styrofoam peanuts as THE potting medium? - Orchid Board

Wrebbitrocks · #1 11-03-2011, 04:54 PM

i just repotted a few orchids but since im out of bark for now, i potted them in some peanuts i had in a box somewhere. i did my research and saw that only white should be used as other colours have certain chemicals related to their function. anyways, its only temporary while i get bark, but i was thinking if it could be permanent. so far, styrofoam is lightweight, lots of air, dries out by the end of the day (ive been watering them every other day to keep up), it looks very clean and its easy to lodge so the orchid stays stable. also, theyre sending out new roots after they got into it so it cant be that bad. i wanted to ask if there would be any problems long-term such as leaking degrading plastic chemicals, breaking down, etc. for now theyre staying until i can afford bark. any insight?

Merlyn · #2 11-03-2011, 05:08 PM

There are two kinds of white "peanuts" and one of them dissolves, I think, or isn't good at any rate. Don't know how to tell them apart but maybe someone else can jump in here ??? That's one of the reasons I don't use them. Lava rock would work in the bottom of the pot and/or the only media. A large bag at Home Depot is cheap and you can break it up to whatever size you need. A lot of commercial vendors use it as the media in Hawaii !

Gage · #3 11-03-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlyn

There are two kinds of white "peanuts" and one of them dissolves, I think, or isn't good at any rate. Don't know how to tell them apart but maybe someone else can jump in here ??? That's one of the reasons I don't use them. Lava rock would work in the bottom of the pot and/or the only media. A large bag at Home Depot is cheap and you can break it up to whatever size you need. A lot of commercial vendors use it as the media in Hawaii !

I'm no expert on styrofoam, but I believe the 2 kinds are as follows: the kind we want to use is shaped like an S and is smooth, the kind we don't want to use is more like an 8 and is rough(ish) and I believe may hold water. I am referring to white packing peanuts. Hope this helps?

tucker85 · #4 11-03-2011, 05:45 PM

According to an orchid book that I'm reading right now, orchid medium only serves two puposes. 1. To support the plant in position. 2. To retain a little of the moisture and nutrients for use by the plant. Styrafoam peanuts don't do either one of those things very well. They're too light to support the plant and they don't retain any moisture or nutrients.

FairyInTheFlowers · #5 11-03-2011, 07:12 PM

I think it would be perfectly fine, as it is almost like mounting it in the pot. Orchids can be grown in anything and on anything that will not actually harm that plant, so long as you adjust your watering schedule. So yeah, you might have to water every other or even every day, but styrofoam should not break down (of course, if it isn't the biodegradable stuff), and while it won't hold much water, will still hold a tad bit because even the smooth "S" shaped ones have pockets in them. The only problems I can see developing is the pot being to light and tipping over, and something that affects everything, the build-up of salts. So even though they will never really break down, you will have to repot eventually because of salt build-up. One question though, which type of orchids did you repot? If they were phals, you might have to water twice a day during the summer and every day, maybe every other day in the winter. If they are Catts, they could handle once a day in the summer, and every other to every two days in the winter, BUT the frequency depends on your conditions, so you are going to have to do experiments, so maybe you shouldn't put a whole lot in at once. Just my

fotofashion · #6 11-03-2011, 07:19 PM

Uh----guys. The water soluble peanuts dissolve in ta-da_____WATER. All you have to do is splash a little water on them and you will have your answer instantly.

Beverly A.

FairyInTheFlowers · #7 11-03-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotofashion

Uh----guys. The water soluble peanuts dissolve in ta-da_____WATER. All you have to do is splash a little water on them and you will have your answer instantly.

Beverly A.

I know that!

I am sure he was, and I know I was, talking in regards to the non-biodegradable ones, the ones people usually use in the bottoms of the pots as crocking material, which don't break down. Using biodegradable peanuts would SURELY be a disaster in the waiting, so make sure to test them and wet them before using them!

WhiteRabbit · #8 11-03-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlyn

There are two kinds of white "peanuts" and one of them dissolves, I think, or isn't good at any rate. Don't know how to tell them apart but maybe someone else can jump in here ??? That's one of the reasons I don't use them. Lava rock would work in the bottom of the pot and/or the only media. A large bag at Home Depot is cheap and you can break it up to whatever size you need. A lot of commercial vendors use it as the media in Hawaii !

So -I'm veering off topic a bit as far as the OP original question - but I'm glad you posted this - I have been wanting to get lava rock for orchids (I've had good success with pumice, but I have to sift thru a lot), and was wondering if a) if the type sold in big bags at HD for ground cover is what to use, and b) if anything special needs to be done to it prior to using it for orchid medium - and I guess c) what's the best way to break it down?
thanks

WhiteRabbit · #9 11-03-2011, 07:59 PM

now, in regards to styro - I do love the stuff, but think it would be too light to be practical by itself long term. And as someone pointed out, it won't retain any fertilizer, so plant would probably need to be soaked in fert, but the styro would then all float ...

The biodegradable pnuts are usually cylindrical in shape, made of cornstarch I believe ? You can just lightly wet them and seem them collapse.
It's my understanding PINK styro pnuts are treated with something to be anti-static for package electronics - do not use pink ones for plants. It's also my understanding green is ok - and I have used them with no ill effects.

Merlyn · #10 11-03-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

So -I'm veering off topic a bit as far as the OP original question - but I'm glad you posted this - I have been wanting to get lava rock for orchids (I've had good success with pumice, but I have to sift thru a lot), and was wondering if a) if the type sold in big bags at HD for ground cover is what to use, and b) if anything special needs to be done to it prior to using it for orchid medium - and I guess c) what's the best way to break it down?
thanks

Back off track to answer. I bought a large bag of the red lava rock. When opening I found that there are many different sizes already there, just fishing around will get them. I haven't had to break any but a few and all I did was use a hammer and protect my eyes while smashing at them in a bucket. All I do when using it is wash off the dust with the hottest water out of the tap in a colander I keep for my orchid media. I kept a Den in nothing but the lava rock for a few years until he decided that he didn't want to be a compact anymore or else he was off duty as a compact orchid and I don't keep any of the standard Dens !!!

HTH !