coconut fiber pots - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 07-03-2008, 02:19 PM

Anyone have any experience with them? I went to my local growshop to pick up some supplies and came across these pots. Basically it's coconut fiber that has been molded into the shape of a pot. It's really thin, you can see between the fibers. Seems neat so I got a few to test on some young phals I have. Should they be soaked beforehand like is done with CHC? One problem I foresee is getting the roots out of the pots when it come to repotting!

Ray · #2 07-03-2008, 04:34 PM

I would use them only or tolumnias, with no additional medium.

They will be lousy for phals as they will allow the medium to dry out too rapidly, the will decompose over time, and as you said, will be near to impossible to remove when you repot.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 07-03-2008, 08:34 PM

Coconut fiber retains too much salt from the water you use and the fertilizer dissolved in it. Over time, it needs to be flushed out thoroughly with RO/DI water.

Phalaenopsis are not the best candidates for trying out the coconut fiber pots. Especially if they're young plants. Young plants of many species require more moisture than their adult counterparts. And Phals in general don't like to dry out too rapidly.

I would use it for plants that more drought tolerant. Like maybe Dendrobium kingianum.

Soonix · #4 07-03-2008, 09:36 PM

i'm came across them about the beginning of the year and i have been growing some chids in soil mix and its been going pretty good. I do notice that the dend. i have in a coconut pot in high light with wood chips does dry out way to fast.
I water with rainwater but am happy to learn that it retains salt from the fert. thanks king.

Andrew · #5 07-03-2008, 09:43 PM

I haven't used coir pots for orchids but I have for other plants. IME they are good for growing seedlings/cuttings for transplanting into the garden but that's about the extent of their use. They are not suited to growing plants in for any length of time. Long before they actually decompose the repeated expansion and contraction from watering and drying causes them to weaken and crack. For the same reason you also need to take care while handling them or the pot falls apart in your hands. I imagine the average orchids root system would make short work of tearing a coir pot apart. I wouldn't plant anything in them that you want to keep in a pot longer than a few months.