Gold Label 60/40 45 Litres - Coco and Clay Pebble Growing Medium
Best for: hydroponic growers running flood and drain or drip systems who want the fast drainage of clay pebbles with a bit more water buffer built in.
Our thoughts
Pure clay pebbles drain brilliantly but dry out fast, which is unforgiving if a pump ever hiccups. Mixing in 40% coco gives you that same rapid growth and drainage but with a proper safety net if you miss a feed or a pump trips. It's a sensible middle ground for anyone running flood and drain who wants less risk without losing the speed.
Gold Label 60/40 is a ready-to-use hydroponic substrate made from 60% expanded clay pebbles (Hydrocorn, typically 8-16mm) and 40% coco coir, the result of Gold Label's long-running product development in Dutch substrate manufacturing. It's RHP certified, and Gold Label is the only substrate manufacturer to also hold KIWA certification, both marks of consistent, tested quality in the coco and clay production process.
The coco element is washed and buffered to lower EC and strip out excess potassium before being sieved into fine, absorbent fibres, so it arrives ready to use straight from the bag with no rinsing or pre-treatment needed. The added coco also gives beneficial bacteria and fungi additives more to work with in the root zone than pure clay would, helping root development and uptake.
How it compares
60/40 sits between pure clay and pure coco on the drainage-versus-retention spectrum.
- Pure clay pebbles (Hydroton and similar) drain faster but hold almost no water, so a pump failure or missed feed shows up quickly.
- Canna Coco is 100% coco coir, giving more consistent water retention but without the extra drainage and aeration clay pebbles provide.
- Gold Label 60/40 splits the difference, aimed specifically at flood and drain or IWS-style systems where fast drainage matters but some buffer is welcome.
If you want clay's speed with a bit more forgiveness, this is the more practical choice over pure clay alone.
Usage guidance
60/40 is designed to go straight into your system with minimal prep.
Setting up
Fill pots or the system bed directly from the bag - no washing or soaking is required before planting.
Feed schedule
Because the coco content retains more moisture than clay alone, you can generally feed slightly less often than with pure clay pebbles, though you should still monitor runoff EC and adjust to your system and plant stage.
Compatible systems
Works well in flood and drain, IWS-style modules, and drip irrigation setups where consistent moisture at the root zone is useful.
Additives
The coco fraction gives beneficial bacteria and fungi products more surface and organic matter to establish in than pure clay, so it pairs well if you're running root-zone biology additives.
Technical specifications
- Mix ratio: 60% expanded clay pebbles, 40% coco coir
- Clay pebble size: Approx. 8-16mm
- Bag size: 45 litres
- Certification: RHP and KIWA certified
- Coco treatment: Washed and buffered to lower EC and reduce excess potassium
- Preparation needed: None - ready to use from the bag
- Recommended systems: Flood and drain, IWS, drip irrigation
- Manufacturer: Gold Label
Who this is for
- Flood and drain and IWS growers who want faster drainage than pure coco
- Growers who've had pump or timer failures dry out a pure clay system and want more buffer
- Anyone running root-zone bacteria or fungi additives who wants more organic surface for them to colonise
- Growers already familiar with clay systems looking for an easier, more forgiving step up
Suits hydro growers who want speed and drainage without the all-or-nothing risk of pure clay.
Our take
60/40 does a genuinely useful job of covering clay's biggest weakness - its total lack of water retention - without giving up the drainage and growth rate that make clay popular in the first place. The RHP and KIWA certification is a reasonable signal of consistency batch to batch, which matters more with substrate than most growers give it credit for.
Proper kit at a price that makes sense for anyone running a flood and drain or IWS setup. One we sell a lot of for growers stepping up from pure clay.
