Coconut fibre mulch for potting media

[Cym Ladye]

The most important thing to remember in using Coco fiber is to be sure it is rid of as much salt content as possible. Some distributors claim it has been "washed" but I always soak and then rinse it several times to be sure. If you have a DSL meter use it. I drain it before mixing it with the other ingredients I use, but I do not dry it completely.

Cym Ladye

[Vanda Miss Joaquim]

I use charcoal too for my orchids. I combine it with coconut husks and broken clay.

Charcoal is common here as a medium for orchids. It is actually burned wood chunks and they are cheap and orchids grow well with them.

Coming from where I am, we have plenty of coconut trees here. I usually collect fallen coconuts around my neighbourhood park after rain. It is moist and makes it easy for me to pull the husks out.

As for clay, I usually keep all my broken clay pots and break is someone into small pieces as a medium. I love this part of breaking the clay pots as a form of de-stress. Seriously, I sometimes drive up across the causeway to Malaysia to buy cheap claypots there due to our exchange rate. I use the claypots as my medium mix for my orchids.

That's how I have been using all these years for my potted orchids.

[Vanda Miss Joaquim]

"As for clay, I usually keep all my broken clay pots and break is someone into small pieces as a medium".

Sorry, its should be "break it some more into small pieces..."

Why would I want to break someone into small pieces?? haha!

[Orchid Red]

I've been using coco chips for a mixed collection of 150+ plants for several years now -- works fine for me. As far as washing -- I just soak the stuff overnight in 5 gallon buckets, dump the water through a compost sieve , and re-soak overnight a total of three times. Takes minutes to do and the orchids don't complain. I buy it in small and medium size bales, and make up a big batch at a time with perlite and a little charcoal, storing the ready-to-go mix in big plastic tubs. Wet it down and it's ready to use. MUCH better for me than bark. Good luck!

[Vanda lover]

I like it better than bark, too. I find that it's easier to tell if there is still moisture in it. To me, when you water bark most of the water runs off and I don't know when to water it again. Sometimes I can tell by the weight, but not always when they are in different kids of containers

[Orchid Red]

Absolutely! How do you keep your vandas warm and bring up there in BC? I have a heck of a time keeping one alive in Portland! Advice appreciated! I'm thinking of adding lights in the greenhouse...

[Vanda lover]

During the winter they are in a south facing window with extra light. During the summer I put them out in my little greenhouse, mainly because our nights are cool.
Before I had the extra light I would move them around so that they got the best light. Winters are very dull here.

[Orchid Red]

Thanks for the tip -- lights it is!

[djbon]

Have been using peat coco mixed with crushed hardwood charcoal, clay pot, coco fibre and coco chips for all my orchids. Compressed coco peat cake alone is big no, as they retain moisture too long causing root problem (rotting).

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by djbon

Have been using peat coco mixed with crushed hardwood charcoal, clay pot, coco fibre and coco chips for all my orchids. Compressed coco peat cake alone is big no, as they retain moisture too long causing root problem (rotting).

I think you are right about this. It is a good idea to mix it with other materials.