Kinds of Bark - Orchid Board

Gold3nku5h · #1 08-22-2008, 12:26 AM

This may be a long wait, but i pollinated 3 flowers on my Miltassia Shelob 'Red Spider'. After it produced seeds if it did, i was going to repot. I have been searching locally for Fir Bark but have never found any in about 3 months of looking. I dont think i would like to order any over the internet unless i found some cheap, with cheap shipping. Would it be ok to use Cypress Mulch, Pine Mulch, or any other kinds of mulch? I would seperate the bark from hard wood by putting in a giant bucket of water and collecting what floated. I also have a choice of using some new product at a local hydroponics store that is chipped coconut husks. It is about 1/4 inch chunks. I wouldn't like to but i might try hydroton (anyone work with this?) I would really like to keep it in a natural media because i think it looks better. Also if i were to mount other orchids, are there types of wood i should steer clear of?

Bird Song Farm · #2 08-22-2008, 08:19 AM

Hi,
If I understand your post correctly, you are looking for a bark media for your Miltassia Shelob 'Red Spider'.
Home Depot carries orchid bark mix and it is reasonably priced. Also, Wal-Mart carries Schultz brand orchid bark mix. This is also a good product.
Both need to be soaked at least 24 hours before using.

Hope this is of some help.

Al

quiltergal · #3 08-22-2008, 12:55 PM

Since Miltassias like to stay evenly moist I would go with the coconut husk chunks. Most of my plants are in that and doing very well. It drains quickly but still retains a little more moisture than bark.

Bird Song Farm · #4 08-22-2008, 01:29 PM

Terri, you don't think the 1/4 inch chunks of coconut husks would be to small? Would they drain fast enough? I don't know, that's why I'm asking. I just started using some large pieces of CC husks in my mix so I no nothing about the small pieces.

Al

quiltergal · #5 08-22-2008, 03:19 PM

Al, I have Mtssa. Darth Vader in a fine coco mix and I can't keep it wet enough. I'm having to water at least every other day in the summer. That might be partly due to the slotted plastic pot I'm using. The roots gets plenty of ventilation, and it's in a pretty warm spot. Probably warmer than it would like but it's stuck there until I can figure out how to rearrange things. The nice thing about coco is it takes a really long time to break down. So for those plants that don't like to be disturbed it's great.

Bird Song Farm · #6 08-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Thanks Terri, guess I'll make the change when mine come in for the winter.

Gold3nku5h: Seems like we both learned something.
That's the great thing about this board. One question doesn't only help the person who asked but others as well.

Al

Gold3nku5h · #7 08-22-2008, 07:28 PM

yeah, thats true bird song. I want to make my own mixture for my orchids. Also, is cypress or pine bark ok to use?

kiki-do · #8 08-22-2008, 07:38 PM

Hey Gold! I found fir bark in Home Depot also. Usually in the spring they have it in abundance, but I was there not long ago and they had a bunch. Have you looked at a local HD in your area?
I have a Mtssa that is in a homemade mix of coconut husk chips, perlite, charcoal, and bark, and in a clear pot that I have in a vase of water. The pot doesn't touch the water at all....the rim of the pot is balanced on the top of the vase. The vase is a Walmart cheapy. It gets plenty of air and moisture and the plant is thriving!

Bird Song Farm · #9 08-23-2008, 02:34 AM

KiKi-do.......could you post a picture of your pot/vase set up.........kinda lost me (that's not difficult to do)

Gold............The bark you use needs to absorb and hold water........I don't know about cypress and I think pine would rot to quickly. Lets see what others have to say.

Al