Orchiata Bark

[scy]

I use fir bark for all my orchids (mostly dens with a miltionopsis and cymbidium). I was repotting a den to the next pot size up and then realized I did not have enough bark. I was thinking of trying orchiata bark and have some questions and would also like your opinions on it.

1. How long does the orchiata bark last?
2. How do you know when the medium needs replacing?
3. Does it hold more water than fir bark?
4. I normally water my orchids by soaking them in water for 15 minutes once a week. I've read that orchiata bark shouldn't be soaked because it takes the nutrients out. Does this mean I should just run water straight through the pot or I can continue to water as I would for fir bark?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
- Susan

[s.kallima]

Originally Posted by scy

I use fir bark for all my orchids (mostly dens with a miltionopsis and cymbidium). I was repotting a den to the next pot size up and then realized I did not have enough bark. I was thinking of trying orchiata bark and have some questions and would also like your opinions on it.

1. How long does the orchiata bark last?
2. How do you know when the medium needs replacing?
3. Does it hold more water than fir bark?
4. I normally water my orchids by soaking them in water for 15 minutes once a week. I've read that orchiata bark shouldn't be soaked because it takes the nutrients out. Does this mean I should just run water straight through the pot or I can continue to water as I would for fir bark?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
- Susan

From my experience of a bit over a year with Orchiata with Paph, Neofinetia, Catasetum and a few others)
1. more than one year for sure
2. don't know yet
3. It sure does hold more water, longer than fir bark. Watch out for overwatering !
4. I soak, don't think it is a big problem. You are going to remove nutrients when running water too... The main advice is not to soak the bark before use like regular bark, because Orchiata is enriched in dolomite lime to be pH balanced, so soaking for a long time will get rid of some dolomite...

[Ray]

I actually think that overwatering is less of an issue than in Rexius, for example, as the more uniform grading and less-flat-plate shape allows for better air flow.

[scy]

Thank you both for your help!

[silken]

I've been using it on a few things like Paphs and a few Milts. I really like it and think it has a more even and longer moisture retention than regular bark of similar size. But because it can't really be imported to Canada I only have a small amount and haven't been using it for more than 9 months.

[Ray]

I spoke to the distributor in the eastern part of the US (who happen to be Canadian), and they're working on Canada....

Canada apparently uses a lot of the same policies and procedures as England, and it's available over there now, so don't give up hope.

[JMLand]

From my experience with this product I would still soak it before use but adjust the ph of your water to compensate for the loss of lime from the soaking. Even when i didn't soak the orchiata the media quickly became acidic. I like to test the ph of the runoff water from the pots and compare it to what i water with. I water most plants with a ph of 6 to 6.5. when i water the orchiata with the same ph the runoff comes out between 4.5 to 5.
I like to keep 2 different watering and fertilizing containers. one with a ph that works for orchids in more neutral bark and one thats a bit higher for the orchiata.