media in pole identification for vanilla?

[kvet]

Hi! After putting off a project for over a year, I'm finally going to build my vanilla pot/pole thingy.

A couple years ago, I linked to a video in this thread:
Vanilla Orchid isn't growing well/losing leaves and no real root growth

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MGnBJ4Raw

Any idea what media is inside the poles? No habla fronch, and youtube doesn't have autotranslate turned on there. It looks like some kind of very thin straw/plant clippings?

If that's not something readily available here in the states, what what would ya'll suggest? I'm going to build a pole that's probably 6-8ft tall, tbd. Originally I was going to make a squat "table" and drape the orchid around that, and I may still do that later since the vine just broke so now have second plant about to grow.

[Ray]

Looks like coconut husk fiber.

[kvet]

You're right, it does, thanks! Now to find a place to buy it.

Meantime.. I wonder if I could just use the coconut fiber mat runners, then I don't even have to deal with setting up net like in the video
No Slip Ice Carpet Outdoor Runner | Collections Etc.

[estación seca]

There's nothing magic about coconut fiber chips, and if you get bad ones you'll have a problem. Vanilla is very undemanding. You could easily substitute orchid bark, rock wool cubes, sphagnum moss, wadded up or shredded landscape fabric, any of the above wrapped around a 2" PVC pipe, even a branch or trunk of a tree with shaggy bark.

Far more important will be your growing conditions - high humidity, high temperatures. Vanilla won't grow any better up a mossy pole in low humidity.

[camille1585]

I'm french, so can help you with the video.

In the video you linked he is explaining that he tested 2 different types of organic fertilizer. When he is pointing to vines on different poles, he is explaining how to determine if the plants are growing well. The longer the internode length, the stronger the plant. The one with short internodes was not getting enough nutrition. He explained that the one with long internodes recieved the fertilizer pellets about a month prior, and the plant had a tremendous growth spurt of long fat internodes.
On other plants he is testing a liquid organic fertilizer. Then the larger plant he showed, with pods, was only 18 months old. Once the plant reaches the top of the pole he lets them fall over and grow downwards.

On his Facebook page he did share a post about going out to collect coco husks from coconut farms. He then cuts them into smaller pieces and sends everything through a shedder. The poles are firmly filled with coco fiber (they pack it down after each handful added inside.)

His facebook page is very interesting though most of the time he is speaking a local language and not french! For the rows of poles, he first fills the lower 3 of the net frame with concrete. The concrete is rounded at the top so that water will flow away from the center, as stagnating water kills roots. Then a layer of whole husks is added for drainage before filling with coco fiber and something else I didn't understand. The poles are 150cm tall (5ft) and once the reach the top they fold over the horizontal bars running over the poles.

[kvet]

Wow, thank you for that!!!

That's pretty much what I'm going to do.. build a concrete base, fill with basic medium, have a pole up a bit taller than his, and a little t at the top to have the vine hang over. Fun little project, way past due

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kvet

Wow, thank you for that!!!

That's pretty much what I'm going to do.. build a concrete base, fill with basic medium, have a pole up a bit taller than his, and a little t at the top to have the vine hang over. Fun little project, way past due

I hope you'll share the building process with us, sounds fun!