From coconut to substrate

The production process at Dutch Plantin

What exactly happens to a coconut before it becomes a high-quality growing medium for vegetables, flowers, and fruit? At Dutch Plantin, we transform every coconut into a sustainable and efficient substrate through a meticulous process built on decades of innovation. Discover how we turn natural by-products into valuable raw materials.

It all starts with the coconut

Our journey begins on sustainable coconut plantations in India and Sri Lanka. After harvesting, the coconuts are separated from their husks. The husk — rich in fibers and coco peat — forms the foundation of our products. Instead of being discarded as waste, this by-product is turned into a premium raw material.

From raw husk to coconut components

We process the husk into three essential components:

1. Coco peat

First stored outdoors for four months (“aging”) to allow it to stabilize.
Then carefully washed, dried, and buffered
During the buffering process, unwanted salts (such as sodium and potassium) are removed, and calcium is added.

2. Coconut fibers

Mechanically separated from the peat.
Dried, sieved, and sorted by length and thickness.
Mainly used in airy substrate mixtures.

3. Coconut chips

Large pieces of coconut husk are shredded into various fractions: coarse, medium, mini, and micro chips.
Used in substrates that require higher air capacity, especially growbags and coconut slabs.

Tailor-made production for every grower

Depending on the cultivation purpose, we combine these components into different product types:

Growbags and coconut slabs: for intensive horticulture, such as tomatoes and strawberries.
Special briquettes for raspberries: compact for easy logistics, with a large expansion volume.
5 kg blocks: ideal for large-scale growers, potting soil producers, and distributors handling big volumes.
Loose mixes: for potting soil companies, nurseries, potted plants, or hydroponic systems.

Thanks to our own production facilities in India and the Netherlands, we can tailor every product to the customer’s specific needs.

Sustainability at the core

At Dutch Plantin, sustainability means more than just environmentally friendly production:

We give by-products a second life.
We reduce the need for fertilizers and water.
Our growbags last for multiple seasons.
We invest in local communities in South India, where many of our employees live.

Innovation as a standard

Our unique buffering technique, developed in the 1990s, has become a global standard. But we continue to innovate:

Research in collaboration with Wageningen University into circular growing systems.
Ongoing experiments to buffer coconut more efficiently and with a lower environmental footprint.
Continuous refinement of our blends for an optimal water–air balance.

From coconut to success formula

Whether it’s a bell pepper grower in the Netherlands or a strawberry producer in Mexico, growers around the world trust our substrate for healthy roots and maximum yields.
Get in touch with our experts for personalized substrate advice.