All I ever wanted to know about soaking bark, but was afraid to ask

[bethmarie]

This seems too elementary, but I finally figured out why I've had such a hard time with new orchid divisions and repots, even when the plants start with great roots.

I learned about potting and repotting from a great grower at a local orchid nursery. Since he works in several huge greenhouses among thousands of great plants, I tend to go with what I learn there. And they don't pre-soak bark.

Evidently, that works out if you're growing in a greenhouse-- their plants aren't desiccating. Not so much in my home environment, where I have more than I want to count right now sitting in thirsty bark, looking sad and dehydrated even though they went into their pots with lush, drop dead gorgeous roots.

Lesson learned. Anything else on this topic I'm missing?

What would you do with the divisions recently potted? Water more frequently or re-repot in soaked bark?

If I have soaked bark left over after repotting that dries again, does it need to be re-soaked before use?

[Leafmite]

I use red lava rock/LECA as a medium (with basket pots). Often I take new orchids straight from NZ sphagnum moss, a broken down bark mixture, or a mount and put them in this so it is a bit of a switch. My orchids have never had a problem (I bought a second Angraecum mag. and it went from moss to lava rock without missing a beat).
Here is what I do. I soak the new orchid until the roots green and I feel that they have absorbed as much water as possible. Then I remove all the old medium, hold it in the pot and carefully put the new medium, dry, around the roots. I do not water for a few days to let the roots heal and then, when I water, I water each time until the roots turn green. With some orchids, this might mean soaking for a few minutes.
I hope this helps. I imagine the bark, when it is new, is pretty similar to the red lava rock in its ability to absorb water. I also have mounted orchids which often need to be soaked in the winter.

[wintergirl]

I use bark and I don't pre-soak, nor do I soak most plants before I take out to repot. When I am done I also wait usually 1 day before I water. It has worked really well for me, plus it is a time saver.

[WhiteRabbit]

When I have newly repotted into bark orchids (bark pre-soaked or not), they can dry quickly, so I just soak the pots when they need water.

[silken]

I put my bark in a Pyrex bowl that I use for this purpose. I fill it so the bark is topped with water. Then I put it into the microwave for 4 or 5 minutes on high. I let is sit for a wile and cool and thoroughly rinse it in a colander. There is a lot of brown sawdust usually. So it is good and wet and hopefully mostly sterilized when I re-pot. If the roots are poor, I soak them for 1/2 hour in seaweed solution and pot up. If they are really good, I just pot the plant. I immediately put a bamboo skewer into it. It will need to be watered more frequently for the first few months as it does dry out faster. But mine do fine with this method. If the roots were mediocre and not starting to grow I will give it some seaweed next time I water and maybe even a soak in it for 20 mins. But lately most of my Catts have more roots than I know what to do with so usually not an issue.

[bethmarie]

I'm not sure how I missed until now the points you all have made, but thank you. You don't know what you don't know, I guess. I've been taking greenhouse advice for growing, and it has mostly worked. But when it comes to watering, newly potted or not, my environment just dries fast.

[wintergirl]

Everyone's environment, watering style and type of bark used all are a factor. What works for me may not work for you and vise versa. It good to find out about other growers methods. There is no one right way, only what works of you or works for me.

[astrid]

I never pre-soak bark, but I soak all my orchids once a month in my own personal fertilizer concoction in water so they get a really good long drink. This way the bark can be soaked and you don't have a need for pre-soaking.
I used to soak all my orchids with every watering, but now I have too many so it became tedious.

[bil]

Well, if the bark dries fast, you'll appreciate that in winter. I never worry, I just pot into bark, but I do water every day. I have wet days twice a week when the medium is soaked, and in the summer, every other day is a damp day, when the plant is washed down and a little water run onto the roots.

[Fairorchids]

I grow in a greenhouse. I do not pre-soak bark. I do pre-soak spaghnum, when I use a a spaghnum/bark/charcoal mix (all Vandaceous, and anything that goes in a pot smaller than 3").

As I unpot, I dip in water to loosen the old mix and make roots more pliable. I rinse by swishing the 'naked' plant in a bucket of water.

I repot carefully, and then I water immediately, several times, the same day that I repotted. On rare occasions a weak plant does not make it, but I do not recall loosing any healthy plants from this treatment.

That was the way my dad did it in his commercial orchid nursery, and it works well for me too.