In short: Yes — coco coir and coco peat are the same thing. Both names describe the growing medium made from the pith of coconut husks. "Coco peat" (also written cocopeat, or coir pith) is the older trade name that stuck because the material looks and behaves a bit like peat; "coco coir" is the umbrella term that covers everything made from the husk. In the UK you will see both on the same shelf, and they are used interchangeably.
The short answer: same material, different name
| Term | What it usually means | Where you'll hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Coco peat / cocopeat / coir pith | The fine, spongy pith from the coconut husk — the "soil-like" fraction | India, Sri Lanka and the wider trade; older UK labels |
| Coco coir | Any growing product made from coconut husk: pith, fibre or chips (in practice, usually the pith) | UK, US and most modern retail packaging |
| Coir | The husk fibre itself — also used for doormats and rope; on a compost label it means the same growing medium | Traditional British usage |
So when a product says "buffered coco coir" and another says "buffered coco peat", you are looking at the same thing. The names changed with the market, not the material. Our complete guide to coco coir covers how it is made and why it works.
Where the confusion comes from
The coconut husk gives three different products, and "coir" can technically describe all of them. That is the root of the mix-up:
| Product | Texture | Holds water | Holds air | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coco pith ("coco peat") | Fine, crumbly, like dark peat | Very high | Good | Seed sowing, pots, containers, hydroponics — the everyday growing medium |
| Coir fibre | Long, wiry strands | Low | Very high | Adding structure to mixes; liners and mulch |
| Coco chips (husk chips) | Chunky 1–2 cm pieces | Moderate | Very high | Orchids, aroids and anything that wants a chunky, free-draining mix |
Almost every compressed brick sold to UK gardeners is coco pith — the "coco peat" fraction — sometimes with a little fibre left in for structure. Chips are sold separately and mainly for orchids.
Does the name change what you get?
No. What actually changes how the product performs is not the name on the bag but four things you should check before buying:
- Buffered or unbuffered. Raw coir carries natural sodium and potassium that can lock up calcium and magnesium at the root zone. Washed, calcium-buffered coir avoids that from day one — the full explanation is in our buffered vs unbuffered guide.
- Salt level (EC). Look for a stated electrical conductivity; low-EC coir (0.5 mS/cm or under) is safe for seedlings and salt-sensitive plants.
- pH. Good coir sits naturally around pH 5.5–6.5, which is where most plants take up nutrients best.
- Particle grade. Fine pith for seed trays and pots; chips for orchids; a blend for containers and beds.
Two bags labelled "coco coir" can differ far more from each other in these four things than a "coco coir" bag differs from a "coco peat" bag.
Coco peat is not the same as peat moss
This is the comparison that genuinely matters. Peat moss (sphagnum peat) is dug from bogs; coco peat is a by-product of the coconut harvest. They look similar in the hand, but peat moss is acidic (around pH 3.5–4.5), breaks down and compacts over a season, and its extraction releases stored carbon — which is why UK retailers have moved away from it. Coco peat is close to neutral, re-wets easily and is renewable. The full side-by-side is in coco peat vs peat moss.
Which should you buy?
For most UK gardeners the answer is a buffered coco pith brick — whatever the label chooses to call it. A single 5 kg buffered brick soaks in about 20 litres of water and expands to roughly 75 litres of ready-to-use growing medium in 20–30 minutes (here's how). Use it straight for seed sowing and hydroponics, or blend it with compost and perlite for pots and beds using the mix ratio guide. If you are shopping by the "coco peat" name, our coco peat UK page lists exactly the same product.
Frequently asked questions
Is cocopeat the same as coco coir?
Yes. "Cocopeat" is simply "coco peat" written as one word, common in India and South-East Asia where much of the world's coir is processed. It is the same coconut-pith growing medium sold in the UK as coco coir.
Is coco coir the same as coir?
On a compost or growing-media label, yes. Strictly, "coir" is the husk fibre and is also used for matting and rope, but when it is sold as a growing medium it means the same product.
Is coco peat a compost?
No — it contains very few nutrients, so it is a growing medium rather than a compost or feed. It is often sold as a peat-free alternative to multipurpose compost, but you need to add feed (or blend in compost) for hungry plants. See coco peat vs compost.
Can I use coco coir where a recipe says coco peat?
Yes, one for one. If the recipe specifies chips or fibre it will normally say so; otherwise it means the fine pith that both names describe.
Why do some bags say "coco peat" and others "coco coir"?
Mostly habit and audience. Growers who came to it from hydroponics tend to say coir; those who came from garden compost tend to say peat. Brands follow whichever term their customers search for — which is why many now print both.
Same material, one simple choice: washed, calcium-buffered coco coir with a stated pH and EC, delivered free across the UK.
Shop the 5 kg buffered brick →