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#1
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potting straight into coconut chips
Hey all
Has anyone had experience planting paphs straight into CHC.What were the results etc.I think learning to water it differently would be the first step.I have used it for the last few years as an addition and the plants love it. Just thinking about it as i go out to start repotting.)-: STUART SYDNEY AUSTRALIA |
#2
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potting straight into coconut chips
Stuie wrote:
Hey all Has anyone had experience planting paphs straight into CHC.What were the results etc.I think learning to water it differently would be the first step.I have used it for the last few years as an addition and the plants love it. Just thinking about it as i go out to start repotting.)-: STUART SYDNEY AUSTRALIA I use about 2:1:1 CHCerlite:charcoal. The biggest perlite and charcoal I can buy. I've done a few in straight CHC, and in my opinion it stays a bit too wet for paphs. Might be ok for phrags. If you were to use the very large size (1/2-1") and a clay pot, then sure, I've done that and it works. Smaller grades and plastic pots would not be a good idea without some sort of addtion. Your results will be greatly improved if you soak your CHC in several changes of pure water (RO or rainwater). Regardless of what it says on the label, presume you need to wash it. Besides, that will wash out some of the fines and hydrate the CHC nicely. Also, regardless of the fact that all of these components should last for at least 5 years, I have found (much to my sorrow) that two years is pretty much the outside limit. I've finally got around to repotting again, and anything in mix that is much older than two years is suffering. Some are rootless wonders. Some are looking for freedom. I strongly suspect that this is more a phenomenon of salt accumulation than rotting mix, but I'm going back to my previous habit of repotting paphs every year. They always respond well. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
#3
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potting straight into coconut chips
Hey Rob,
I am glad you said it because this is one of those things I have just kept my mouth shut about. But my experience has been that CHC only lasts a year or two. I have no idea what the conditions are that lets CHC last five years, but I know I do not have them. I too am repotting CHC once a year. For Paphs I am pretty happy mixing bark and CHC 1 to 1 instead of using all of one or the other. Pat "Rob Halgren" wrote and I lifted in message ... Also, regardless of the fact that all of these components should last for at least 5 years, I have found (much to my sorrow) that two years is pretty much the outside limit. I've finally got around to repotting again, and anything in mix that is much older than two years is suffering. Some are rootless wonders. Some are looking for freedom. I strongly suspect that this is more a phenomenon of salt accumulation than rotting mix, but I'm going back to my previous habit of repotting paphs every year. They always respond well. Rob -- |
#4
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potting straight into coconut chips
Pat Brennan wrote:
Hey Rob, I am glad you said it because this is one of those things I have just kept my mouth shut about. But my experience has been that CHC only lasts a year or two. I have no idea what the conditions are that lets CHC last five years, but I know I do not have them. I too am repotting CHC once a year. For Paphs I am pretty happy mixing bark and CHC 1 to 1 instead of using all of one or the other. The chips themselves look to be in good condition after two years. So I suspect they would last a while. But I think the roots of my little babies are too sensitive. So after a couple of years (2 seems safe, 2+ not safe) I think something builds up in the mix. I don't know that I would mix bark and CHC. A) I'm trying to avoid bark, that is why I'm using CHC in the first place! *grin* and B) I like something inorganic in my mix. Rob -- Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a. See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase more orchids, obtain more credit |
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