Fir & pine bark mix OK for minicatts?

[SheilaJ]

I just bought some local orchid mix. It says it contains western fir bark and/or pine bark. I recall reading somewhere that pine bark was bad? Should I return it and go find something else instead? I'm going to be mixing it with sphag for minicatts that I grow under lights.

[WhiteRabbit]

I think if it is potting mix for orchids it should be fine - the bark would have been treated to remove (I think it is ) tannins (sp?) from the bark which is what is harmful.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

[Ray]

If you were to buy pine bark mulch, you'd have problems. The stuff for growing orchids is usually steamed to extract the resins that the trees use to prevent other plants from intruding into their space.

[SheilaJ]

Thanks, I guess I read that regular old pine bark mulch was the bad stuff.