Using coconut coir or fiber or how you want to call it, as potting mix for paphs?
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Using coconut coir or fiber or how you want to call it, as potting mix for paphs?
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Old 01-19-2018, 10:27 AM
Ej Isnani Ej Isnani is offline
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Using coconut coir or fiber or how you want to call it, as potting mix for paphs? Male
Default Using coconut coir or fiber or how you want to call it, as potting mix for paphs?

Hi I am Ej from the Philippines and I am still 14 years old as of now. I have a question about what to use as potting mix for paphs. I looked online an d found out that I should use fine-grade fir bark and perlite. Neither of these are easily found here where I live. But we do have a lot of coconut husk, processed and unprocessed. And I am wondering if I can use it as a potting media for my paphs. Btw, all my paphs are native but from another island so I don't know what the natural substrate for them are. Hoping for your replies
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Old 01-19-2018, 12:04 PM
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Welcome, EJ! It is great you're beginning your history with orchids as a teen. You will enjoy them your whole life.

Shredded coir stays wet a long time. It probably compacts too tightly for Paphs if used by itself. There would not be enough air to the roots. That is why people tend to mix it with something larger. If you can find volcanic cinder or pumice, that is very similar to perlite. In fact, those are better; they don't float out of pots and blow away with the wind. You could use particles of pumice or cinders with diameter 5-50mm with coir. 50% - 75% rock to 25%-50% coir would work well. Much coconut fiber has been rinsed in sea water, so rinse it carefully before use with plants.

If you can find coir sold in chunks, that may work well. Gardeners often refer to it as coconut husk chips or CHC. Chunks in the range 1-3cm diameter probably would work well. Don't pack them down into the pot; the point is to allow air to the roots.

Most Paphs grow in loose leaf litter on forest floors. Their roots don't extend much into the soil, but run sideways through the dead leaves. They get plenty of moisture and plenty of air. We try to duplicate this in cultivation.

Paph roots are brown and fuzzy when healthy. In this they are different from other orchids, which mostly have white or tan, spongy roots.

A good resource for reading about species is the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia, IOSPE.
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Old 01-19-2018, 04:00 PM
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Welcome, EJ.

I agree with everything ES stated above.

I have grown paphs and other orchids in coir fiber. I found that low, wide pots were best for me, placing a fairly dense layer of fiber on the bottom, maybe 3cm thick, mashing it down pretty well. I would then spread the roots laterally from the center of the pot, then add more fiber on top of them, holding the plant in place.
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Old 01-19-2018, 10:34 PM
Ej Isnani Ej Isnani is offline
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Thank you for your tips. And I hope this forum will help me in my orchid journey
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