At our recent orchid festival in Pittsburgh, the topic of removing salt
(NaCl) from coconut husk chips (CHC) was discussed. Most people soak and
rinse the material with regular water or RO/rain water at least 3 or 4
times and check the conductivity of the rinse. However, there apparently
is a study out the indicates that this is not enough for removing all the
salt and that salt can continue to slowly leach out over time and cause
problems (particularly when the medium is allowed to dry and is then
rewet). I do not have the study or the names of the people who did it, but
their results supposedly indicated that the CHC must first be soaked in a
large excess of calcium nitrate ( 1 cup for a 5-10 gal soak tank), then
rinsed and then soaked again with a lesser quantity of magnesium
sulfate(Epsom salt, half cup same tank size) followed by rinsing. The
study apparently analyzed the medium and the sodium uptake of plants by
tissue analysis. Anyone know more about this? I personally have had some
trouble growing phrags in a coconut husk medium (charcoal etc added) with
standard washings.

Thanks

Charles VanDyke

Check out the people at Antec Labs at http://ladyslipper.com/coco3.htm I
think this is the article you are looking for.
Gary

"charles VanDyke" <cvandyke [at] andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message
news:955082.1127658789 [at] gruel-2-140.ppp.andrew.cmu.edu...
>
> At our recent orchid festival in Pittsburgh, the topic of removing salt
> (NaCl) from coconut husk chips (CHC) was discussed. Most people soak and
> rinse the material with regular water or RO/rain water at least 3 or 4
> times and check the conductivity of the rinse. However, there apparently
> is a study out the indicates that this is not enough for removing all the
> salt and that salt can continue to slowly leach out over time and cause
> problems (particularly when the medium is allowed to dry and is then
> rewet). I do not have the study or the names of the people who did it,
> but their results supposedly indicated that the CHC must first be soaked
> in a large excess of calcium nitrate ( 1 cup for a 5-10 gal soak tank),
> then rinsed and then soaked again with a lesser quantity of magnesium
> sulfate(Epsom salt, half cup same tank size) followed by rinsing. The
> study apparently analyzed the medium and the sodium uptake of plants by
> tissue analysis. Anyone know more about this? I personally have had some
> trouble growing phrags in a coconut husk medium (charcoal etc added) with
> standard washings.
>
> Thanks
>
> Charles VanDyke
>

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 14:43:00 -0400, "V_coerulea"
<gwills13 [at] bellsouth.net> wrote:

>Check out the people at Antec Labs at http://ladyslipper.com/coco3.htm I
>think this is the article you are looking for.
>Gary
>

Ray (www.firstray.com) carries the calcium nitrate they suggest using
to assist in flushing salt from the CHC.

deg

Charles,

I have used coconut husk cubes for a couple of years especially on
Neofinetia falcata... what I have found is that these coconut husk products
are loaded with hidden fern seeds. I have ferns growing out the ying yang
now in the pots on my benches.

Mick

===========================

"charles VanDyke" <cvandyke [at] andrew.cmu.edu> wrote in message
news:955082.1127658789 [at] gruel-2-140.ppp.andrew.cmu.edu...
>
> At our recent orchid festival in Pittsburgh, the topic of removing salt
> (NaCl) from coconut husk chips (CHC) was discussed. Most people soak and
> rinse the material with regular water or RO/rain water at least 3 or 4
> times and check the conductivity of the rinse. However, there apparently
> is a study out the indicates that this is not enough for removing all the
> salt and that salt can continue to slowly leach out over time and cause
> problems (particularly when the medium is allowed to dry and is then
> rewet). I do not have the study or the names of the people who did it,
but
> their results supposedly indicated that the CHC must first be soaked in a
> large excess of calcium nitrate ( 1 cup for a 5-10 gal soak tank), then
> rinsed and then soaked again with a lesser quantity of magnesium
> sulfate(Epsom salt, half cup same tank size) followed by rinsing. The
> study apparently analyzed the medium and the sodium uptake of plants by
> tissue analysis. Anyone know more about this? I personally have had some
> trouble growing phrags in a coconut husk medium (charcoal etc added) with
> standard washings.
>
> Thanks
>
> Charles VanDyke
>

I get my coconut chips from Crystal Company in Fenton MO where the owner
says they are prewashed and salt free. I've used 2 bales so far without any
problmes.
Grow well and bloom magnificently
dusty

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:29:16 GMT, dusty <dusty [at] nospam.com> wrote:

>
>
>I get my coconut chips from Crystal Company in Fenton MO where the owner
>says they are prewashed and salt free. I've used 2 bales so far without any
>problmes.
>Grow well and bloom magnificently
>dusty

Well, I use Crystal Co. CHC also and believe it does need to be
rinsed. Using at TDS meter, it's clear that even Crystal CHC has a
fairly high salt level when you receive it.

deg