Questions about using Coconut

[Syrinth]

Hi everyone, I normally grow in sphagnum moss and fir bark and was curious about trying coconut. Was wondering if there is anything in particular I should know about using it? I've tried google searching, but everything keeps redirecting me to "the orchid coconut" which isn't very helpful lol.

I know about washing the coconut, which I found out after I'd already potted some up, so I had to run around fixing them up.

Any advice for using coconut in mixes? Do I use all of the material or just the larger chunks. Should I mix it with bark or sumi beads or just leave it by itself?

I'm mainly growin Psychopsis, Phals and Cattleyas if that helps.

Thanks for all of the help.

[rbarata]

Did you bought it or picked it?
Using collected coco, in beaches, is not a good idea because of the salt.

[Syrinth]

Bought a compressed brick of it.

[rbarata]

I use coco chips to keep moisture inside the medium. Instead of sphagnum, that keeps a lot of moisture (too much if you aren't careful, it keeps a lot less more manageable level.
For that reason, you can also use perlite.

The downside of coconut is its fast decay (one year or so, depending on the chunck sizes or if it is shredded.

[Dollythehun]

Rbarata, I always learn from you. Thank you.

[Syrinth]

so I should use it instead of sphag, and is it more of an I can use perlite or I should?

Also, should I just be using large chunks or should I use the bits too?

[Ray]

Coconut husk tends to be loaded with salt. Soak it for several days with several water changes to extract it before use.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hmmm I posted and i got a 503 error and it didn’t work

I gather straight coir in trash day from peoples lawn clipping piles. It is not salty as I am more than 9 miles from the beach but it is abundant and useful.

It lasts longer than the other preparations but holds less water. I use it to start my mounts

[Syrinth]

Yeah, I'm soaking it. So when I use it I should just reach in, grab a handful and shove it in the pot? lol

I guess this is used for plants that don't want to be kept as moist as sphag provides?

[billc]

I've used coconut chunks for years and have had good results on phrags. Actual chunks are getting harder to get, most of what I get these days is shredded.
Read this for everything you need to know about using coconut.

Use of Coconut Husk Chips

Bill