Shultz Orchid bark

[Dollythehun]

Has anyone used Shultz brand bark? The bags says it is bark and ceramic or lava etc. But from feeling the bag, it didn't seem very chunky. I've been using Better gro but am always looking for alternatives. I have to say, it was soooo inexpensive, I was tempted, but then I wouldn't want to 'waste it...'

[jkofferdahl]

I'm sure that they make several different mixes, but the one bag I've seen of Shultz potting mix was relatively fine. As in small particles rather than big chunks. It looked to me like it would be good for terrestrial orchids but a no-go for anything else.

[Paphluvr]

After buying a bag and seeing what it consisted of I didn't think it was suitable for any of my orchids, but I've used it for some of my bromeliads. Not a fan.

[katrina]

I used Schultz when I first started growing orchids and IME, the contents were radically inconsistent. One bag would have lots of chunky bits and the next would be super small. The only reliable aspect was that all the bags had a fair amount of very fine particulates.

It's not bad, per se, but not great. It broke down quickly and if you don't sieve out the finer stuff...you will choke the roots of many orchids. I learned that one the hard way. In a pinch, I might use it but it would never be my first choice.

[Dollythehun]

This is what I suspected...

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by katrina

I used Schultz when I first started growing orchids and IME, the contents were radically inconsistent. One bag would have lots of chunky bits and the next would be super small. The only reliable aspect was that all the bags had a fair amount of very fine particulates.

It's not bad, per se, but not great. It broke down quickly and if you don't sieve out the finer stuff...you will choke the roots of many orchids. I learned that one the hard way. In a pinch, I might use it but it would never be my first choice.

Not directly related to the original thread but this reminded me of another experience I had a Shultz product. A had bought Schultz Horticultural Charcoal previously but needed another bag. When I got around to opening the new one I found it contained chunks large enough to burn in my charcoal grill. Can you say "Quality Control"?

[Dollythehun]

Sad, but funny. But even Better gro varies bag to bag. My last bag had huge chunks of coconut husk it it. Never noticed those before.

When I squeezed the bag, I wondered..It wasn't very chunky. I've been thinking of stocking up on Repot Me mixes. I am always out of something.