How do I plant my orchid in a coconut and how do I use the husks?

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

hehe - well the others, and myself - thought you were saying a Phalaenopsis, not a Phal type den - or Den-Phal.
Phals not having canes or pbulbs

Nice looking mount!

Thank you. It's pretty crude, but it works.

[soobie]

Originally Posted by Junebug

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but while we're on the subject...Is there an easier way to neatly open the outer dried husk of a coconut (not the inner shell). Currently I use a hack saw for the husk and a chisel for the shell and the whole procedure is rather dangerous and labor intensive. I have a ton of coconuts because my generous neighbor tosses his coconuts into my yard when he prunes his tree. Problem is, he doesn't remove them when they're green but waits till after they're hard and dry. They're way past the machete stage.

Band saw, maybe? Ask at a local high school or technical college and see if they have wood shop equipment you can use.

[got ants]

What I use to split coconuts is a machete and a hammer. I hold the coconut with my feet, and tap the machete into the pointy end of the coconut with a hammer. I make a Y-cut so I can split it into three sections. I generally split it down to the inner nut shell and stop there. Then I just pry it off the nut.

This is easier down with green coconuts. I then just toss them on the ground to cure (months).

Now for cutting those sections into smaller chunks, I use a cheap fine tooth pull saw from Harbor Freight. I cut across the grain and from there it's easy to cut to even smaller pieces.

[grasshut]

Thank You all so much!

[PinkMango]

I bought an orchid in a very small coconut from an orchid pro and it's doing beautifully.

Lately, Home Depot is selling orchids combined with a variety of other "leafy" plants (with entirely different needs) housed in a large coconut.

The "other" plant is dead and the orchid is struggling. At the start the whole setup looks pretty, but is not very functional.

Should I:
1. transplant the orchid,
2. put it outside to rest and do its own thing (I live in South Florida, so this is my normal MO)
3. drill a drainage hole in the coconut,
4. other advice

While I have you here. Do you have any advice on the plastic pots many orchids are sold in?

I've always thought those were temporary, and have transplanted them to the wood crates as soon as they're done blooming, but it seems from this site that they can do very well for a long time in the plastic...years?? I'd like to leave them there as long as possible because they fit in my multi-tier hanger. As of now they're doing great.

Is there any rule of thumb about transplanting out of plastic other than when it has simply outgrown its home?

I watched the transplanting video here and I think I've been transplanting too soon for many years. I've always mistakenly thought they need more "room to breath and grow" than they do.

Thanks!
Holly
Vero Beach, FL

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by PinkMango

I bought an orchid in a very small coconut from an orchid pro and it's doing beautifully.

Lately, Home Depot is selling orchids combined with a variety of other "leafy" plants (with entirely different needs) housed in a large coconut.

The "other" plant is dead and the orchid is struggling. At the start the whole setup looks pretty, but is not very functional.

Should I:
1. transplant the orchid,
2. put it outside to rest and do its own thing (I live in South Florida, so this is my normal MO)
3. drill a drainage hole in the coconut,
4. other advice

While I have you here. Do you have any advice on the plastic pots many orchids are sold in?

I've always thought those were temporary, and have transplanted them to the wood crates as soon as they're done blooming, but it seems from this site that they can do very well for a long time in the plastic...years?? I'd like to leave them there as long as possible because they fit in my multi-tier hanger. As of now they're doing great.

Is there any rule of thumb about transplanting out of plastic other than when it has simply outgrown its home?

I watched the transplanting video here and I think I've been transplanting too soon for many years. I've always mistakenly thought they need more "room to breath and grow" than they do.

Thanks!
Holly
Vero Beach, FL

Holly! Welcome to the Orchid Board! You will get more views and more responses if you post this as a new thread. I suggest

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...and-repotting/

Go there, then at the upper left, click on the maroon button New Thread.

As to your plant, yes, I would repot it to something else right away. A lot of stuff like this is meant to be looked at then die. But we don't want that!

Normally orchids are best transplanted when in active growth, but when a plant is in bad shape, it has to be done no matter the season. Orchids do fine in containers of almost any type, so long as they get the water and air at the roots they need. Most orchids do best in pots much smaller than most other kinds of plants need.

[PinkMango]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to do it right now!

Best,
Holly ~