Pecan Hull mulch as a pot medium

[Turtle]

Has anyone used, or have a valid reason for NOT using, pecan hull mulch as a potting medium?
My only immediate reservation is that it can tend to have sharps. It's pretty loose though, and readily available around here.

[cirillonb]

first off...I have never used Pecan hull mulch. Some thoughts. First, most likely this is "raw" material, that is, has not be processed except to break up. A concern is what else is in the mulch regarding critters, bacteria and molds.
Secondly, nut trees and, perhaps the hulls of their seeds (nuts) have materials that often inhibit growth of other things. I know nothing about the pecan.
If you were determined to use it, consider some sort of sterilization, say roasting in oven at 250 deg (F) for about an hour or more. I doubt the aroma would be as bad as other things we sterilize in this way.
Then, try in one or two inexpensive but well growing orchids and see what happens. I know there are other more knowledgeable on this forum that will give better advise.
Nick

[Turtle]

I'll look into the prohibitive qualities. It's a favorite mulch for organic gardening and recommended by Howard "Dirt Doctor" Garrett (if you've heard of Garrett Juice). I can't imagine it would be that popular if would leach bad things into soil.
A valid point though, and I'll check into it. You're right about the other contaminants though. I might have to find a Phal on sale and put it all though the process you described.

Update:
<So far all I've found is that it has slightly higher ph properties, but otherwise doesn't carry much nutrient value on it's own.>

[Ray]

I'd be more concerned about how rapidly it decomposed.

Cocoa hulls (the chocolate source, not to be confused with coconut) are also great for mulching terrestrial plants, but if used as an orchid potting medium, they turn into a slimy, suffocating mush in no time.