Using pine bark

[Engagechad]

Hey all, I'm new here and new to orchids. My girlfriend got me into them and i've been amazed ever since!

We have one Phal, which has bloomed (it had 13) and its done. I had no idea that you were supposed to clip the spike after it bloomed and withered.. so it stayed there for a good long while with a crispy spike there. Will that damage the plant? The leaves look fine and so do the roots so I think its okay but I'm not sure.

My MAIN question here was about another orchid that we have. It was a gift from her grandmother (she found it on sale somewhere.. so that tells you about the supposed quality of it) and she had actually planted in the ground for about a day and a half before I pulled it out. I have rinsed off the dirt and the roots are very very soggy. The plant itself is a dendrobium (red emperor or something like that) and the stalks that it has are all fairly healthy looking, but then there is one that is almost the color of sand.. It looks like I should put that stalk out of its misery but i'm not sure If i could coax it back to life.... There is one fairly new stalk/growth that was hanging off the side, so I stood it up and supported it so hopefully it will start growing straight. I'd like to know what suggestions you all have for me; how to dry it out? any other suggestions would be very appreciated.

ALSO:
The dendrobium is potted with moss (peat probably) and as you all know its retaining a lot of moisture. I'd like to pot it with bark, but i was wondering if it would be okay to simply pull pine bark off of a tree or if it needs to be specific bark. I would of course clean the bark well before using it and what not, but I was just wondering if that was absolutely and idiot/beginner thing to ask or not.. :P

thanks again for reading all the way through this long rambling post!

Chad


EDIT:
First post and I already did something stupid!! I meant to put this in the Beginner's discussion forum.. doh!

[orchidegg]

No expert here but bark would be fine for dendrobium. Don't cut the old canes off. They store energy for the plant which it may need to recover.
Personally, I wouldn't peel off bark from a tree (don't want to give the tree an injury where infection might set in) unless you are talking old firewood or something. THen I think you would need to sterilize the bark really well not sure what the best method for that would be...

[Engagechad]

Originally Posted by orchidegg

No expert here but bark would be fine for dendrobium. Don't cut the old canes off. They store energy for the plant which it may need to recover.
Personally, I wouldn't peel off bark from a tree (don't want to give the tree an injury where infection might set in) unless you are talking old firewood or something. THen I think you would need to sterilize the bark really well not sure what the best method for that would be...

Okay, I tried to take a picture with my phone this morning to show you all here because that one nasty cane looks really sad..

I'll see if I can get a pic on here later!

[camille1585]

It might not be a good idea to take bark off the trees. I know that here in France, the bark of a specific pine is used, the french southern pine. The bark isn't sappy and comes off in flakes by itself. Also, I think (but am not sure) that bark we use for our plants might have been treated, but I'm not sure.
You're probably better off buying some ready made stuff.

[orchidegg]

if it is soggy mushy rotting then I'd cut it off and sprinkle cinnamon on the wound

[Roy]

Definitely DON'T use fresh bark off a living tree, its too acid and will burn the root. Buy a bag or 2 of Composed Orchid bark from a nursery or supplier.

[Engagechad]

Originally Posted by Roy

Definitely DON'T use fresh bark off a living tree, its too acid and will burn the root. Buy a bag or 2 of Composed Orchid bark from a nursery or supplier.

Okay cool. I'll be sure to not do that..

I think i'm going to stop by lowes within the next few days to pick up some fresh media