Planting with Shredded Rubber Tires

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

If you want to be innovative and help the environment, you may want to give shredded rubber tires a try. See this article which appeared on the Honolulu Orchid Society website. Note that this is an experiment. There is no track record of its success. You can help by giving it a try and posting your results. So far the orchids that I've planted in this media are doing extremely well.

Here is the link to the Honolulu Orchid Society website: http://www.honoluluorchidsociety.org/

[Zoi2]

Shredded rubber as a potting media is pretty interesting, there was a thread on it about a year or two ago but I don't remember if anyone actually experimented with it. Thanks for posting this.
Joann

[orchids3]

I remember the thread and did comment on it. I tried shredded rubber tires and didnt like it (on around 200 plants). The plants didnt do as well as plants potted in something else and I didnt like the odor of rotting rubber. Each media has its own cultural quirks - it could be that I didnt learn them. The plants did live.

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

Originally Posted by orchids3

I remember the thread and did comment on it. I tried shredded rubber tires and didnt like it (on around 200 plants). The plants didnt do as well as plants potted in something else and I didnt like the odor of rotting rubber. Each media has its own cultural quirks - it could be that I didnt learn them. The plants did live.

Thank you very much for the input. I hope others on this Board who have experience with the shredded rubber will likewise post their findings or experience like you did. As for me, I'll give it a go for about year with a few plants before I call it quits or continue on. The plants (about 50) that I have growing in the media for about five months now are actually doing exceptionally well. I'll post some pictures later of their growth and root mass. The healthy and vigorous root growth is what impresses me so far. Also, there is less weeds and bush snails seem to be suppressed. There is a rubbery smell if you put the shredded rubber to your nose but it is not otherwise noticeable. Things could turn sour though.

[RosieC]

I heard some really bad things about using it so would never give it a try. I've found this links that someone posted which is what put me off. http://www.natureswayresources.com/D...ubberMulch.pdf

Also here is the previous thread... just a few posts down Ray says it had been a fad for a few years, but longer term use started causing problems and it was generally dropped.

rubber mulch for orchid mix?!

[Otis226]

Very interesting. Being new, I did have the idea of using the rubber mulch sold at Lowes and Home Depot, a try as an experiment. But started thinking perhaps there were chemicals or other things in this product potentially harmful to the plants/people around them?

[abigaillevans]

I don't know how orchids do in rubber, but I do know that some parks in my home town used rubber mulch in playgrounds and parks a few years ago. It didn't last long, mostly because it smelled so bad... especially when it was hot and sunny! Hopefully the same won't be the case in a greenhouse.

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I heard some really bad things about using it so would never give it a try. I've found this links that someone posted which is what put me off. http://www.natureswayresources.com/D...ubberMulch.pdf

Also here is the previous thread... just a few posts down Ray says it had been a fad for a few years, but longer term use started causing problems and it was generally dropped.

rubber mulch for orchid mix?!

Thanks Rosie for the information. I can see why you did not try using the shredded rubber after reading the article from Natures Way Resources. I would have been turned off too if I had seen the article earlier. Since I already have some plants planted with the shredded rubber and they seem to be doing extremely well, I will continue on with these. I will let you folks know how it goes several months from now or sooner if things take a downturn.

[RosieC]

Do keep us updated with how they do, I'm really interested to know.