Using "found" coconut husks - Orchid Board

fisher60 · #1 11-26-2010, 08:17 PM

While spending this past holiday at the beach, I have found a good bit of coconut husks. Can I use this in my potting medium for my cyms?

rodrigo · #2 11-26-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher60

at the beach, I have found a good bit of coconut husks.

I don't think your Cymbs are going to like all the salt that has probably permeated into the husks.

I use husk as an ingredient for my media, but I make sure that the palms have been grown far away for a sea environment.

Rodrigo

Des · #3 11-27-2010, 08:48 AM

The coconut husk we get here is laden with salt and we have to flush it several times to leach it out of the husk, after that it is perfect to use.

rodrigo · #4 11-27-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Des

we have to flush it several times to leach it out of the husk

Coconut husk is very absorbent. How many times would be enough to flush the salts? How can you make sure it is salt free?

It's too much work and the risk always exists.

Well, at least around here there is plenty of coconut trees grown away from the sea shores. No need to risk it.

Cheers!

Rodrigo

Des · #5 11-27-2010, 06:33 PM

I use an EC meter it measures the electrical conductivity of the water, which gives you a good indication of how much salt or fertilizer is in the water

orchids3 · #6 11-27-2010, 11:04 PM

Rodrigo,
I buy commercial Coconut Husk that has been chopped into chips. It is supposed to be be low in salt - but after checking the stuff soaked with water with an EC meter, I dont trust it. My EC meter wore out but after checking a lot of batches of the stuff I found that if you soak and drain enough so that the draining water no longer has a brown color - then it will be ok to use. My belief is that all CHC should be considered salty and be soaked and drained before use.

Bobfharris · #7 11-28-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodrigo

Coconut husk is very absorbent. How many times would be enough to flush the salts? How can you make sure it is salt free?

Rodrigo

Generally at least two soak and drains. First soak I allow a min of 4 hours, second can be fill and drain. I just use a large trough and fill and hold down the top, let sit overnight and drain. It's not hard. But it is worthwhile and coco is cheaper than bark here in Hawaii