Broken down bark?

[Dollythehun]

I would call this bark degraded. I see it has mag amp in it. I am potting in fresh bark tonight. I thought about the LECA Estación but this was a pricey plant. Anyway, I digress. Might it be good for newbies to see degraded bark if in fact it is?

[Dollythehun]

Lots of good roots, although I broke a few. My fresh bark didn't look too chunky either. Think I'll switch brands. Thanks John.

[Leafmite]

I use red lava rock so I never need to see that except when I buy new orchids.

[estación seca]

.... is that the NEW stuff? If so, that is not what I would call bark. That might be suitable for terrestrial orchids.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by estación seca

.... is that the NEW stuff? If so, that is not what I would call bark. That might be suitable for terrestrial orchids.

No. That was the old. However, my bag of new bark didn't look much better. I had to sort it.

---------- Post added at 05:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 AM ----------

I'd like to hear what kind of bark you all like. I used to use Better Gro. Now Lowes carries Miracle Gro which seems silty and fine. I know you all have individual preferenes but, I think it would be helpful to know.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

No. That was the old. However, my bag of new bark didn't look much better. I had to sort it.

---------- Post added at 05:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 AM ----------

I'd like to hear what kind of bark you all like. I used to use Better Gro. Now Lowes carries Miracle Gro which seems silty and fine. I know you all have individual preferenes but, I think it would be helpful to know.

I always sieve mine before using it. A bad brand is 50% dust.

[Dollythehun]

Bi, I did sieve mine last night. Need a better sieve.

[estación seca]

I use different-sized cooking tools for straining potting materials. I get them at a market called Smart & Final, which caters to restaurant owners. Any restaurant supply company would have them. I use an extra large steel strainer for seiving out fines, and a fryer basket for coarser seiving.

No stores in the metro Phoenix area sell acceptable orchid bark. I suspect it's the same in much of the US. Our club has done a bulk order of Kiwi bark from Sunset Valley Orchids. Shipping is much cheaper for 20+ bags on a pallet.

Lava cinders are available here at Home Depot and Lowes. LECA is available at hydroponics shops. I am moving more and more of my collection into semi-hydroponics in LECA so the unavailability of bark doesn't matter to me any more. Phals do much better for me in S/H than any other potting method.

[fishmom]

Orchiata is another good product, New Zealand pine bark that is well prepared and lasts a longer time than most bark products. You mentioned repotme in another thread; I believe they sell it and use it in mixes. I've been very pleased with what I've bought. Also, my orchid society has made group orders, so that is a way to cut down on shipping costs.

[estación seca]

The pot and material need to be chosen to suit your environment. I can't use open baskets nor clay pots for most orchids because they dry out too fast in my climate. I don't have time to water every day. Wet, humid climates have the opposite problem I have. It's the same for any kind of plant. Clay pots here dry out too fast even for cactus, in my opinion.