Homemade Fir bark suitable for Orchids?

[meltmelt]

Hey everyone.

How far can I get with nature rather than money? I mean bare bones Hillbilly Orchistry (lol), sans chemicals.

Spagnum grows everywhere here, and Fir too.


Currently, I have found some Douglas Fir trees, and am wondering if it could be beneficial (or detrimental) to use this material with only amateur processing?

I have access to live wood, and 1 year old logs.
I plan to chunk and sterilize the bark, but is there anything else that is necessary to render them into "orchid bark"?

Regarding the live Spagh, the Phals have taken on an imposing nature since it was introduced. Like creepy tarantulas with perfect leaves, on steroids. Wow. Good Stuff!

Though I didn't sterilize this Moss.
Is that really necessary for every single thing which touches the orchid?

Any advice, on how to go as natural as possible is appreciated. Experimental methods are also appreciated.

Thank you everyone, Meltmelt

[Ray]

Sphagnum is actually pretty sterile, as-is, unless contaminated with some fungi. Way back when, it was commonly used in contact with open woulds to help stop blood loss and sterilize the wound.

The issue with conifer bark is the oils and resins they contain, which are there to fend off attackers.

Fir bark like Rexius is thoroughly steamed to extract it. Pine bark like that used in Orchiata is aged and composted to allow it to break down.

Just a word to the wise: going "cheap" can become expensive, if your use of "so-so" products damages or kills your collection.

Is your source of bark deadly? Probably not, but do you really want to risk it?

[keithrs]

Recently I got a back of "seedling" for a local nursery. I had potted up about a dozen plants in it. Only to find out that the oils where killing off roots of what ever I put in it. It had not been treated right.

I decided that I could treat it. So, I soaked it in Ca/Mg solution for two days. Than baked it @ 400 for an hour. Watered it intel it ran clear to remove some of the oils. Than mixed it with dolomite lime and I'm letting it compost checking the pH, every couple of days I throw some lime on the pile and mix it. 3 weeks later... It still has a very piney secent and the ph is still in the 4.7 range. You need to get it in the 6-7 range before using it.

For me..... It's not worth the time and cost. It cost me 15 for the bag of bark, 10 for the lime, and what ever the gas and water cost me. For 10 buck more than what the fir bark cost, I can buy orchiata bark ready to use. Great experiment tho!

O' and I ended up throwing half the bark out because all the crap ground up bark sank and the good bark stayed afloat when I soaked it...

[meltmelt]

Originally Posted by Ray

Sphagnum is actually pretty sterile, as-is, unless contaminated with some fungi. Way back when, it was commonly used in contact with open woulds to help stop blood loss and sterilize the wound.

The issue with conifer bark is the oils and resins they contain, which are there to fend off attackers.

Fir bark like Rexius is thoroughly steamed to extract it. Pine bark like that used in Orchiata is aged and composted to allow it to break down.

Just a word to the wise: going "cheap" can become expensive, if your use of "so-so" products damages or kills your collection.

Is your source of bark deadly? Probably not, but do you really want to risk it?

Thanks, you're right about the Bark, it's really too much of a gamble. I'm curious to learn more though, so i'll inquire to many uninterested chemists/arborists regarding the subject. lol.

Maybe i'll try and pressure cook some wood in different acidities, and test it afterwards. There's gotta be some ridiculous way to make this work. Soak it in Colloidal Silver for a week? Eh....I guess it's back to Lowe's for me...

I also have plenty of bone I can crush, could this be viable? And would fir be safe for use if turned into pure charcoal?

[Leafmite]

Red lava rock is really cheap. I pay $6 for a really large bag at a local nursery (sold for landscaping). It is reusable (I bake or boil it between repots). It doesn't break down and repots happen only when a new pot or a division is needed.

[keithrs]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Red lava rock is really cheap. I pay $6 for a really large bag at a local nursery (sold for landscaping). It is reusable (I bake or boil it between repots). It doesn't break down and repots happen only when a new pot or a division is needed.

I found two trash cans full for free on craigslist....

[keithrs]

Originally Posted by meltmelt

I also have plenty of bone I can crush, could this be viable?

Need I say more?????