| JoBeth are you talking about the fine string type coir fiber or the solid mat kind found in the bottom of baskets that lets water run through it? If the solid type, I don't know if the roots could penetrate through the fiber. If the string type, it would be ideal and IMHO even better than sphag since sphag eventually breaks down. Personally I would avoid bark because the thought of having to repot a large gig in a pot scares me.
Your gig should love being in a basket where the roots can be soaked but also let them dry off fairly fast. It also would prefer to grow over the edge of the basket to prevent water in the crown. The basket needs to be big enough so you never have to disturb the roots as they ramble and to accomodate the weight of the leaves as it grows.
Per Eric Christensen's book, Monograph of Phals, gigs should be grown in catt light BUT have sufficient air movement to keep the leaves cool. My biggest gig I have on a tree fern mount and will be moving it to the cool end of the g/h in full sun when it gets warmer. My seedling gig still lives in a 2" pot - I am leaving that one to my grandkids in hopes they see it bloom :>) and I don't even have grandkids yet.
I saw a gig last Sept. in L'ville get awarded and it was on a big cork mount and it was beautiful. The one I dream about was awarded last summer by a grower in TN that had 527 blooms on it and it took your breath away.
Brooke  |