BARK: Sequoia Type

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

Article Blog   Article Index
It's a mixture of several barks, fir, pine and spruce. OR85-255
Share on Social Media:  
Log in to Add a Comment

More The Orchid Doctor Articles under the Heading Bark

Bark Comments
BARK: Additives Recommended To each cubic yard add 4 lbs. Urea (U.F.38), 2 lbs. triple superphosphate, 10 lbs, dolomite and 1 lb. iron sulphate. AU87Winter-17 About 10% coarse peatmoss mixed with it seems to start plants off faster than without. A81-1311 0
BARK: Advantages and Questions It's a variable product and does not produce as good growth as osmunda did, but it's accepted because it is easy to use although it can cause more trouble than most other media; what is lost by using it? OR81-391 0
BARK: Best for Cymbidiums? At end of third year of trials, plants in bark were significantly larger than in pumice or calcined clay. OA84-78 0
BARK, COARSE: Watering Frequency for Potted Plants More frequent watering is required to prevent shrivelling; better to water twice the same morning. A70-148 0
BARK, COMPOSTED: For Cymbidium Mix I.C.I, composted forest bark (50% with medium fir bark) is made from bark skinned from logs at pulp mills and composted. Orchid advocate, vol.5, no.5, 1979, p.166. 0
BARK: Drainage in the Pot Use styrene "poles" 2/3 the depth of the middle of the pot held up by several supporting stones at the bottom so the centre of the mix has a dry drainage; an alternative method is to place a small pot, inverted, in the centre of the larger pot before fitting the roots into it. RMH 0
BARK, FINE: Finer Than Seedling Bark So fine it is sometimes called "coffee grounds" because of its appearance; should not be confused with fine seedling bark which is more commonly used. A71-310 0
BARK: How to Prolong Its Life Use 1.5 ttpg. Captan 50%WP (Orthocide) as drench once or twice yearly. A75-803; A76-795 0
BARK: Pine Garden mulch type; if pieces are not less than 1/4" in size, it is suitable as a potting medium but will not last as long as fir bark and should be washed and cleaned first of fines and dirt, A80-850 0
BARK: Pine or Fir Fir bark as used in the U.S. does not require "composting" to condition it before using; pine bark as used in Australia may benefit the plants by first being "composted", especially local barks; they are worth experimenting with; pine bark tends to decompose quickly OR85-69 0
BARK: Potting Material A history of its use from its beginnings, with names of its originators, their trials with different types and the results; refer to A87-1038 0
BARK: Potting Mix A typical mixture would have about 15 parts medium bark, 1-1/2 parts coarse Perlite, 174 part charcoal chips (quarter-inch size). OR87-173For cymbidiums in a high humidity area near the ocean in California the use of very large decorative bark pieces has been successful. OA82-8 0
BARK: Recycled If roots die back on approaching the media in the pot, empty the mix and sift out the fines, soak the remaining bark for four days and re-use. AU87Spring-10 0
BARK, RE-USE: In Potting Mix Uncertainty rules; use trial method; put some plants in previously used bark and some in fresh and compare results. A61-582 0
BARKS: From Hardwood Trees No trial has been successful with them; they decompose rapidly; develop heat and injure roots; high nitrogen favors decomposition; if available, chestnut bark is resistant. A74-896 0
BARK, SOUTHERN PINE: Suitability for Potting Has been used but results were not very satisfactory as a rooting medium; use it only weathered and composted. A75-437 0
BARKS, SUITABLE: Other Than Douglas Fir Silver birch, the rough part from the base of the tree; it is heavily crevassed with many a lay er of dead cells to decompose; also chestnut, pear and apple. N79-163 0
BARKS, SUITABLE: Other Than Fir or Cork In Australia weathered hardwood is recommended; short lengths of wood with bark adhering of ti-tree, malaleuca, or banksia are as good or better. AU79-199 0
BARKS, SUITABLE: Other Than Fir or Redwood Proven examples are few; more experimentation is needed; live oak should be good but hardwood barks decay rapidly; why not try others? A79-785 0
BARKS: Toxins They exist in fresh (Australian pine) bark but are absent in aged; ageing is achieved by storing it moist for six to eight weeks; tannin can be leached by soaking. AU76-75; AU79-51 0
BARK: To Moisten or Not Before Using Most authorities advise soaking before using; west coast growers sometimes pot in dry bark and water after one or two days to let broken roots heal; it seems to make no difference. OD67-117 0

New Topics

  1. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
  2. Nicholas Filannino asked question Phalaenopsis William Kistler? in category General Discussion
  3. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
  4. Juliann Eckhard started topic Cattleya little susie in category Cattleya Alliance
  5. Shannon Gardea asked question NELLY ISLER in category General Discussion
Ask a Question

Start a Topic

New Comments

  1. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Phal. amabilis var. formosanum by Vickie Seibert
  2. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Rlc. Green Dragoon 'Mendenhall' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  3. Danielle Carbonneau commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  4. Barry J Silver commented on orchid Lyon. SunCoast Pink Passion
  5. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Phalaenopsis William Kistler?" by Nicholas Filannino
  6. Carol Holdren commented on orchid Colm. Eric Gabriel Heines
  7. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Cattleya little susie" by Juliann Eckhard
  8. Carol Holdren commented on member plant Bc. Morning Glory by Chris Siolo
  9. R .Benson commented on member plant Kir. New Hybrid (Fred Clarke) SVO9831 by R .Benson
  10. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Blooming Stenglottis Venus “jamboree “" by John Urey
  11. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Cobalt' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  12. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Sns. gemmata by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  13. Stefan Neher commented on topic "Orchid roots .com site?" by Mary Lane
  14. Kevin Barry commented on member plant Bul. Tammie Sue Pernas by Tony Pernas
  15. Linda Hartman commented on member plant Ctt. Final Blue by Linda Hartman
  16. Kevin Bergeson commented on member plant Paph. rothschildianum by Kevin Bergeson
  17. Carol Holdren commented on topic "recently purchased orchid shows unstoppable roots " by David George
  18. Michael Makio commented on orchid V. Beatrice Makio
  19. Carol Holdren commented on topic "shorter stem with less vigorous blooms" by katherine mott
  20. Carol Holdren commented on topic "need info on yellow bird" by Glenda Ratliff