coconut fibers as media

[sharath]

my phal is growing in coconut fiber medium. is it okay.i read about it they say it is suitable for phals .can u people help me on this. i would be really thankful to u. and why does the roots rot in sphanum moss

[Alana]

Shapgnum moss hold alot of water and doesn't dry out very fast. The coconut fiber should be fine, in fact , I wish I could find some around here to mix in with my bark mix...

[stefpix]

I like coconut chips -
they dry fast and they absorb water faster than bark... best roots for me in this mediu,

[Cjcorner]

I like coconut chips -
they dry fast and they absorb water faster than bark... best roots for me in this mediu,

I'm with you on the chips...I now mix it with all of my mixes. I get amazing roots with this stuff.

[stefpix]

I just use chips - maybe with some perlite. I think they are a lot more mold-resistant than bark. also it is a more sustainable product that does not require trees to be cut and gives work, profit, income to 3rd world countries.

Also it may be better than bark because my apartment is not as humid as a tropical forest or a greenhouse. so a softer / more spongy medium than wood chips may make the plant happier.

[blrnut]

I have most of my orchids in coconut husk chips and add a little charcoal to it.

[Tednz]

I used it soley on it's own at first but found that plants with a bit of height tipped over because the coco fibre was not firm enough so now I use it 60/40 with bark and that seems to work for me. I have phallys in the finest grade which is almost like potting mix so far the roots are good, I will see what they are like in the spring.

[blrnut]

Yes. That is a problem with both coco chips and charcoal (it is very light weight) as well. I use broken clay pot pieces or brick bats at the bottom of the pot for bringing down the center of gravity and couple of them on top to support the plant.

[stefpix]

I use clay pots and some hydroton at the bottom. you could also compress really hard the coconut chips with a stick or your thumbs - so you can add more media.
you could also put a small rock at the bottom of the pot...
or plastic pot inside a clay pot.

[orchid-man]

I like coconut chips -
they dry fast and they absorb water faster than bark... best roots for me in this mediu,

From what I have seen over about the last 4 years,I have gone back to pine bark.
Reasons :-

1) does not dry out fast enough in our cold wet winters.
2) it breaks down to fast - lasts about 12 months.
3) too light.
4) turns very acidic virtually over night at its end of life.
5) holds salt with in the fibers that water will not remove.
6) has to be treated with Epson salts and Calcium Nitrate before use
(to get rid of salt) - takes about 3days soaking and then drying.
7) you only get one good years growth out of it -- the first.
8) needs to totally dry out between watering for best life.

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