Southern Alberta · Commercial Greenhouse Substrate

Coco Coir Grow Bags and Substrates for Lethbridge Greenhouses

A specification resource for commercial greenhouse and CEA operators evaluating pith-to-chip blends, grow-bag dimensions, and drainage configuration — built for a spec conversation, not a postal-code conversation.

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Lethbridge sits inside one of Canada's most intensively irrigated agricultural regions, anchored by the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) — now Canada's largest irrigation district by area following its 2022 merger with the Taber Irrigation District. Alberta's greenhouse-vegetable sector harvested roughly 947,000 m² (about 234 acres) and produced close to 37,900 metric tonnes in 2024, around 4% of Canada's national output. This page is written for buyers who need a specification conversation — pith-to-chip ratio, bag dimensions, drainage configuration — not a postal-code conversation.

Sources: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Statistical Overview of the Canadian Greenhouse Vegetable Industry, 2024; SMRID–Taber ID merger, Lethbridge Herald, Aug 17, 2022.

Step 1 · Crop & Root-Zone Requirements

No Single Blend Fits Every Crop

Root-zone requirements differ by crop, irrigation frequency, and drainage target. Two common commercial cases in Southern Alberta greenhouses:

Cucumber vine crop growing in coco coir grow bags on a drip-irrigated greenhouse bench

Vine Crops — Tomato, Cucumber, Pepper

Vine crops need a root zone that balances water retention against air-filled porosity between irrigation cycles, particularly on longer bag-culture runs.

Coco coir substrate suited to strawberry root-zone irrigation

Berry Crops — Strawberry

Strawberry production typically runs a smaller root-zone volume with more frequent, lower-volume irrigation, shifting the ideal fine-pith-to-coarse-chip balance.

Avee formulates to a requested ratio and does not default to one blend without first confirming crop, irrigation frequency, drainage target, and delivery system.

Step 2 · Pith-to-Chip Blend Comparison

Compare Blend Ratios

A starting reference for commercial substrate blends — not a fixed catalogue:

Ratio (Pith : Chip)	Drainage / Porosity	Typical Fit
~80 : 20	Higher retention, slower drain, lower porosity	Longer moisture-buffering, lower-frequency irrigation
~70 : 30	Balanced retention and drainage	Common commercial baseline — confirm against your system
~60 : 40	Faster drain, higher porosity	High-frequency irrigation, saturation-sensitive crops

Avee confirms the exact ratio against your crop, irrigation system, and drainage target before production — these figures are a reference point for the conversation, not a guarantee of a specific outcome.

Step 3 · Grow-Bag Dimensions and Configuration

Confirm Dimensions Against Your Bench System

Grow-bag length, width, height, and expanded volume are sized to row spacing and plant density industry-wide. Rather than publish one “standard” dimension that may not match your bench or gutter system, Avee asks growers to confirm target length, width, height, and expanded volume against their own equipment before production.

Some dimensions are held as Canadian stock when inventory is confirmed; others are produced to custom specification following the production schedule in your quotation.

Coco husk chips used as the drainage component in commercial grow-bag blends

Step 4 · Planting-Hole and Drainage Specification

Hole Count, Spacing, and Drainage-Slit Placement

Planting-hole count and spacing are matched to plant density and dripper layout. Drainage-slit placement affects leachate exit and root-zone salt accumulation, which directly affects EC management over a crop cycle. Custom hole and drainage configurations are subject to production confirmation and are not guaranteed stock — confirm your requirement before production begins.

Step 5 · Stock vs. Custom Production

What's Held in Canada vs. Made to Order

Canadian Stock

Select formats are held at our Cambridge, Ontario warehouse when inventory is confirmed. Availability is never guaranteed or year-round — contact Avee to confirm current availability before specifying a delivery date. Cambridge pickup is by appointment only.

Custom & Made-to-Order

Custom dimensions, planting-hole configurations, and blend ratios follow the production and freight schedule set out in your quotation. Full-container orders can be quoted directly from our Pollachi and Peravurani, Tamil Nadu production facilities.

Step 6 · Freight and Production Timeline

What We Need to Quote Transit and Timeline

Palletized coco coir substrate strapped for freight shipment

Freight transit and cost depend on the product, quantity, and destination postal code. Avee does not publish a flat transit estimate or a delivery-time guarantee for Lethbridge or any other market. For custom bag production, the lead time is set out in your quotation once the specification — blend ratio, dimensions, planting-hole configuration — is confirmed.

Provide your delivery postal code, product, and quantity for a current freight estimate.

Greenhouse Technical FAQ

Specification Questions from Commercial Growers

What pith-to-chip ratio do you recommend for tomato bag culture?

The right ratio depends on your irrigation frequency and drainage target, so there is no single ratio that fits every tomato operation. Share your irrigation system and bench details and we'll confirm a starting ratio to trial.

Can you match the slab length of our existing gutter system?

Custom dimensions may be available. Provide your exact length, width, and height requirements and we'll confirm whether it's producible and the applicable lead time.

How do you determine stock vs. made-to-order?

It depends on the format, quantity, and current Cambridge inventory at the time of your enquiry. Contact Avee to confirm current availability before specifying a delivery date.

How is EC tested, and can I see documentation?

EC is measured before dispatch using a stated test method. Batch documentation, including a Certificate of Analysis, is available on request.

Is calcium pre-buffering available?

Calcium-buffered options are available for select formats — confirm the volume and format you need when you submit your specification.

Related Resources

For Alberta and Crop-Specific Buyers

Wholesale Coco Coir — Alberta Coco Coir Grow Bags Coco Coir for Greenhouse Tomatoes Coco Husk Chips Coco Coir — Calgary, Alberta

Submit Your Grow-Bag Specification

Tell us your crop, bag or slab dimensions, planting-hole and drainage requirements, irrigation system, and delivery postal code — we'll confirm what's producible and the applicable timeline.

Start Your Specification →