Coir maintains excellent air porosity even when saturated, and gives better crops with faster developing roots and more flowers and fruit per plant when used correctly. Roots seem to like the natural coir peat which encourages the growth of small roots leading to high levels of fruiting.

Coir has better water retention qualities than peat and other growing media. This has obvious advantages in dry climates, or at times when plants cannot be watered frequently such as in transit to market. Coir or Cocopeat naturally retains a good level of water while losing excess water, leaving the plant in a well hydrated but not flooded state.

Coirpeat has better water retention characteristics than other substrates, and also re-hydrates quicker and more thoroughly than other substrates. Coir peat absorbs moisture immediately, even from a dry state, (unlike sphagnum peat which tends to shrink when dry and form a water-repellent crust which causes water run-off from the top surface, and water loss between the peat and the inside edge of the flower pot). Thus plants growing in coir tend to recover better and more quickly from dry conditions.

The ease of re-wetting and the quick drainage characteristics of coir mean that coir needs to be irrigated less frequently and for shorter periods. Thus leading to less leaching and less use of fertiliser.

Cocopeat has excellent oxygen porosity access to the root system even when the substrate is saturated, giving better crops, faster development and increase in fruit or flowers. The inherent qualities of coir and the optimum water/air availability are ideal for quick rooting and propagation. In many cases this leads to more seedling rotations per year, a higher percentage of seedling and propagation take-up and more efficient use of greenhouse equipment.

In its unprocessed state, coir dust is a by-product in its country of origin. Its use therefore does not involve the destruction of peat bogs and natural wetland wildlife habitat. It is a renewable resource with no hazardous disposal problems (unlike some alternatives such as rock wool). Extensive research by UK based companies have shown that the environmental input, including the fossil fuel consumption associated with the transport of coir from Asia, is significantly less than the environmental cost involved in the production and transport of peat moss and rock-wool. Coir is transported in a compressed compact state (compressed 14 times down from its natural size).

While coco peat is totally biodegradable it is also highly stable for several years and many growers will use the substrate for more than one growing season. Indeed some rose or raspberries growers use the same batch of cocopeat for up to 5 years. The lignin content of around 45% ensures that the excellent water/air ratio is maintained over a longer period of time than is the case with many other substrates. Thus, for example, good performance is maintained over the commercial life of a rose plant which may be more than 5 years.

Because Coir originates above ground it does not contain any soil diseases. Additionally, since coir is produced in the air rather than on the soil, it also has fewer plant and soil pathogens in the substrates. In fact several studies have indicated that coir substrate brings increased resistance to pythium and other root diseases.

In all crops there is an increase of good quality fruit compared to other substrates.