values taken from the Slab Professional Rhiza and XL Rhiza data sheets.

Product videos

A UGro XL 70 L block expanding in real time

Rehydrating a coco fibre block, step by step

Growing in coco coir: the basics

Preparing and planting a UGro grow medium, demo on the Small format

Growing in coco bags explained

Documents & manuals

Catalogue UGro Coco, Tree of Life 2024

Full range of UGro coco grow media and the characteristics of each product. English and Spanish.

PDF · 4,4 Mo

Download

UGro 2022 range leaflet

Detailed compositions of the Slab 15 L and XL 70 L, weights and volumes. English and Spanish.

PDF · 2,9 Mo

Download

UGro product catalogue

Condensed datasheets for the full range, dimensions and pack sizes. English and Spanish.

PDF · 3,3 Mo

Download

Rhiza 1200 instructions, the mycorrhizal inoculant

Manufacturer's document on endomycorrhizae in the Rhiza range. In English.

PDF · 2,2 Mo

Download

Estimate your
delivery time

The 70-litre block weighs 5 kg; the 15-litre block approximately 1.5 kg. The exact delivery cost is calculated in your basket based on the total weight of your order.

Frequently asked questions

11 questions

6 key questions, 11 in the detailed view

Which size to choose: 15 or 70 litres?

Format	Water to add	Setup	Best suited to
15 L grow bag	6.5 L	Ready to plant straight away: simply cut the marked openings on the top.	An existing growing table, gutter system, or workstation already in place.
70 L compressed block	18 L	Expand in a container, then distribute into your own pots and baskets, all at once or in stages.	Those who have their own containers, enough space, and don't mind a bit of handling.

Per hydrated litre, the 70 L block works out considerably cheaper than the 15 L bag. The comparison tool on this page will give you a clear answer in three questions.

Coco fibre or clay pebbles: which to choose for soilless growing?

These are two opposing functions, often complementary rather than competing.

Clay pebbles drain. Clay pebbles shed water very quickly and retain almost none: they are designed for flood-and-drain media beds with short cycles, where the grow medium must empty completely between each cycle, and for bottom drainage.

Coco retains moisture. It holds water between waterings, with a stated capacity of 40 to 45% for the 15 L bag and 60 to 65% for the 70 L block. It is therefore suited to pots, planters, seedlings, and all plants that do not tolerate fluctuations in moisture.

For a full overview, see our article on choosing a grow medium in aquaponics and the grow medium collection.

How much water is needed to rehydrate a UGro coco fibre block?

6.5 Lfor the 15 L bag

18 Lfor the 70 L block

2 to 3 minblock expansion time

These quantities are those stated by the manufacturer and must not be exceeded. The bag is filled with clean water through one of the cut openings on the top, then left to rest while capillary action distributes the moisture evenly; the block expands in a large basin.

Adding more water does not produce more grow medium: the material becomes saturated, loses volume, and compacts, which is detrimental to rooting. Some resellers quote 4 or 10 litres for the 15 L bag — the manufacturer's figure is the one to rely on.

Can coco fibre be used in an aquaponic system?

Yes, and it makes an excellent planting medium: it holds the root ball, keeps moisture around the roots, and provides a surface that bacteria can colonise.

Keep it for pots and grow baskets, not for filling a flood-and-drain bed entirely. Coco is a fine material: it compacts over time and small particles migrate towards the strainer and the pump.

Many aquaponics growers combine the two — coco around the root ball and clay pebbles as the main draining mass. Rinse the grow medium before commissioning, and monitor pH and conductivity in the days that follow, as you would after any significant addition of grow medium.

Should coco fibre be rinsed before use in aquaponics?

The UGro instructions do not include any rinsing: they simply ask you to rehydrate and then plant. In aquaponics, we nevertheless recommend this commissioning rinse, because the first wash water would otherwise go straight into the fish tank.

