Looking for alternatives to moss

[thepurpleorange]

in my country, it's standard to use coconut husk as a potting media as it's readily available and cheap/free! all my orchids are potted in husk. the roots attach readily to it.

My only problem is that when it decomposes, it's a pain to repot! I don't have experience using any other type of media, but is this the case with everything else? With coconut husk, the roots weave in and out and through the fibre and when it decomposes, you have to carefully break apart the coconut husk, which sometimes isn't easy without damaging the roots.

am I doing this right? are you only supposed to repot the plant when the husk is completely broken down i.e crumbles at the touch?

[WhiteRabbit]

It's my understanding the coconut husk chips decompose more slowly than bark - I've been using it almost three years, and have yet to see it break down. I've read that it should be replaced every 3-5 years, so I've been repotting as plants outgrow their pots, which is usually 2-3 years, sometimes less with extremely vigorous growers
Roots will grow through it, tho bark, roots attach to, and that can be difficult to remove. I have had less problems removing old chc than I do with bark actually.

[Ray]

Y'all are going to think this is crazy, but I have found LECA to be an excellent medium for baskets (assuming you can figure hour to keep in in).

It will take more watering than pretty much anything else, but as it remains open and airy, that is not a problem.

Once watered, the root zone environment is pretty much idea - moist but not suffocating - and it cannot be overwatered.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I would NOT use CHC on hanging baskets. I don't know where you are in florida, but here in Miami, my experiment with that medium was a disaster. All the orchids I placed in it died.

1) It never fully dried. I bought the large CHC.
2) It decomposed at an alarming rate.
3) Ants colonized ALL of the hanging baskets.

to this date, I don't get near the stuff.

I am using a mixture of perlite, moss, hydroton and tree fern fiber for the fine-rooted dendrobiums I have growing outside.

I use 100% hydroton for everything else. since keeping the pellets inside pots is also a challenge, I use this product, which is designed for bonsai growing to retain the medium inside the pots:


Drainage Netting For Bonsai Pots One Roll 12"x5 FEET! - eBay (item 120415041938 end time Jun-21-11 17:48:50 PDT)

It's drainage netting for bonsai pots, but it works wonders to prevent the hydroton from slipping through holes. And, the roots just grow right through it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

1) It never fully dried. I bought the large CHC.
2) It decomposed at an alarming rate.
3) Ants colonized ALL of the hanging baskets.

Not to sound obtuse, but it sounds perfect for Coryanthes spp., Maria.

Coryanthes don't like to dry out completely. The roots are used by ants to nest, and the nest is made of sticks and mud. These nests are up on trees.

Coryanthes speciosa Hook. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Coryanthes picturata Rchb. f. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

On the other hand, it's good to know that they may not work for many orchids in FL.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Ray

Y'all are going to think this is crazy, but I have found LECA to be an excellent medium for baskets (assuming you can figure hour to keep in in).

It will take more watering than pretty much anything else, but as it remains open and airy, that is not a problem.

Once watered, the root zone environment is pretty much idea - moist but not suffocating - and it cannot be overwatered.

Not really crazy. If it were humid here, SH materials in a basket could work here too.

Keeping the material inside the basket's not a difficult solution, but I'll let you all figure it out on your own to get the noggin' working.

I have have a "Pecaroid" species growing potted in diatomite, and it seems alright (still adjusting to life in the big city ).

[tucker85]

I know what you mean about trying to remove coconut husk chips from roots. I use CHC on some of my oncidiums and phals and it is definately the most difficult medium to remove from roots. I just do the best I can and use a hose with a strong nozzle to remove as much as possible before repotting. I also don't mind trimming some roots off if I need to.

[orchids3]

PeeWee,
I both agree and disagree with you about CHC. The plants grown in the greenhouse did well. The problem in N. Florida is that it does decompose very fast outside. The heat and moisture is just too much for it. Using Stalite now outside but topdress the pots with a layer of CHC or treefern fiber. I think a little decomposing plant material is OK but not a lot. Actually I prefer the tree fern as a top dressing.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Not to sound obtuse, but it sounds perfect for Coryanthes spp., Maria.

Coryanthes don't like to dry out completely. The roots are used by ants to nest, and the nest is made of sticks and mud. These nests are up on trees.

Coryanthes speciosa Hook. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Coryanthes picturata Rchb. f. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

On the other hand, it's good to know that they may not work for many orchids in FL.

Well, if I ever buy a coryanthes, then I'll know what to use!! LOLOLOLOL

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by orchids3

PeeWee,
I both agree and disagree with you about CHC. The plants grown in the greenhouse did well. The problem in N. Florida is that it does decompose very fast outside. The heat and moisture is just too much for it. Using Stalite now outside but topdress the pots with a layer of CHC or treefern fiber. I think a little decomposing plant material is OK but not a lot. Actually I prefer the tree fern as a top dressing.

If you can then imagine what is was in South Florida. It turned to sludge in no time!