Coconut Fibres

[benauld]

Hi,

I'm looking at mixing my own potting media, rather than using the commercially available pre-mixed options - which all seem to be too heavy and fine-grained in this part of the world.

I want to use Coconut fibres but the only place I've found them for sale loose is repotme. Unfortunately the cost of postage to the UK is more than the price of the amount I want.

Is it feasible to substitute Flax or Hemp fibres in place of Coconut? Both of these are more readily available to me here.

I'm not looking for any water retention, just a packing material to provide structure (and prevent compaction) without impeding diffusion of air through the media too much.

Any views as to whether this would work or not? In theory!

Thanks,

Ben.

[koshki]

Ben, I don't think there is anything special about coconut fibers other than it is durable. I don't see why flax or hemp wouldn't be able to do what you want. The coco fiber lasts a long time without decaying...not sure how flax or hemp would compare, but I would think they'd be fairly durable.

Please show us pics!

[benauld]

Hi Katherine,

Thanks for your input.

I've ordered some cheap samples of each, as I like to touch and feel what I'm buying before I choose. They both come in various "grades" depending upon how processed you want them too. As soon as I've decided, I'll post some pics.

Thanks,

Ben.

[koshki]

Good luck on spinning your flax into orchid gold! (Sorry, the Rumplestiltskin story kept popping in my head at your mention of flax!)

I'd go for hemp...it is more durable than flax...make sure to research which of them are susceptible to fungus when wet...

[edgy]

Originally Posted by Anky

...make sure to research which of them are susceptible to fungus when wet...

This would be my concern as well....In Brazil I grew many plants in nothing but coco fiber. Beside its durability, for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to be susceptible to fungus. I never had any issues with it.

[benauld]

Lol @Katherine! I hope so.

I'm also toying with the idea of trying a little Biochar in this mix also. It's very similar to charcoal, but is any organic matter heated in excess of 250 degrees Celsius in an oxygen free atmosphere. This is most often done by pyrolysis.

I hope that it will have a similar "sweetening" effect to charcoal, sopping up excess salts, any heavy metals, etc. The stuff I have is produced as a general soil improver, and is steeped in worm tea, then coated with seaweed extract before being sold.

[benauld]

Thanks Anky, I'll look more in depth into the fungal issue once I have my samples and make my choice.

edgy, if I could get hold of loose Coconut fibre that didn't me cost an arm and a leg, I'd happily use it! This is hopefully a cheaper alternative for me.

[edgy]

Try going to the source Sam Coconut Fiber Thailand - Producer Manufacturer Dealer and Exporter of Coconut Fiber, Coconut Chips, Coconut Dust and Coconut Soil Thailand produces a lot of this material. They may be cheaper. GL

Edgy, the UK has a higher tariffs on imported goods, and mailing costs is the killer...I get the coconut stuff in the US for a song...in fact I can get it in a corner restaurant who serves coconut juice in the husk...all I do is dry them and husk them into coco fibers and douse them in fungicide before using...hemp can be a good substitute just douse it in Physan or whatever UK have in terms of preparation for media purposes...whereas flax have oils that might be detrimental to roots

[Bolero]

What genera do you want to use it with? I find it works well with some types of plants but others I steer clear of. It's all the rage in Australia at the moment but there are some problems with it depending on what you want to grow. My only recommendation is that you steer clear of Paphs and Pleuro's. Other genera should be ok.

Sorry I can't help you find a source for it.

[11Orchid126]

Chopped styrofoam packing peanuts will do the same thing. Just make sure you don't use the ones that dissolve.

[koshki]

Hey Ben, I was out in my garden, repotting orchids this afternnoon, and needed some coco fiber. I didn't feel like going back in the house to get just a little bit, so I looked around and saw an old coco fiber pot liner. I pulled off what I needed and then thought, "Ben Auld!"

Are coco fiber flower pot liners available in the UK? If so, you could just buy one and pull it apart as needed for your orchids. It's the same stuff!

[Puddy1]

Originally Posted by koshki

Hey Ben, I was out in my garden, repotting orchids this afternnoon, and needed some coco fiber. I didn't feel like going back in the house to get just a little bit, so I looked around and saw an old coco fiber pot liner. I pulled off what I needed and then thought, "Ben Auld!"

Are coco fiber flower pot liners available in the UK? If so, you could just buy one and pull it apart as needed for your orchids. It's the same stuff!

THAT is good to know! I have some of those! Didn't even realize it was the same stuff I've been wanting to try. Great info, thanks!

[benauld]

Thanks Katherine!

For a moment, I thought that the only kind I could get here were made from pulped coir (no individual fibres), but I'm sure I've seen the sort of thing you mean for hanging baskets.

Thanks again,

Ben.

BTW, sorry for the slow response, I haven't had much time to myself over the past few days.

[digitalgate]

Coconut husk and sphagnum moss has anti fungal properties. Orchid grow v well in them. Maintenance else is lesser compared to other the potting material . If cost is prohitive , then be prepared to spray fungicides more often .

[chrisb19]

It's hard to believe that you can't find coconut fiber in the UK. The Chinese and Thais send this by the container load to everywhere in the world. In the US you can find it everywhere in garden stores usually formed into circles to fit wire baskets. Here's a link to a UK company that sells baby mattresses made from the stuff. Maybe they can give you a lead. NATURAL COCONUT FIBRE FILLED MATTRESSES / Baby Mattresses Online / cot mattress, Foam, spring interior, organic & natural fibre baby & toddler mattresses. ANY SIZE, ANY SHAPE, ANY TYPE of baby mattress for cot, cotbed, crib, pram, travel cot, junior

[koshki]

LOL, Chris! I think one baby mattress would be a life time supply for most orchid hobbyists!

[koshki]

Originally Posted by benauld

Thanks Katherine!

For a moment, I thought that the only kind I could get here were made from pulped coir (no individual fibres), but I'm sure I've seen the sort of thing you mean for hanging baskets.

Thanks again,

Ben.

BTW, sorry for the slow response, I haven't had much time to myself over the past few days.

Hey, don't apologize for having a life outside the computer! I just hope this suggestion might give you some alternatives. Since that posting, I've pulled a lot more from that same basket liner, and I keep thinking, "why did I spend so much for that bag of fibre when I already had the stuff in my garage???!!!"

But it's that the wonder of having a global community of other addicts to draw upon?