Rehydrate the block with the specified amount of water — 6.5 L for the 15 L bag, 18 L for the 70 L block.
Break the material apart by hand or with a cultivator.
Rinse it under clean water until the runoff runs clear.
Discard this first water into the garden or drain — never into the fish tank.

UGro coco is already double-washed and buffered at the factory, with an electrical conductivity below 0.6 mS/cm. However, coco fibre has a high cation exchange capacity: when it comes into contact with soft, nutrient-poor water, it releases a portion of the potassium and sodium still bound to it.

Does coco fibre lower the pH of the water?

Does coco fibre contain any fertiliser?

Is coco fibre suitable for seedlings and young plants?

Yes, it is one of its best uses.

Its fibrous structure retains moisture without suffocating the seed, which promotes even germination.
Its low nutrient content prevents burning of the radicles.
Moisten the coco without saturating it, and wait until the first true leaves appear before applying a dilute feed.

If your seedlings are failing to germinate, our article on germination failures runs through the most common causes, including grow medium that is too compacted or too wet.

How do you store an unused coco coir block?

Compressed and dry, stored somewhere frost-free, it keeps from one season to the next without issue: ambient moisture is its only enemy. Storage volume is just 4.3 to 11.3 litres depending on the size.

The manufacturer does not publish a shelf-life limit. Once rehydrated, however, the grow medium should be used straight away; if any remains, keep it moist and aerated rather than sealed in an airtight bag.

Can you reuse coco grow medium from one crop to the next?

Yes, if the previous crop went well.

Remove the larger roots by hand.
Re-moisten the material and leave it to rest for a few days.
Pot it back up: the fibre generally holds up for a second season.

Don't hesitate to discard any grow medium that has harboured root disease or a fungus gnat infestation. When the material becomes too fine and retains too much water, it makes an excellent addition to the compost heap or as a mulch.

What do the terms "true buffered" and "Rhiza" on UGro packaging mean?

True buffered is the term the manufacturer uses to describe a coir that has been genuinely buffered, in addition to a double freshwater rinse. Simply Organic does not publicly disclose the minerals used in this exchange process. A coir that has simply been washed, or only loaded with fertiliser, does not undergo this treatment and will release more during the growing cycle.

Rhiza is the endomycorrhizae-enriched version — symbiotic fungi that colonise the roots and improve mineral uptake. For both grow mediums, the manufacturer indicates only that enrichment is present, with no strain or dosage specified: the figure of 1,200 CFU/g refers to their separate inoculant Rhiza 1200, sold as a powder.

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Compacted coconut fiber

The summary

Washed and buffered coco coir for seedlings, pots and grow beds

Coco, clay pebbles or sphagnum: which one for which purpose

What happens to it after harvest

Technical specifications

15 litres or 70 litres: which one is right for you

Product videos

Documents & manuals

Estimate your
delivery time

Frequently asked questions

Vous aimerez aussi

Related articles

Which substrate should you choose for aquaponics ?

Germination failure: causes and solutions

Successfully sowing seeds in spring aquaponics

Creating your indoor seed-starting setup

What fertilizer should I use in aquaponics ?

What plants can be grown in aquaponics ?

Aquaponics and hydroponics, what's the difference ?

Let us talk about your project

Compacted coconut fiber

The summary

Washed and buffered coco coir for seedlings, pots and grow beds

Coco, clay pebbles or sphagnum: which one for which purpose

What happens to it after harvest

Technical specifications

15 litres or 70 litres: which one is right for you

Product videos

Documents & manuals

Estimate yourdelivery time

Frequently asked questions

Vous aimerez aussi

Related articles

Which substrate should you choose for aquaponics ?

Germination failure: causes and solutions

Successfully sowing seeds in spring aquaponics

Creating your indoor seed-starting setup

What fertilizer should I use in aquaponics ?

What plants can be grown in aquaponics ?

Aquaponics and hydroponics, what's the difference ?

Let us talk about your project

Estimate your
delivery time