Osmunda fibre source or alternatives
 

I have been using osmunda fibre for many years as a filler for orchids in cedar or teak baskets or as padding for cork bark mounts. My supply is almost gone & I can't find any suppliers. Does anyone know of a S Florida or mail order supplier/source, or in the alternative a reasonably similar alternative? I have used tree fern chunks, but they don't have the give osmunda fibre has allowing secure holding without crushing the plant.

Thanks!

Ken

My vanda loves osmunda but I can't find it anymore, so I use tree fern (not the chunks - just plain tree fern). I soak it for a few hours before I put it in the basket. I line the basket with newspaper and then put the tree fern in. Although I don't like it as well as osmunda, I find it to be a good substitute.

You might consider EcoWeb. It is intended as a tree fern substitute, and serves that well, but it is also a bit "springier" that tree fern, making it more like osmunda.

EcoWeb Hydroponics

Do you have any pictures of anyone successfully growing epiphytes in ecoweb? It seems a little pricey. The last time I bought into a new concept, I ended up with a box full of swamp sticks that sounded great but are real duds for actually growing anything in.

I know it's not what you asked for, but I grow almost exclusively in baskets. I use a bark mix. I line the basket with window screen before planting. It doesn't have the same "spring" as osmunda, but is readily available. After the orchids is planted, I wedge a few larger chunks around the edge to tighten it up. You would probably need to adjust your watering schedule a bit.

Thanks Bob - I'm not a big fan of bark mix. I mostly grow on cork bark mounts, tree fern slabs and baskets with osmunda, lava rock or osmunda and tree fern as filler. I typically water several times a day in the morning except when rain is expected. Bark stays too wet too long.

Hi Ken, I've been using ecoweb for about 6 months and I like the results so far. I've handled osmunda once or twice and the physical properties seem similar in terms of 'give' and airiness. It differs a bit from osmunda and treefern in that it holds less water and seems unlikely to break down for a long time, being plastic. I think folks in Europe have been using their equivalent (epiweb) for some time, maybe a European member could tell you how it holds up over time.

I agree that it's pricier than treefern (never bought osmunda so can't compare to that), but I feel like the advantages somewhat make up for cost. You may be able to find a similar material locally by looking for biological filter media at pond supply places. Mostly this stuff goes for more than I've paid for ecoweb, but I was able to haggle one local place down to a very cheap price for a large sheet. A lot of plastic filter media differ somewhat from ecoweb (color, density/porosity, possibly type of plastic, etc.), and ecoweb to me feels a little better designed for plant use. YMMV, of course.

If you just don't want to use the plastic stuff, ask Carter and Holmes if they have any osmunda left. They're the only nursery I know that still occasionally pots things in it, though I've never tried to buy it from them.

--Nat

I understand about bark staying too wet (especially rainy season). It's a problem I fight, but can't water as often as you do, so it's a compromise I made. I've experimented with LECA in baskets (again with window screen to keep it in) and found it too dry for me during dry season. I might have to try the Ecoweb too.

Bob - I haven't tried leca in baskets because it's too small but will try it with the screen. I have occasionally used lava rock (big landscape sized chunks) in baskets, which actually works pretty good.

Nat - I will check out a couple of local water garden nurseries & see if they have any ecoweb type material to experiment with.

EcoWeb is relatively new, and is primarily used by terrarium/vivarium folks. I have several plants growing on it, and have sold a bunch to the Montreal Botanical Garden, the Elmwood Park Zoo, and it is in use in biowalls at several locations.


For a larger-scale version, look at this video: Morristown building goes green with biowall - Video | NJ.com

I have several plants growing on it, but take a look at epiweb.se for more orchid growing. it is the original name for the material: Epiweb

I used to be the North American distributor, but the inventor and I ran into a "communication issue", so parted company,