Cork bark is expensive, what else can I use?

[NeoNJ]

I found buying via Ebay is more costly, because of the shipping charges for small amounts of Cork or Spaghnum Moss, so Yes, PETCO and PETSMART are the way to go. I'll be there today when they open !

[Ray]

What have you been smoking, Neo?

I just went to the PETCO site, and with their sale, a "Large" 9.5" X 10" piece is $13.99 - normally $18.99.

I sell the stuff - flat or in tubes - for $5.50/lb, and a pound is on the order of a square foot.

[ericst11]

If you have old cottonwood trees by you when they start to die the old thick bark comes off in strips and chunks and is really clean and free from pest and doesn't break down. plants love it . I have been growing orchids on it for years with no problems.

[gnathaniel]

Ray's is the cheapest high-quality cork I've seen retail, it definitely beats the big-box pet stores in quality and price even with shipping. You can also call Maryland Cork Company, I think they import a lot of what is sold for orchid use in the US though I'm not sure what their minimum order and shipping costs would be.

If you want to go the totally free route, I've found crape myrtle and eastern red cedar very good for long-term mounts. At least in my area, crape myrtle is free in abundance in the springtime thanks to all the people who think severe 'pruning' (typically more like mutilation) is good for their trees. I used a lot of grapevine at one point but it tends to mold and soften after a year or two so I d/c'd using it.

--Nat

[ericst11]

I agree about the grape vine it looks neat but rots fast . you could also use cedar shake shingles.

[kaitala]

Check out neherpetoculture.com
And joshsfrogs.com

Or, just go to a reptile show. It's super cheap there.

[Ray]

Cedar shakes work, too.

[BruceP]

Coconuts (halves, 3/4 cut or just chunks of husk) make great inexpensive mounts, though I suppose in NJ you can't walk into your neighbor's yard and pick them up for free.

[dounoharm]

i have a bunch of hickory bark i use and it works fine, it is coarse barked and thick like cork, and doesnt deteriorate.....