Your thoughts on coconut husk chips vs bark?

[james mickelso]

I had definate water retention issues with chc but that was due to my climate. As far as holding onto salt precipitates I didn't use it long enough at any one time. I tried it a few times but for me it was unsatisfactory but as others have said it works for them. But as for lava rock holding onto those same salt precipitates I would differ. I used lava rock for decades when I grew bonsai and in Japan different grades and types are used and with everything I read and experienced I never had any issues with lava rock. I used it on my azaleas, camelias, pines, junipers, ect all very sensitive to salts and it's buildup. Kanuma is a very porous type lava cinder and one of the best. Very expensive. It is used in Japan as soil in bonsai culture and used to pot 500+ year old pines and fir trees. If there were a problem with salt precipitates I would venture to say this lava cinder would definately not be used. I have used it in my orchids ever since starting to grow orchids. Never an issue.

[Stefus_Prime]

I actually think coconuts are pretty effecient. Out of two coconuts I got enough to pot 3 plants, coconut water (heard its good for them), then I made 4 cups of coconut milk (good for curries) and I have a ton of coconut shavings for other culinary uses. This doesn't really answer much of anything but I felt like throwing it out there for people that are considering coconut chips but don't want to buy a ton, I definatly got my $3 out of those coconuts lol.

[ALToronto]

Lava rock will precipitate salts if it's allowed to dry out and is never flushed with pure water. But it can be cleaned out with plain water, whereas CHCs may not be.

With all the advice to soak CHCs in a cal/mag solution to chelate the salt, I wonder how much they pick up and retain from fertilizer. And with lava rock, I don't have to worry about over-watering.

[kenpty]

I use coconut husks fixed to tree bark, found the coconut hold moisture and the bark allows the roots to grow around it.