Coconut Chips

[orchidsarefun]

I decided to try these out on my miltoniopsis, with some sphag chopped in.
However when I soaked the coco chips in boiling water, the water turned a dirty brown colour. Is this normal ? It reminds me of peat water. Is it very acidic ?


will also include perlite to keep the mixture loose

[Bud]

I soak my coco chips overnight in room temperature water...and the water turns dark which I just throw away. I heard of other members who just dont soak it and directly puts the plant to the media and it turns out just fine...

[tucker85]

Coconut husk chips have worked very well for me as the main ingredient in my mixes. I don't think I would boil it. I soak it for about five or ten minutes, dump out the water and soak it again the same way. Then I do it a third time and then put it in my mix. So I'm taking about thirty minutes to prepare it. Here's a link to an article that will tell you more about coconut husk chips than you ever wanted to know.

Use of Coconut Husk Chips

[orchidsarefun]

thanks all, I have tried it out on my milts and a zygo.
I like it because of the moisture retaining property and the texture.
Now I just have to figure out how to use my other pre-mix ( mainly bark ), in a 20lb pet food container !

[Bud]

my basic media mix is: coco chips, bark, sponge rock, charcoal, lava rock and hydroton

the large roots need large chunks...and the small roots needs the small chunks (orchid seedling mix also works just fine)

coconut chip is a basic necessary ingredient

[WhiteRabbit]

If the chips are 'pre-washed', you only need to soak and rinse before using. CHC not pre-washed needs to be soaked with epsom salts I believe ? Haven't ever had non pre-washed before. Usually says on the bag (or vendors description) that it's pre-washed. No need to boil, and yes, the water will be brown, but nothing to worry about.

[camille1585]

The broznish color is normal, it's the tannins leaching out of the husks. I always soak mine before using, since I have no clue if they were prewashed or not. I soak them 3 days with epsom salts, changing the water daily. And the water is still brown after 3 days!

[Cym Ladye]

The primary reason to soak CHC is to leach out any salts that may remain. Soaking and rinsing is the procedure if it has not been washed before packing, but soaking and rinsing for 3 days serves no purpose, in my opinion, except to start the deterioration of the media.

CHC will still continue to "bleed" for several waterings after potting orchids in it. Some brands "bleed" more than others, but normal.

CL

[Gage]

I rinse mine a couple times before using, but only because it smells of vinegar.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

The primary reason to soak CHC is to leach out any salts that may remain. Soaking and rinsing is the procedure if it has not been washed before packing, but soaking and rinsing for 3 days serves no purpose, in my opinion, except to start the deterioration of the media.

If 3 days of soaking were to deteriorate it, then I would think CHC to be a bad medium and we'd be repotting orchids every 6 months in that case. I was only following the instructions I'd found here, and I'd rather soak them 3 days rather than have the salt kill my orchids.