Coconut Water Rehabilitation: A Case Study

[SweetAddy]

Ok, so I've been reading quite a bit about the supposed benefits of using coconut water as a natural root growth stimulant, both on these forums and elsewhere on the internet. A simple OB search on "Coconut" or "coconut milk", for instance, reveals several threads on the subject...

So, I'm planning on conducting a small experiment (ok, it's technically not up against a control, so we'll just call this a case study). I've got a Phal a friend gave me that was choked with soggy sphagnum moss and subsequently lost all of it's roots due to rot. At this point, the plant will simply die without intervention - it still has leaves (albeit limp and wilted), and a singular aerial root left to its name, but clearly it needs intensive care. It is, however, beginning to pop a second root at current time. I treated the plant with s small amount Rootone months and months ago, but I've not seen any action other than this new aerial popping up, and I'm not sure if Rootone even works well with orchids (anyone hear of this?). Who knows if its attributable to Rootone or not. Anyway, I'm trying a new strategy.

I purchased a large vase from a local store, which, when upturned, serves as a nice humidity chamber under Sunblaster, full-spectrum grow lights. I repotted the orchid today, and plan on treating this plant with a dilute form of of coconut water (50%) and rainwater (50%) to see what happens. I'll use this thread for documentation. Although I am aware this is far from a lab test, at least it will serve as something anecdotal.

I'll be drilling my own coconuts, draining the water, and mixing during each fertilization. No preservatives, no cans.

The plant will be kept in high humidity in my growroom, and will have the bell removed several times a day to allow some airflow to prevent stagnation and fungi, and promote some circulation. I'll post new pics as developments occur. In the meantime, I'd be interested in feedback from others who may have tried this

As far as I am concerned, what do I have to lose other than an orchid already at the brink of death? Maybe something will come of it. She's a fighter so far, that much is definite!

Here are some pics from Day 1 (4/29/10):

Aerial root and Foliage:


Under Humidity Bell:


New Root Formation:


Wish us luck!

[johnblagg]

Ok but just a note when they say coconut water they mean the water from fresh young immature green coconuts ....not the brown ones you usually see at the mkt.you can buy coconut water canned too if you live near a big store that carries a good selection

[Izzie]

John is right- what you get out of a mature coconut does not have the nutrition that you get from a young green coconut.

You really can get coconut water that doesn't have preservatives. Even in my dinky little grocery store- it's with the other canned novelty drinks and sodas. The one I get is actually in a cardboard "can".

[gnathaniel]

Hi Addy, sounds like an interesting idea! You must have access to a lot of coconuts...

Not to be a downer, but I think you may experience some fungal problems in implementing this. The combination of low air movement, high humidity, and the sugars and other nutrients in the coconut water will be a boon to any spores present on or near the plant.

You could try to counter this by applying a fungicide, but that has its own drawbacks. Using a humidifier and small fan in the vicinity might be safer for this plant than the bell (even though the bell is really cool!).

I'm also not sure coconut water is best used as a root stimulant for orchids. It does contain phytohormones that stimulate rooting, but more of others that regulate growth in ways not as immediately promotive of roots. You'll probably see more immediate root growth using a product like Dyna-Gro KLN or Superthrive. Rootone has similar hormones but I don't know if the formula and concentration are ideal for orchids. Hope this helps!

--Nat

[SweetAddy]

Thanks for the input guys. I realized after I bought the coconuts that I'd be needing green ones. As such, I haven't begun the feeding yet. I'll also isolate the plant and remove the humidity jar so a little more air flow can happen.

Maybe I should opt for the rice water idea instead!

[johnblagg]

Ok now I need some info ...RICE water whats the scoop on that ?

I have not heard of using it.......GIVE


BUT I am very interested on the coconut water experiment please continue with that one ...I have been considering trying it too. But alas small rural town and green coconuts are not ever seen ...and LOL canned coconut water is not in our local wally world so not feasable here.

[SweetAddy]

I've heard stories of people using the water that rice was washed/cooked in as a feeding vehicle, presumably because of high concentrations of nutrients that were extracted from the rice during the process. I assume that the rice water contains auxins that would promote root growth, but I haven't been able to substantiate this via internet. I know that historically, many Asian cultures have used rice water as their method for feeding plants, but seeing as how I already fertilize weakly weekly, I'm worried I could overdo it with this already weak plant.

That being said, I'm going to head around town to see if I can find some coconut water. I'll be throughly feeding and misting the orchid's aerial roots with it (50% strength) starting tomorrow (first saturating the roots with rainwater to ease absorbtion), and occasionally misting the plant's foliage with rainwater in addition to the regular coco root mistings.

Keep your fingers crossed... hopefully it will yield results that AREN'T a dead or contaminated orchid. I'll be vigilant and on the look out for fungal introduction...

SA

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[johnblagg]

well the coconut water is sterile as it comes from the coconut and I assume in canned form...in fact they have even used it as a replacement for iv fluids at times so it will prob not be the contamanat source if you have one.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

Ok now I need some info ...RICE water whats the scoop on that ?

I have not heard of using it.......GIVE


BUT I am very interested on the coconut water experiment please continue with that one ...I have been considering trying it too. But alas small rural town and green coconuts are not ever seen ...and LOL canned coconut water is not in our local wally world so not feasable here.

1. PM King of Orchid Growing
2. Search natural rooting hormones- there was an extensive thread alllll about that recently.

[johnblagg]

actually since its a experiment to see what effect coconut water has then the only way to find out is to use coconut water ....it has several phyto chemicals in it besides root inducing ones ...including some that stimulate keiki production.

a interesting experiment to say the least....


as far as natural rooting hormones go I know of several ways to do that ...willow water ect. As for me I just use commercal strenght iba at the strenght they use to root hardwood cuttings of difficult to root species with good results.

I am just really interested in SweetAddy's project and how it turns out.