Tropic 70/30 Coco Mix 50 Litres - Aerated Coco and Perlite Growing Medium
Best for: Growers who want a coco-based medium with built-in drainage, from first-time coco growers to larger-scale setups.
Our thoughts
Coco on its own can hold onto water for longer than some growers expect, which catches out a lot of first-timers with overwatering. The 30% perlite in this mix solves that before it becomes a problem, giving you drainage and oxygen at the roots without having to blend your own. It does dry out a bit quicker as a result, so keep an eye on watering in peak flower.
Tropic 70/30 Coco Mix is a pre-blended growing medium combining 70% coco coir with 30% perlite, giving you the moisture retention and structure of coco alongside the drainage and aeration that perlite adds. The perlite content helps water move more freely through the root zone, improving oxygen availability at the roots and reducing the risk of waterlogging that can happen with straight coco. It carries a starting EC of around 0.8, low enough to give you full control over your own nutrient programme from the first feed.
How it compares
A pre-blended alternative to buying pure coco and perlite separately and mixing your own ratio.
- Versus Canna Coco (sold as a professional-grade pure coco medium, typically used without added perlite), the Tropic 70/30 blend adds drainage out of the bag, which suits growers who'd otherwise need to buy and mix perlite themselves.
- Versus Plagron's own Cocos Perlite 70/30 blend, the two sit in a similar category and ratio - the main differences come down to price and regional availability rather than fundamentally different formulations.
- Versus growing in straight coco with no added perlite, this blend drains and aerates better but dries out faster, meaning slightly more frequent watering, particularly in peak flower or hot conditions.
A sensible middle ground for growers who want coco's benefits without the extra step of mixing their own perlite ratio.
Usage guidance
Watering frequency
Expect to water more often than with straight coco, particularly through peak flower when plants are drinking heavily - check daily rather than assuming a fixed schedule.
Pot sizing
Use larger pot sizes where practical to buffer against the faster drying rate, giving roots more reserve moisture between waterings.
Feeding
With a starting EC of around 0.8, this medium is close to neutral out of the bag, so build up your feed EC gradually from the first watering rather than assuming a nutrient charge is already present.
Runoff
Feed to a 10-20% runoff to flush excess salts through the medium, checking runoff EC periodically to keep the root zone from building up salts over a long grow.
Technical specifications
- Composition: 70% coco coir, 30% perlite
- Starting EC: Approx. 0.8
- Bag volume: 50 Litres
- Format: Pre-blended, ready to use
- Suited to: Hand watering or drip irrigation systems
Who this is for
- First-time coco growers who want good drainage without mixing their own blend
- Growers moving up from soil who want more control over feeding than a pre-fertilised mix allows
- Larger-scale growers wanting a consistent, pre-blended medium across multiple pots
- Anyone running drip irrigation who needs a medium that drains well between cycles
Best paired with a coco-specific feed programme, since the medium itself brings drainage and structure rather than nutrient content.
Our take
This is a straightforward, well-proportioned coco/perlite blend that removes the guesswork of mixing your own ratio, at a price that undercuts a lot of the branded alternatives. Just budget for slightly more frequent watering than you'd expect from straight coco.
One we sell a lot of for growers stepping into coco for the first time. Proper kit at a price that makes sense.
