Orchiata Bark

[larryt]

Hi All,

Being a newbie, would anyone like to please share their experience with the Orchiata Bark?

Are you pleased with the results?

Do you use it stright or in a mix?

If in a mix why have you choosen to blend it that way?

How does it compare with other mixes you have used?

etc.

Thank you for your input.

Cheers,
Larry

[katrina]

I just started using it last March and am still in a testing phase with it but so far it's looking real good.

I have some moisture lovers...phals, maxies, and bulbos in it w/either sphag or rockwool cubes for extra moisture retention and styrofoam balls to aerate the mix a bit more. All 3 genera appear to be doing very well.

I have a Dichea in it and so far everything is going really well.

I'm sure there are a couple more I'm testing but I can't think of them right now.

I also have it mixed in w/regular potting mix for my jasmine plants and they took off like crazy this year. (not that this is orchids but it's another one I'm using it with.)

I wanted to try it because of the slightly acidifying nature and because I'd heard really good things. I've been so pleased w/the result of my phals that as others need repotting, they will likely go into the same mix.

[PaulB]

I've been using it for a couple of months now, so its a bit early to tell. But in checking it out, I found that a lot of orchid growers are using it.
It is really a fir bark from the Monterey Pine (California coast), grown in New Zealand. It's processed with heat somehow- Ultimately a harder medium that supposedly will last about twice as long before repotting.
Try to take bark from a Monterey Pine in California and you'd be in jail!

I'm thinking the soil and other conditions in New Zealand have a definite effect on the growth of the wood and bark, otherwise they wouldn't be shipping it here. So far, I'm, pleased with it. I'm using the finer seedling size and it's nice and uniform. Relatively inexpensive too.

On top of all that, I think the name is cool. Orchiata.

[Ray]

Orchiata is Pinus radiata bark (Get it orch - iata) just like grows in California, but is has been aged and treated with dolomite solution.

It is very well graded (although they might have gotten away with three-, instead of four sizes), and lasts a very long time, compare to other barks.

How you use it is dependent upon the plants' needs, your growing conditions, and your watering habits. Just because someone else uses it a certain way - both in size and straight or in a mix - doesn't mean it's appropriate for you.

I use 5A - the coarser of the two intermediate grades - straight for cattleyas and oncidiums, because I grow in a greenhouse and tend to water frequently and heavily.

[koshki]

Like Katrina and Paul, I've only been using Orchiata since earlier this year (bought a large bag from Ray, thank you very much!).

I have all my catts in it...the larger ones are in clay pots with LECA and Orchiata bark, and the seedlings are just in the bark. This is my first year with catts, and with plants outdoors so I don't really know if their growth is significant, but all my catts have put out tons of new roots.

I also have repotted all my phrags into it, and again, tons of new roots, and lots of new growths have started as well. Some had been in CHC, and a couple others in regular bark. I wanted to put everything in the same medium and on the same repotting schedule. I top the phrags with a bit of oyster shells, but otherwise it's just the straight bark.

Also in it: C. coccinea, with a little sphag on top for moisture; several dendrobiums; three Twinkles; and most of my angreacums...they're in 4" plastic vanda baskets lined with coco fiber and topped with Orchiata bark, and they're all growing roots and leaves like mad.

So far, I haven't had anything object to it, and most are growing quite happily.

My only complaint about it is that is has a ton on dust on it. I have been keeping some soaking in a container on my potting bench to use whenever, and the dust sinks to the bottom of the container and makes a thick sludge. It seems to rinse right off, but still, I have got a fair amount of that stuff on my shirts when I'm repotting. Washes out pretty well, though.

Indoors, I keep it in a large clear plastic container that has a lid that snaps on it...have to keep it covered for fear my kitties will think it's a new litter box!

[larryt]

Thank you Kat, Paul, and Ray, I'm going to give it a try with a cat and a phal and see how it goes .

Cheers,

Larry

[larryt]

Thank you Kathrine for the tips on soaking and storage. Like you I would like to keep all my orchids in the same potting medium.

Larry

[jpyerry]

I am now using Orchiata on almost every orchid I own. I started using it about 6 months ago when I decided to change from sphagnum moss to something else. It has slowly become my favorite potting media. Just my opinion here but I tried using some regular fir bark and I have found that the Orchiata is superior.

[Cym Ladye]

The hobbyists I know who still want to grow in bark and have switched to it are all having good results. Good but expensive!

CL

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

The hobbyists I know who still want to grow in bark and have switched to it are all having good results. Good but expensive!

CL

Actually, when you consider the longevity of it, it probably costs less overall than most other bark media.

I have heard some growers claim 5 or even 10 years' life (which I think is too long, even if the bark hasn't decomposed). I can say from first-hand experience that one-year-old bark doesn't look like it has changed a bit since being taken from the bag!

[Cym Ladye]

My problem, Ray, is that my Cyms outgrow their pots in three years so the advertised longevity of any bark is wasted. I cannot speak for those hobbyists I know using Orchiata for more than 3 years and will have to keep track of their experiences. If the longevity allows for "drop potting" without the center rotting out it might seem to prove its claims.

After growing in fir bark mixes for over 30 years, I changed to CHC/perlite five years ago and would never change back to any bark for my Cyms. Same appears to be true for my zygos and Den kingianums, although those have only been in CHC for a couple of years.

CL

[Ray]

You stance makes perfect sense!

One of the nicer features of Orchiata over almost any other organic medium is the uniformity of particle size and consistency from lot to lot. It's quite impressive.

[Cym Ladye]

Great point, Ray!

I had to deal with 5 different CHC distributors with 5 different CHC product packagings this summer because my main, local supplier ran out and I had not ordered enough to get me through a larger than anticipated repotting/dividing season!