Mounting orchid to reptile cork bark?
 

Hi everyone,

I found a few nice pieces of cork bark from pet stores, says "reptile vivarium wood cork bark", it doesn't say what type of wood it is but I would assume it might be oak...
What are your suggestions about this, is it worth mounting orchid to it or it will deteriorate too soon and cause more problems?
Please advise!

Thanks

Here in the US the reptile cork is the same cork used for mounting orchids and guarding the nectar of the gods. You guessed right, it's from the cork oak.

Pet stores are great places to get cork and wood for mounts. I have gotten a few pieces from there.

Since most cork comes from other European Union countries, notably Spain and Portugal, I think it may be cheaper in Great Britain than it is here in the States. It has excellent rot resistance and the roots love growing into all the cracks and fissures.

I came across a plant that had covered both sides of the cork mount and had a tag dating back to 1972.


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Southwest Europe and northwest Africa are the primary commercial sources of cork oak although it is grown as a decorative tree in many other countries. I was just fortunate to get some large pieces from a tree which was cut down in my neighborhood in Northern CA. Now the problem is getting the bark off the body of the tree easily!

Peeling the bark looks easy on the Internet!

I saw these "Zoo Med Cork Tiles" at a reptile show several weeks ago, and thought they would be great for growing orchids:

Amazon.com : Zoo Med Natural Cork Tile Background, 18 x 24-Inch : Terrarium Tile : Pet Supplies

They are flat, and come in large sheets-- They are flat and You could cut them to size...

I may give it a try!

3 square feet for $32. How much is cork tile from a store that sells it to put on the walls of human habitats?

This has a more natural surface, and more ridges and grooves than normal "particle-board" style cork tiles...

The piece I saw in person, basically had a surface like natural cork, but was flat. So, it may work better for growing orchids, and would definitely look more natural...