I forgot to rinse my CHC!!!

[blackvine]

Oh my gosh! Over the last few weeks, I’ve repotted about 8 Dens and Oncs, using 1/3 CHC, 1/3 sphag, 1/3 charcoal. Since the last time I’ve potted anything is about a year ago, I TOTALLY FORGOT to soak and rinse my CHC! But . . . looking at the following statement from the vendor – a VERY reputable one, which I really like – I’m thinking I don’t have to repot everything from scratch. Here’s the statement:

“Our coconut chips come to us prewashed and pressed. We then take the chips and soak them, filter, wash and clean them as many times as is necessary to be sure the finished product is in the best possible condition for our use and for yours. We use the same products we provide our customers on our own orchids, and quality is our number one objective. Coconut husk chips are a renewable resource.”

What do you all think? Should I risk really brutalizing the poor things by repotting twice in 3 weeks or do you think the CHC is really OK?

PS: Yes, I will call the vendor tomorrow for their opinion. I just panicked and wanted your take. Thanks, all!

[PaphMadMan]

When CHC was first in use it was common for it to have a very high salt content, but I think processors/vendors have gotten smarter about supplying a better product. I would take a statement like that from a reputable vendor as a pretty good guarantee. If you want to be very cautious you could soak them in their pots without repotting. Enough water in a bucket or tub to come up to the rim of the pot, soak for an hour, drain, rinse, repeat. But I don't think you have a problem.

[blackvine]

Whew! Thanks, PaphMadMan! I kind of thought I was OK, but guess I needed the affirmation. The in-pot soak is a great idea!

[NYCorchidman]

If the vendor says their product (chc) has been pre-washed, then you have nothing to worry about.

I have been using chc from repotme.com for example, and they claim that they wash chc they sell.
I always use straight out of the bag for my paphs (mostly) and others, and never had any problem.

[ALToronto]

Some orchids are tolerant of salt. If they grow near an ocean, where they get salt spray from the wind, they become accustomed to it. Maybe you got lucky with these - any salt related damage would have shown up by now.

[LovePhals]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

If the vendor says their product (chc) has been pre-washed, then you have nothing to worry about.

I have been using chc from repotme.com for example, and they claim that they wash chc they sell.
I always use straight out of the bag for my paphs (mostly) and others, and never had any problem.

I second that, I always use repotme. com's out of the bag and never had an issue for oncididiums and dendros.

[Vanda lover]

I buy coconut chips that are meant to be used as a mulch, at Home hardware. The first time I used them I didn't realize that I should rinse them. The plants were fine, but now I wash them just to be safe. Yours should be fine though.

[Leafmite]

With that description, I don't think you need to worry.

[blackvine]

Thanks all. Yes the vendor is Repotme. I feel safe now!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

I second that, I always use repotme. com's out of the bag and never had an issue for oncididiums and dendros.

Their paph mix, the standard type with mainly chc, worked great for my oncidiums also.

---------- Post added at 05:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I buy coconut chips that are meant to be used as a mulch, at Home hardware. The first time I used them I didn't realize that I should rinse them. The plants were fine, but now I wash them just to be safe. Yours should be fine though.

Those should be full of salts.
Or if they are picked from the trees instead of picking them up from the beach, they should be fine, but there is no knowing about that, and coconut chips that are sold as mulch is probably not washed. I mean why would they?