You might have to search a bit, but if you have a Lowes, you are near enough to civilization so you should eventually find it. Check larger garden centers. It took me a while to find the ingredients. Hydroponics stores sell the big bags of course perlite. Don't get discouraged, just keep up the methodical search.

If you've got a local specialty per store, or even just a big box like PetSmart, You might be able to find the pine bark sold as reptile bedding. The one I've got was called 'jungle mix' or something like that. I'm in a smaller town, and looked all over for PBF, but when I went into the pet store to pick up an air pump for compost tea, they were just sitting right on the shelf.

The fines weren't partially composted, but other than that they were exactly what I needed. I imagine I payed a bit of a premium, but they were still cheaper than ordering 'bonsai' fines off Amazon or Ebay.

.... and it probably won't be sold as "Pine Bark Fines". It comes labeled with a variety of names. Lately, I've found it as Premium Landscape Mulch and Soil Conditioner. It's what's IN the bag and not what's ON the bag that counts.

Al

I concur with Al. Pine Bark Fines is a descriptor, not an actual product.

I have 2 bags of very suitable material, one is sold as "Soil Conditioner", while the 2nd is sold as "Pine Bark Mulch" (NOT nuggets or mini-nugs) which states in the fine print of the bag "Can be used as soil conditioner". That basically means it is screened to exclude any bark pieces larger that 1/2"

Both were purchased from reputable garden centers, which looked at me like I had sprouted antennae when I asked for "Pine Bark Fines". Both stated they never heard of PBF, nor had any clue of where to get it.

Another label:

Al

Yeah, around here Pine Bark Mulch is the common label.

I just got Pine Bark Mulch at Lowes, I think it is just about the right size hard to tell peeking through the clear part of the bag.