Ive read so much on this and here is my response for what it may be worth.bark".
We humans always like to think we know more than plants. If your orchids grow well on pine bark in your climate and environment under your watering and fertilizing habits. I would continue.
Raw pine bark mulch is $3 fot a 3sq-ft bag
Its like most pharmaceudical information in the west. A lot of distracting and strategically worded "scientific" reports are put out by manufacturers of expensive bark products fir orchids so that we spend $7 dollar of a tiny bag of un-named 'treated
Its a desease of our culture.
I have grown orchids everywhere and if you pay attention to the plant you can find what it needs to theive in your yard. It seems you have found it!
Hello Fellow Enthusiasts,
Over the years, I have repotted my 50 or so phals, dens, cats, paphs, and oncidiums in my homemade mix consisting of 70% PINE bark, 25% recycled (wine bottle) cork chunks, and 5% charcoal. All plants are thriving and in excellent
condition. However, every one of my dozen or more orchid books refer to "bark"
or "fir bark" but NEVER pine bark, as an acceptable potting component. I realize there are many "old wives tales" regarding various aspects of orchid-tending, but this silence on the attributes of pine bark continues to elude me. Is there ANYONE out there able provide a VALID horticultural rationale as to why pine bark may be inappropriate and/or unacceptable as a potting amendment?
Cordially,
Rod T. Rogers
L.I., NY, Zone 7
This is my question. Can I go gather say blue spruce bark from my yard and prepare it in some way to use? Can you elaborate on what you have used.Leslie.
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