cypress mulch for orchids

[plantfanatic]

Hi, everyone. I've been growing most of my orchids in self-watering with leca for many years, with mostly great results. However, there are a few types that don't like it, and I hate bark. Recently, a commercial grower gave a talk to our orchid club and showed the astonishing root growth they were seeing using cypress mulch (plus perlite or pumice, I think). I've been trying it, and so far it's going very well.

I'm wondering if anyone else is working with it. What kind do you use? 100% cypress mulch or cypress mulch blend? Or the purified kind used for pet bedding?

I've also been experimenting with it with other house plants. The only reference I could find says it shouldn't be used with houseplants because it's allelopathic. But I can't see why it wouldn't work with other plants if it works for orchids, assuming they like the more acidic conditions it provides.

Any advice or comments from commercial growers or others would be much appreciated.

[sweta]

I would love to know more about your experience with using cypress mulch for orchids as it looks like its more affordable and cheaper to use than fir/pine bark.

[Fairorchids]

I purchased a flat of Cymbidium seedlings from Carter & Holmes, and found that they were growing in mulch (not sure whether cypress or cedar?).

Since then, my main fibrous component (chunky peat) has become unobtainable in the US. In my terrestrial Cymbidium/Zygo mix, I have replaced it with cedar mulch, with excellent results for both genera. The complete mix is something along these lines:
3 parts cedar mulch
3 parts composted cow manure
2 parts potting soil
1 part bark
1 part perlite

[SFLguy]

Cypress mulch is nice because it does not break down quickly in moist conditions and will add acidity to the media - which is great for acid loving plants. For those that prefer alkaline conditions, cypress mulch may not work too well. I have used it a few times myself with success.

[estación seca]

Carter & Holmes has sold Cattleya seedlings in cypress mulch. It is well aerated, retains moisture longer than does bark, and also lasts longer than bark without breaking down.

[isurus79]

I also find cypress mulch holds moisture longer than other types of bark, so I use it for my Catasetums. I am only able to find the blend where I live.

[sweta]

Originally Posted by SFLguy

Cypress mulch is nice because it does not break down quickly in moist conditions and will add acidity to the media - which is great for acid loving plants. For those that prefer alkaline conditions, cypress mulch may not work too well. I have used it a few times myself with success.

Could you please share which brand of cypress mulch that you used?

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

I also find cypress mulch holds moisture longer than other types of bark, so I use it for my Catasetums. I am only able to find the blend where I live.

Please share which brand of cypress mulch you used ?

[Ray]

Many years ago there was a nursery in St. George SC called Jemmco Orchids. The owner was an engineeer with WESTVACO which grew a lot of pine trees for pulp and chemical extraction. He had an arrangement with their wood lot manager that whenever they ran across a cypress tree, the would run it through a chipper for him.

In addition to Asian imported orchids, he sold the cypress wood (without bark, which is in mulch) potting medium.

It simply doesn’t decompose, but the relatively “flat” chips stacked too easily, holding a lot of interstitial water and suffocated the roots. Adding a coarse second phase like perlite helped a great deal.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by sweta

Please share which brand of cypress mulch you used ?

Unfortunately, I don't recall the brand. I gave my bag to a friend when I moved into an apartment, though I am moving into a house tomorrow so I'll also need to find more cypress mulch! lol I bought my original bag at Home Depot. My memory tells me its pretty tough to find if you don't live in the Southern USA.

[estación seca]

I've seen cypress mulch sporadically at Home Depots in Phoenix. Ask the manager whether they ever sell it.

C&H sells their mulch-perlite mix online, but it's not always in stock.