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The physical and chemical characteristics of waste tire chips, which composed mainly of rubber and fiber, were analysed, and Cymbidium plants were cultivated in various sizes of tire chips to verify its suitability as a new Cymbidium potting medium component. Water and nutrient holding capacity of tire chips was lower than that of bark, an usual potting medium, but the growth of Cymbidium in tire chips was equivalent to that in the bark. Although Fe and Zn were in leaked water from tire chips, heavy metals such as Cd and Pb were not detected and no serious injury symptoms were observed during cultivation of Cymbidium for 6 months in tire chip potting media. Therefore, it was suggested that tire chips could be used as a new practical potting medium component in replacement of bark if watering and fertilization schedules are properly adjusted according to its low water and nutrient holding capacity.
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