what kind of potting is this

[Stella1979]

Originally Posted by ArronOB

Why not? Dissenters are the best. That’s how we learn.

Yep, agree, coconut husk is very likely. I don’t see any other potting mix inside those ones. Just a handful of sticks of coconut husk jammed into the pot like a stack of pencils. I still don’t understand the thinking behind it though.

I’m always interested in other strategies. You don’t have to think about it much to work out that the way we pot orchids is a disappointing kludge at best.

Imagine, potting a delicate plant in something which breaks down after a couple of years and starts killing the plant from the roots up.

Or if you use inorganic media then you’re using something that builds up toxins till it eventually poisons the plant.

There has to be a better way.

From my experience, I think the wedged coconut husk potting is simply a very cost-effective way of doing it, without much thought for the future of those plants. Those Dens I had years ago were from a local discount nursery... one that I do not shop at anymore because the quality of anything other than Phals is very low, yet this is still a very popular place that gets jam-packed on weekends. If I'm remembering correctly, (this was more than 10 years ago) those sad little Dens were only $5 each when buying more than 2.

I was quite inexperienced at the time so after a few months of trying to make sad Dens happy and having no luck... I hated those coconut husks and was determined to repot. Ugh, imagine inexperienced hands trying to safely separate roots from that stinky half-rotted, yet extremely dense coconut husk. It was a mess and I felt like I was killing them the whole time.

This was all during my first foray into orchid keeping more than 10 years ago but the experience stuck with me and I wouldn't like to do it again.

There are definitely better ways.

[Sankar]

Hi,

I am sankar from India. I recently joined and its my first post

That potting media is just a coconut husk. This is the only media used here in India by orchid sellers. Just a few pieces of coco chunks tightly packed into net pots (not sure, this is correct word) and orchid saplings were wedged into them. they will root into it and its a nightmare to repot them.

I was gifted one dendrobium like that recently (my first orchid) and on researching how to care for it, I finally find you good people.

Sorry to open the old post.

- Sankar

[DirtyCoconuts]

Cool Sankar

Welcome

[Orchidtinkerer]

It is a 2 year old post and I am surprised the ebay listing is still visible after all this time!
The OP even pointed out it probably would be long gone by now.
I just thought it looked a lot like a block of wood I got that my B. Little Stars was potted in. It did pull apart similar to coconut husk would but it was one round log that had cracked making it look like several sticks stuck together.

If you have ever had an orchid potted like this you would know what I am talking about and I'm sure it's what I have only once had now. I could have sworn it was a branch about 10cm in diameter sawn up into blocks that had aged so roots could grow into it and by the time I got the orchid the thing had disintegrated into a pulp and repotting was a nightmare. I lost it shortly after probably because I did too much damage but the roots must have picked up an infection too, the block of wood was in a bad state- I would not recommend that potting method whatever it is so I just know if I ever have a choice in future I will avoid it. Certainly not something to ever want to replicate. They probably just had a bunch of branches lying about wherever these orchids were grown which is cheap to cut into blocks and use as potting media.

[Sankar]

Thanks @ DirtyCoconuts

Hi @Orchidtinkerer

Most of the 0rchid farms in India were from the state of Kerala, where the coconut trees are abundant. So coco husk is easily available and its either free or cheap. We can get a processed coco peat 5kg block for 100 INR, which is equivalent to around $1.5. But, bark or sphagnum moss is not readily available and are so expensive. So yeah, all the orchids we will buy in India will have that coco block as base and yep it will be a nightmare.

I am a newbie and its really worrying.

- Sankar

[PhoenixIndo]

Nurseries in Thailand and Indonesia use a lot of these coconut husks too. They would pound the husk so they break/soften a little so they can be folded/rolled to encase the roots. Imagine every time you buy a dendrobium/cattleya you have to peel their roots off these because they leave the seedling husk plug and just top up with sphag moss/live moss. The picture had the outer coconut shell intact thats why it looks like wood. The shell is the worst because they are super tough and impossible to get roots off without breaking some.
I can't grow in these husks because I overwater and they would grow mold/mushroom on the bottom. Sometimes they grow mold during shipment too because they look dry but the inside is still very wet.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I wanted to add to this thread that I do use old wood from my wooden baskets in with a lot of my bulbophyllum for extra moisture and something to hold onto.

I’ll get a pic later. It is cedar or pine. Old, slightly rotten, I use the snap test, if I can break it in my hands it is good to use.

[DirtyCoconuts]

here are a few bulbo baskets with some old wood added...similar idea

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr



Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr