Chc question

[larryt]

Greetings all

Last week I repotted two of my orchids in stright CHC's.

I went through a lot of rinsing and soaking before i used the chips.

Last night we were having a nice gentle steady rain and it was time to water I took them off the lanai and put them outside on the deck.

When I brought them back in, of course they were draining, I put them back in there spot and this morning it seems that the drainage from the CHC was very reddish and it stained the white tile on the lanai. I looks like I will have to bleach the spots.

I wondered if this was normal for the CHC's

If this is the case I better stop using them before my wife shoots me

Very Best Regards,
Larry

[Filb]

This is a very good question. I've experienced something similar, even though I rinsed it very thoroughly (I thought) before use.
I hope one of the other members more seasoned in using this media chimes in!

[BGGraham1]

I can't say that I'm more seasoned, but I have had the same problem when I just rinse. What I've been doing lately is soaking it for a day or two, then strain and rinse it, soak it again for a day in water with Superthrive or K-L-N, strain, then use. I've found it gets a lot of the fine particles out that way, and some of the stringy stuff is easier to pull out.

Since I've been doing it that way, I have very little (if any) color coming out during normal watering.

[larryt]

Thank you for your input, I have had the CHC's soaking for about 10 days and have rinsed them at least 10 times plus the last two rinses were in rain water.

The orchids seem to be doing fine in the coconut chips but the staining is a problem.

I had planned to repot some additional orchids in the chips but at this point I don't think it would be a good idea. Not for the sake of the orchids but for a happy household

Cheers,
Larry

[Ron]

Originally Posted by larryt

Thank you for your input, I have had the CHC's soaking for about 10 days and have rinsed them at least 10 times plus the last two rinses were in rain water.

The orchids seem to be doing fine in the coconut chips but the staining is a problem.

I had planned to repot some additional orchids in the chips but at this point I don't think it would be a good idea. Not for the sake of the orchids but for a happy household

Cheers,
Larry

Hi Larry, it is the residual tannium in the CoCo nuggets, remember they have not been composted
Mine go straigh onto benches in the orchid house so any colour in the dripping water does not do any damage.
I usually put a 1/2 handfull of common garden lime in the water on the last mix.
Mine are soaked in a bag in a big plastic garbage bin I suppose about 30 gallon size, this sweentens the mix up a bit
Each soak is usually 24 hours or more.

The residual tanniums in the CoCo mix seem to do no harm to the new roots, they just cling to it and grow very happy.

[larryt]

Thank you Ron

I know your the CHC expert on this forum

I really am not worried about the orchids just the mess

Thank you again for your input. Maybe I need to devise some sort of drip pan to keep the lani clean

Cheers,
Larry

[1joyceh]

Hi Larry,
If you don't want to be too fancy, I find all sorts of useful trays and things at home depot..in the painting section, and in the cement section...I get the different trays and mixing container for cement...sounds strange, but they have some fairly shallow ones..I even get a "box" for my cat litter..deeper than regular cat boxes, less mess, and a lot less $

[larryt]

Thanks Joyce,

Sounds like a good idea. I was thinking od pie pans with a few rocks in them to keep the pot out of the drainage.

Larry

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by larryt

Thanks Joyce,

Sounds like a good idea. I was thinking od pie pans with a few rocks in them to keep the pot out of the drainage.

Larry

Good idea the chips bleed out for a long time I've soaked them for weeks and rinsed. They still bleed out so a dish with rock or pan with rock to keep above the drainage is a good idea.