which is made from the long fibres

Coir, which is made from the long fibres in the outer husks of coconuts, has been used for decades in growing media and is currently the most widely used peat-free alternative, says Jackson. "It's the close first cousin to peat in properties, and it's been used enough that there's familiarity with how to use it to grow plants."A waste product from a major crop, there is plenty of coir available. However, some coconut plantations have been linked with deforestation, and one downside of its use in places like the UK and US is how far it needs to be transported – much of it comes from India and Sri Lanka. There could arguably be better uses for it more locally, notes Conroy.