Orchiata Bark

[mayres]

We had a talk at our society meeting this week from a distributor of orchiata bark - New Zealand Pinus radiata bark. Being in the sales end of it he had quite a story to tell and lots of testimonials from primarily large Hawaiin orchid business growers. Of course it was the best thing since sliced bread, so to speak, from all the testimonials given.
One of many reported plus's for this bark is that it doesn't break down like typical douglas fir bark that is commonly used in my area. Supposedly the only reason to repot is to upsize as your orchid grows - and then you can even take the "old" bark/media with you and just add more! Any testimonials from home growers/users out there? I did purchase one bag myself and am going to give it a go on a few plants and see how it does for ME.

[Fishmom]

I've heard only good things about it from OS members, but not that it will last forever. Apparently it does break down more slowly than other bark products, though.

[mayres]

Yes...."forever" is quite a long time..... ....supposedly it will last up to 7-10 years - certainly long enough for any orchid to outgrow a pot that it is planted in if it is being given good culture?

[Ron]

We had a talk at our society meeting this week from a distributor of orchiata bark - New Zealand Pinus radiata bark.

Interesting.
All out bark we use in Australia is from Pinus radiata bark.
Only probem is with all the plant breeding going on to produce a quicker growing tree with less chunky/thicker bark, the thickness and quality of the newer grown Pinus radiata
bark is getting more thiner and no longer the big thick hand size chunks that are on the old wild trees.
Hence thiner and less keeping quality .

I still use it on my Cymbidiums and find it very good, Paphiopedilums it was great but had to repott them every year of so.
Now with the CoCo nuggets maybe every 4 or 5 years, even with potting on.

[mayres]

This bark is supposedly (?) put through an 11 step process in order to prepare it for orchid media use - it is NOT just sterilized straight pinus radiata. They also claim that they have a bazillion (can't remember the actual number!) acres for the growing process where they can grow the trees to the point that they have approximately 3" thick bark before harvesting.

[Ray]

Hmmmm... I replied to this earlier, but it's somehow missing.

OK.

Caveat: I DO sell the stuff, but I assure you these comments are based upon my experience, and are not "marketing driven":

Orchiata is apparently VERY long-lived. I'd guess 5 years, although I've heard "10". Everything absorbs waste products and fertilizer salts, so even if it doesn't decompose, it will become "poisonous" with age.

The stuff is very uniform - within an size grade, and from bag to bag.

There is no real need for additives; it can be used alone. Because of its absorption capacity and uniform particle size, it stays pretty airy. You can control the medium's moisture-holding merely by choosing from the four sizes - finer/wetter, or coarser/drier.

Because it is treated with dolomite solution, the Ca supply is good, and the pH is right where you want it.

The combination of those factors leads to very rapid root growth after transplantation, in my experience.

[orchids4me]

Hi Mike,
I have no real experience with this product yet, but I do have a Paph I purchased at the diablo valley OS show that the vendor said it was potteed in it it looks like a fine grade bark (straight bark) and its almost water proof it takesd a few passes under the faucet then it starts to look a bit darker and damp (maybe because its pretty fresh still, vendor said potted them up not to long before the show, so didn't need to repot it) its been what a couple months the paph seems happy. i was considering getting some down the road when I do re pots, if this paph stays happy . Only thing is like I said, when watering it takes a tad bit longer to accomplish the job before some water stays with the bark and not sheen off ( kind of like a waxed car effect best I can describe it) bu not quite that drastic lol,t it does take some in in a few minutes.