Macadamia shells as substrate

[spes1959]

Hi everybody I have recently seen videos of brasilian growers of Walkerian Cattleya recommending Macadamia shells as a culture substrate. Do any of you use it? And where can you buy it? thank you

 

[Ray]

Anything can be used as a substrate, if you adjust your growing to accommodate it.

Macadamias are native to Australia, but are commercially cultivated in Hawaii, and apparently places in Brazil. The nut shell is apparently quite hard, so might be a reasonable substrate ingredient.

I am not aware that anyone is selling the shells for horticultural use; most are ground up to make particleboard or ground and made into activated charcoal for filtration.

 

[spes1959]

Anything can be used as a substrate, if you adjust your growing to accommodate it.

Macadamias are native to Australia, but are commercially cultivated in Hawaii, and apparently places in Brazil. The nut shell is apparently quite hard, so might be a reasonable substrate ingredient.

I am not aware that anyone is selling the shells for horticultural use; most are ground up to make particleboard or ground and made into activated charcoal for filtration.

Thanks Ray you are very kind

 

[Ozpaph]

buy, crack, eat and use the shells (but they are so hard most people buy the nuts pre-shelled).
I have used them as crocking material at the bottom of pots, when i have some.