Use bark for landscaping, find it outside at home depot, Lowes or whatever big-box/home center type store you have near you. I stay away from the colored stuff, black or red, it's dyed with something and I don't know what it is so I don't know if it is damaging to the plants in long term potting.

Marjie, I use orchid bark, the "small" size - it is conifer bark. In a pinch, I've also used reptile bark from the pet store, it is fir bark.

Although orchid bark is often sold in little bags, it IS available in giant bags, which is more cost-effective of course... if it's only available in small bags in your area, the reptile bark may be more economical. It's easy to find: BigBox pet stores carry it in large-ish bags.

GB

Thanks Dallis and Gravyboots :)

forgot about the pet stores having bark, only pet store here is Petsmart, haven't looked to see if they carry it or not.

So all in all-- except for the dyed bark, there isn't really much of a difference in how they effect the plants?
What about Cedar? would that work also?

Thanks for the responce, very much apprecieated.. :)
Marjie

Marjie

I bought Repti-bark at Petsmart (I am in Canada).
Check all the bags, some are marked with a 'bonus' amount (10 quarts for price of 8) - makes difference, since it is bit on expensive side. So far that's what I have used, it is really nice, quite uniform in size, even smells good!
Good luck.

Rina

The soils I use for the 5:1:1 mix vs the gritty mix are different, but they don't necessarily have to come from different sources. I'll explain.

In the picture below, the bark at the top is fir bark, prescreened to 1/8 - 1/4". When I use it for the gritty mix, I just screen the dust out of it.
{{gwi:2389}}
The bark at 3, 6, and 9 0'clock are all suitable for the 5:1:1 mix, but the bark at 3 is just a little larger than I like. Any of the barks at 3, 6, and 9 could be screened, and what does pass 1/2" but doesn't pass 1/8" used in the gritty mix. They could be used as they are in the 5:1:1 mix with no screening at all. You can see the dry 5:1:1 mix in the center of the photo, and here is what the gritty mix looks like after it's made.
{{gwi:1295}}

I hope that helps. I saw your post earlier but it's been a bust weekend. ;-)

Al

Al- thanks.
So bark is bark? just the size of it matters? Am I understanding this right? as long as it isn't treated. If that is the case then I'm good with Orchid Bark. It was the only one in the size I wanted/needed. If I can find some fir/pine, I will get that.

Thanks again
Marjie :)

ps. please correct me if I am not understanding.

Some bark, like hardwood bark, is inappropriate for container media. I think that to keep it less confusing, you should limit your search to pine bark fines (available packaged under a variety of descriptions) for the 5:1:1 mix, or fir bark or pine bark fines that have been screened for the gritty mix.

Al

Bumping this up because I am searching around for the best bark sizes for the gritty & 5-1-1.

Three posts up, Al says 1/2-1/8" sizes can be used for the gritty, and the bark as pictured could be used for the 5-1-1.

I ask a question about sizes in this thread: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0717120514851.html?9

(I'm linking because someone may stumble across this thread wondering the same thing I'm wondering.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread with more questions re. bark sizes.

"Orchid Bark" is Fir bark, as far as I know.

Harried Mom, this is the size information that you need:
Gritty Mix = 1/8 - 1/4 inch if using Fir Bark.
Gritty Mix = 1/8 - 3/8 inch if using *Pine* bark.

5-1-1 = bark dust up to 1/2 inch bark pieces, Pine or Fir bark, partially composted/aged.

Josh