Thoughts on coco coir as a orchid media

[aparnamane]

I recently, almost a months ago, bought Phalanopsis Doritis and Brassia Rex 'Lea' from local nursery and they are potted in coco coir, owner of the nursery told me that they use coco coir as a media for all of their orchids, she does her own Cat hybrids as well. I saw she had her Cats and Dens were also in the same media. I made some hols in the Doritis plastic pot for more ventilation but root inside were very healthy. After one month I won't see any issue with the Orchids. That made me to think to use coco coir as its something we use in our garden a lot, so though to make use of it.

Please let me know if anyone is using coco coir as a sole or in mixes as a media for orchids and do it need to wash, the once which comes as compressed block.

Please let me know your thoughts.


Thanks.

[estación seca]

Coir fiber or coir chunks?

Anything can be used if it can be watered properly so there is always air at the roots. Coir retains more water than many other media, so it's probably better not to get it soaking wet.

Some coir contains a lot of salt from processing. Be sure you rinse it well if the coir is salty.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Coir fiber or coir chunks?

Anything can be used if it can be watered properly so there is always air at the roots. Coir retains more water than many other media, so it's probably better not to get it soaking wet.

Some coir contains a lot of salt from processing. Be sure you rinse it well if the coir is salty.

Thanks ES.

It's coir fiber which comes in compressed blocks.


Thanks.

[Keysguy]

A couple of years ago I started using coco and other palm fibers I collect from my yard in the bottom of my orchid pots as a way to help hold media in the pot while still providing for uninhibited draining of the pot.

Everything else I've tried over the past 20 years has been a disappointment at some level for one reason or another but so far so good with this one.

I just spread out the fibers and place them in the bottom of the pot before I add whatever media I'm using so that it becomes sort of a loosely woven cloth. I'm right on the ocean so I haven't even bothered to wash it as it seemed pointless given my collection is already hardened to a lot of atmospheric salt.

[Ray]

Yeah, you need to be specific, as “coir” describes an array of products from finely ground stuff that is more like a soil, fibrous stuff, chips, and combinations thereof.

Once again, don’t look at the materials in a vacuum. How it and the in-pot properties it brings works with your cultural conditions and watering habits/abilities to meet the needs of the specific plant is what you need to think about.

Do keep in mind that many coir products are high in NaCl, so must be thoroughly cleaned before use.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

A couple of years ago I started using coco and other palm fibers I collect from my yard in the bottom of my orchid pots as a way to help hold media in the pot while still providing for uninhibited draining of the pot.

Everything else I've tried over the past 20 years has been a disappointment at some level for one reason or another but so far so good with this one.

I just spread out the fibers and place them in the bottom of the pot before I add whatever media I'm using so that it becomes sort of a loosely woven cloth. I'm right on the ocean so I haven't even bothered to wash it as it seemed pointless given my collection is already hardened to a lot of atmospheric salt.

Hi Keysguy,

Thank you for the reply.

---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Yeah, you need to be specific, as “coir” describes an array of products from finely ground stuff that is more like a soil, fibrous stuff, chips, and combinations thereof.

Once again, don’t look at the materials in a vacuum. How it and the in-pot properties it brings works with your cultural conditions and watering habits/abilities to meet the needs of the specific plant is what you need to think about.

Do keep in mind that many coir products are high in NaCl, so must be thoroughly cleaned before use.

Thanks Ray.

The coir I am talking about is made from coco fiber and they mentioned "Flushed of excess sodium" in the description, came as a compressed block.

I am thinking to experiment if it works for me. The orchids which originally I received in coco coir are still in the same media and won't see any issue, 1/1.5 month is not good enough time to make a decision, but I think I will give it try for one of the Oncidium type of orchid.

Thanks.

[sunfire]

I think there's a vendor called Orchids For The People or something like that. They put up a couple videos about how they use Coco fiber for their orchids and I think also showed their grow space. It obviously works for them but ultimately, like they always say you need to figure out what works best for you.

I mean, if the plants in that media are doing well in your environment and you have some laying around, it's always worth an experiment.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by sunfire

I think there's a vendor called Orchids For The People or something like that. They put up a couple videos about how they use Coco fiber for their orchids and I think also showed their grow space. It obviously works for them but ultimately, like they always say you need to figure out what works best for you.

I mean, if the plants in that media are doing well in your environment and you have some laying around, it's always worth an experiment.

Thanks Sunfire.

I will checkout the videos as well.



Thanks

[Ray]

I have sworn off organic components, as they are ridiculously short-lived in my new growing conditions.

However, the stiff coir fibers - sometimes referred to as "gorilla hair" is a pretty good material, as it pretty much only retains water where the fibers overlap, leaving a LOT of air.

[aparnamane]

Originally Posted by Ray

I have sworn off organic components, as they are ridiculously short-lived in my new growing conditions.

However, the stiff coir fibers - sometimes referred to as "gorilla hair" is a pretty good material, as it pretty much only retains water where the fibers overlap, leaving a LOT of air.

Good to know about the coir fibers.

I have just potted Prosthechea Prismatocarpa in the coco coir recently I bought it from Ecuagenera open house here in Southern California , it was bare root wrapped in moss. Hoping it will do good in this media , I will update my findings after couple of months.

Thanks for your thoughts.