Orchid bark!

[ChronoKiento]

I just got back from Home Depot where I found a sickly looking Nep, I'm pretty sure it is a ventricosa but I'm not where near an expert so it's just a guess, it's bigger than the sanguinea I have and I have it on a windowsill right now because I need to repot it. So I got some orchid bark which I've heard is a very good ingredient for nep medium, I just wanted to know if I got the right kind before I used it. It's called "Shultz Potting Bark & Decorative Soil Cover" And then it goes on about how it's good for orchids and blah blah blah so I'm assuming I got the right stuff. Did I?

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

As long as there is no "inpregnated fertilizer" like Miracle Gro does to thier peat moss it should be fine, esp. if its meant for orchids.

 

[ChronoKiento]

Oh, cool, thanks!

 

[SydneyNeps]

I have no knowledge of that product at all, but a general warning on bark is to make sure it's well weathered/aged. Fresh bark can be toxic to some plants, so it is often an idea to soak it in water for a few days to leach out tannins etc. I soak most bark for a week or more, then leave it in the sun to age before using it. Probably overcautious I know.

 

[ChronoKiento]

I just used some of it, I potted the nep in a mix of 1 part peat moss, 1 part long fibered sphagnum, 2 parts perlite, 1 part sand, and 2 parts orchid bark. Then I topped it off with some long fibered sphagnum and watered it really well. I also washed the orchid bark and long fibered sphagnum just to be sure.

 

[The Griffin]

Quote[/b] (SydneyNeps @ July 28 2005,1:14)]I have no knowledge of that product at all, but a general warning on bark is to make sure it's well weathered/aged. Fresh bark can be toxic to some plants, so it is often an idea to soak it in water for a few days to leach out tannins etc. I soak most bark for a week or more, then leave it in the sun to age before using it. Probably overcautious I know.

I soak my bark fairly long also. The tannins thing is kind of funny, as wouldn't that add to the acidity of the soil and be beneficial? I know a lot of people leach their bark(Phil Mann was the first who told me that). Funny thing is how it smells after soaking-almost like Pinesol disifectant cleaner(must be the oils in the bark).
I have some bark on the deck in the sun that soaked all Winter and then the bucket got spilled, lol. Think it's okay to use?

Cheers,

Joe