Coconut shell chips

[Guarceñosis]

Does any one has experience with coconut shell chips (not coconut husk chips or fiber) as a potting media? Any suggestion about the treatment before potting?



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[estación seca]

No experience, but it sounds like a good idea, and I would try it on a few plants. How big are the pieces?

[Guarceñosis]

Originally Posted by estación seca

No experience, but it sounds like a good idea, and I would try it on a few plants. How big are the pieces?

Hi estación seca, I am using half an inch pieces, but you can brake down in any size.

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[estación seca]

Yes, I would try it. Maybe something like a Brassavola hybrid or a Cattleya that likes growing mounted.

[Ray]

My only concern is that the pieces, being relatively flat and cupped, might "nest" too easily, making the void spaces between them small enough to easily hold water and suffocate the roots.

When I lived in SC, the guy that owned Jemmco Orchids had a ready supply of cypress chips. They would literally never rot, but the relatively flat chips stacked too easily, holding water as I described above. I found that by adding coarse perlite or something to the mix, it would do a better job of holding it "open" to prevent that, so you might consider doing something similar.

[Optimist]

I think that various nut shells, like Brazil nut, coconut etc are perfect for orchids, but like ray says, adding some perlite or maybe lecca to open it up is a good idea. Orchid medium is not "written in stone." People have their preferences, and it is up to your good judgement what you put into your mix. Many people use smashed old pots, packing peanuts, and all sorts of things like that. I personally think that plastic aquarium filter (those little open balls) medium is a good idea, but expensive.

[PaphMadMan]

Coconut shells have often been used as mounts or pots, so the material is certainly good, and a good source of silica which may be lacking in other media for some orchids. On the side of caution, I would soak in a couple changes of clean water before use if you don't know the source. Others have covered the nesting/stacking issue.

[Guarceñosis]

Originally Posted by Guarceñosis

Does any one has experience with coconut shell chips (not coconut husk chips or fiber) as a potting media? Any suggestion about the treatment before potting?



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Thanks to all of you for the info given. I have seen orchids grown with CSC mixed wiht fir bark. My main concern is the treatment of the coconut shell before using it.

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[dounoharm]

I grew a phal on a broken brick once....handmade, so it was gritty....it seemed happy! it was in a greenhouse tho.....I think if you keep roots hydrated and the media open, most orchids would grow on anything!

[bil]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

I grew a phal on a broken brick once....handmade, so it was gritty....it seemed happy! it was in a greenhouse tho.....I think if you keep roots hydrated and the media open, most orchids would grow on anything!

True dat.