Leeflea,

I've been using it for @3 years and really like the stuff. I use a form that's mixed with charcoal and sponge rock. I use both the medium and the fine varieties. Seems to last about 2x as long as fir bark, but then is a little harder to wet/keep wet. I believe it is much more dense than fir and is from renewable (???) pine trees in New Zealand.

I don't use standard fir bark any longer, all pr/Orchiata for me.

Bob

Pinus radiata is commonly known as Monterey Pine (native to the central coast of California). It's a fast growing conifer, and is widely planted. Yes, the bark that you speak of is largely coming from New Zealand or Southern Australia where it has been introduced and grows very quickly. This pine bark tends to stand up better than Douglas Fir bark. Red Cedar bark is also good (as redwood is now too expensive) and has similar tannins that allow it to last longer without rotting. I would avoid un-named pine bark as some contain a lot of pine resin or pitch, and can break down very quickly (like the pine bark you find simply for composting a flower bed).

Fir bark was wonderful but the supply ended eons ago. Radiata pine is grown on plantations and is an environmental no no. Nothing much will grow there but the bark is a by-product that is treated and sold to orchid growers as the basic potting mix. Fine for this climate but not so good for warmer climates because it rots too quickly.
You can buy untreated/uncomposted Radiata Pine bark but it is useless as a potting mixture unless you want to muck around around treating it to make it usable.