Potting in 100% charcoal?

[FloweresEverywhere]

TL;DR If I pot my phals in all charcoal, assuming I water them often enough, will there be any drawbacks?

I tend to over-water or not at all, so all my orchids are on an auto watering system. Each orchid has it's own sprayer and it's set to go off every 2-3 days in winter and every day in summer. (there are vandas and dendrobiums that need water every other day if not every day on same system) The phals tend to be too wet and lose roots, they are potted in a bark mix right now.

I'm thinking of potting them in all charcoal so they have maximum air circulation and dry out very quickly.

I have moved over the water jets from sprayers to foggers to raise overall humidity and increase the time they are watered for. Before they would spray for a minute or two @ like 9gph, now I will have them spray for at least 5 minutes @ .8gph.

I think with this they will definitely get enough water and still dry out completely, even if I have the timer on daily.


I don't have enough orchids to justify expanding the system to multiple timers/water feeds.

[tucker85]

First of all, you can grow orchids in almost anything if you can get your culture techniques correct. Charcoal holds no water at all. So it would almost be like having the orchid mounted where it needs to receive water almost every day. I have charcoal in my mix and the orchid roots seldom attach to it so it's my opinion that the roots don't really like it. Have you considered lava rock or hydroton? Just a thought. Please keep us posted as to how your experiments turn out. Good luck.

[FloweresEverywhere]

Originally Posted by tucker85

First of all, you can grow orchids in almost anything if you can get your culture techniques correct. Charcoal holds no water at all. So it would almost be like having the orchid mounted where it needs to receive water almost every day. I have charcoal in my mix and the orchid roots seldom attach to it so it's my opinion that the roots don't really like it. Have you considered lava rock or hydroton? Just a thought. Please keep us posted as to how your experiments turn out. Good luck.

I'm more wondering about PH type thing's I guess. I know regular plants can be picky about PH, but I'm hoping since most orchids attach tor rocks anyway, they don't really care.

It will get water nearly every day, in fact, if it needs water everyday that would be best.

Once they all drop their blooms I'm probably going to try unless someone comes up with a good reason not to, so I'll let ya know.

[tucker85]

According to William Cullina, in his book 'Understanding Orchids', the pH of charcoal is nuetral. He says it also has the capacity to absorb acids. He doesn't mention using it alone as a medium.

[Tsuchibuta]

I wonder if the roots not attaching is more because of the nature of the charcoal - as no matter how many times you wash it, it will still rub off on your hands and not really the adversity of the plant.

I have grown tolumnia in only charcoal before, and they do really well in it. I also think I read somewhere once somebody that grew orchids hydroponically in charcoal.

[Ray]

The only potential problem I see is the fact that charcoal absorbs really well, but does not release well, which leads to more-rapid mineral and plant waste buildup.

[Wjs2nd]

I've heard of people growing vandas in just charcoal.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Ray

The only potential problem I see is the fact that charcoal absorbs really well, but does not release well, which leads to more-rapid mineral and plant waste buildup.

Isn't that just an issue with activated charcoal?

[Discus]

Pretty sure I've heard of that problem with "potting mix" charcoal (which isn't "activated") too, so salt buildup may well be an issue as Ray says.

[Ray]

I have grown vandas in straight charcoal in baskets, but after a while it becomes "gray" with minerals.

Camille, activated charcoal will trap stuff even better, but even horticultural grades will do so. Heck - all media components do!