Treating Raw Bark

[dnatural1]

Up to now I've been using Orchiata bark and I am quite happy with it. Only issue was its wettability and started experimenting with ways to improve this. My only experiment was to moisten the bark with an urea solution (to compost the surface of the bark). Seemed to improve wettability.

Now my regular supplier of Orchiata can't be contacted and so was forced to locate other sources of bark. I came across Kiwi Bark (pinus radiata bark). The supplier said that it is untreated in any way but can use it right out of the bag. When I mentioned nitrogen drawdown and wettability he said I can treat the surface for a week or two and that will also get rid of any oils on the surface of the bark as well as improve wettability.

My question is does raw (untreated) pine bark need any treatment before use and if so how should it be pretreated?

BTW this untreated bark is supposedly being used by a few major orchid nursery over here in Australia as well as in the US - Fred Clark of Sunset Valley Orchids uses Kiwi Orchid Bark exclusively (ref. Sunset Valley Orchids - Superior Hybrids for Orchid Enthusiasts)