Just curious if anyone has any good tips for washing/soaking/cleansing CHC.

I have a whole ton of mix that is a combo of CHC, Diatomite (pretty much equal parts, maybe a bit more CHC), perlite, and charcoal made up, so when I need it I just soak it for a while (usually in a 2 gallon pyrex measuring cup or my 5 qt. mixing bowl,) pour off the water, and repeat quite a few times. I'm never sure whether I am doing it enough though, and I'm worried about salts accumulating. I've read that the water should run clear, but due to the charcoal, it never seems to.

Any advice? Suggestions? Tricks? I'd love to hear 'em! Thanks!

Just curious if anyone has any good tips for washing/soaking/cleansing CHC.

I have a whole ton of mix that is a combo of CHC, Diatomite (pretty much equal parts, maybe a bit more CHC), perlite, and charcoal made up, so when I need it I just soak it for a while (usually in a 2 gallon pyrex measuring cup or my 5 qt. mixing bowl,) pour off the water, and repeat quite a few times. I'm never sure whether I am doing it enough though, and I'm worried about salts accumulating. I've read that the water should run clear, but due to the charcoal, it never seems to.

Any advice? Suggestions? Tricks? I'd love to hear 'em! Thanks!

I wash the coconut husk separately, and then make up the mix, actually. Charcoal doesn't need washing. It is dusty though, so getting it a little wet would help there (I just hold my breath)

I used to soak it in a big tub (rubbermaid, maybe 50 gallons). Scooped it out by hand (a lot of hands) into a new identical tub, added water, lather rinse repeat... Until the conductivity of the wash water is the same as the conductivity of the water going in. Or as close as possible. This is tedious. Lately, I discovered that one of those black plant crates (I think dutch bulbs come in them? They are big, black, and full of holes) makes a much better scoop than my hands.

Also, I just started the experiment this winter, but I'm just piling it up on tarps behind the greenhouse. If we ever get any rain, I figure after a couple seasons of precipitation the coco should be pretty washed. I'll check just to make sure.

I wash the coconut husk separately, and then make up the mix, actually.

Hmm, in retrospect, yes, that is what I should have done, but I didn't. I think Ill try the pH factor then...that should be enlightening! :) Thanks for the ideas!

Heather
There is also a detailed treatise of handling CHC on the Antec site.

An update included washing with additional epson salts , or with tap water because CHC has some "ion exchange properties" and the Ca and/or Mg in your wash solution can increase the removal rate of the sodium.

Hi all, this is my very first post here. Rick Lockwood said I was really missing something not being here.

Rick, I pretty much follow the process outlined on the Antec Labs website.

I have two 44 gallon Rubbermaid Heavy Duty plastic rubbish cans that I use. One of them, I took a half inch copper pipe, heated it with a propane torch, and melted about 20 holes in the very bottom of that rubbish can. The second rubbish can, I put a 1 inch PVC cut-off valve in the very bottom. The first rubbish can slips inside the second rubbish can and the whole thing sits on top of cement blocks outside our back door.

To use it, I put about 35 gallons of tap water in the apparatus and I mix in several ounces of calcium nitrate and a couple ounces of magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts). Then I add half of a compressed bale of coconut husk chips (CHC), crumbled up, and allow it to soak overnight. The next day I drain off the first soak water and fill the tubs back up with plain tap water. After a few hours I drain this off and fill the tubs again. I repeat this process until the drain water is basically the same as the tap water going in...two or three rinses. Because I sometimes store the rinsed CHC until use, I do one final soaking with a couple ounces of Physan 20 added to the water. After a few hours I drain this off too. Then, all the CHC is emptied out onto a layer of shade cloth that is suspended on wire racks on top of some saw horses, in order to let the CHC dry out. Then I store it in bags or in rubbish cans until use.

When I soak seedling grade CHC, I place aluminum window screen on the bottom of the inner rubbish can to prevent it from washing out the 1/2 inch holes.

I have been using a mix of medium and seedling grade CHC combined with sponge rock and charcoal for all my Paphs and Phrags. For most other orchids I leave out the charcoal. I'm beginning to experiment adding some diatomite to the mix too.

Hola Ed! Welcome to the forum. Rick's right! :D

Thanks also for the CHC ideas. I did read Antec's site the other day also. I tend to deal with this stuff in pretty small quantity, so it is nice to see opinions on how many times you all are soaking and rinsing. Nice to be able to do this outside again, much less mess!

Hi, Ed! Nice to see you here and :welcome: to the forum!

Thanks! Nice place ya got here. :D

Heather,

It is very helpful to have a TDS meter that will measure the conductivity of the water as you do the washes. Otherwise, you're just guessing as to how many washes are needed to reduce the potential salt load in the CHCs to an acceptable level. I use RO water which gives me a TDS measurement < 10. I also use the Antec procedure, and after adding calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate, the TDS will be around 400+. I wash this several times with RO water until the TDS is less than 100. Usually it gets down to about 30 or so.

carsonchase

Heather,
I'm soaking CHC overnight in trashcans and dumping the water. By the third time, the water should be almost clear.

One of your favorite commercial paph guy washes and soakes the CHC three times also. I got my direction from him.

Good soaking!

Very helpful! Thanks! (Garland, you should share! :poke:)

Where the heck do I get Calcium Nitrate? :confused:

Heather, if you are looking for that extra calcium for your plants just try the crushed oyster shell dressing on top of your mix.

I don't know where to find calcium nitrate around here. Perhaps at a fireworks plant?

I started carrying calcium nitrate at TZ's suggestion, specifically for cleansing of CHC, but it makes a great tomato booster, too!

Heather, with a little searching I found 50 lb bags of calcium nitrate locally at the farmer's cooperative and at a landscaping supply company. Ray is supplying smaller amounts which probably will fit your needs perfectly. 50 lbs cost me $12 and will probably last me at least a year or more. I guess I'll be putting it on my tomatoes too! :D

Hi,
The best info I have found is on www.ladyslipper.com. Follow the procedure for desalting CHC and you should have good luck.

(somehow I missed Ray and Ed's posts....)
Thanks all!!