Home Made Coco Chips

[Phalcycle]

My Vietnamese neighbor uses a lot of Coconuts (fresh brown ones), when she makes her delicious desserts. I was over her house the other day, and saw lot of the shells in the bag next to the trash can.
I asked if I could have them, and she looked at me funny. I was explaining to her that orchids grow in the coco husk chips.
Am I right? I took about 8 shells home, and used a hammer to turn them into chips. They are soaking right now, so the salts go away.
Is this the kind that orchid supplies use to sell?
Thanks

[collegeorchidgrower]

I dont see why the coconut chips wouldnt work well as a medium. I think that the retail chips are actually husks and dried pieces of the green of the coconut. These brown shells would be much harder and less absorbent. I also read an article in the May 2004 issue of Orchids that told the story of a man who enjoyed planting into these shells like small pots and also using them as mounts. Hope this helps!

[BluPeaches]

I drink a lot of coconut water so I purchase a lot of Thai coconuts. These are also known as young coconuts. I had the bright I idead to make my own a couple of weeks ago. I cut them into little chunks, soaked them, rinsed, soaked, set them out to dry. I will soak them in the near future, just to try and remove as much salt as possible.

I have not tried brown coconuts though.

[lmartiny]

The coco chips are the fibrous layer outside of the hard coconut that you typically see in the stores I believe. Unless she buys them uncleaned. I don't think the hard shell would be helpful in retaining any mositure.

[Phalcycle]

Okay, thank you for the reply.
I like the idea of mounting them, I will try