Orchid bark: preparation examples and use cases
Content:
A large number of orchid substrates began to appear on the flower market. It has already been crushed to the desired state, and trace elements necessary for normal development have been added to it. The assortment includes not only sphagnum and orchid bark (the most affordable of the cheapest soils), you can also find coconut chips, soils made on the basis of exotic plants.
Despite all the delights presented in flower shops, the best option would be pine bark for orchids. It is cheap in cost, the plants feel good in it, if possible, you can prepare it yourself. One has only to study in detail the nuances of the preparation.
Harvesting bark for orchids
It is necessary to update the substrate:
- after buying a plant in a store;
- with a planned transplant - it is necessary to transplant once every 2 years;
- upon detection of root diseases or pests;
- after inspecting the plant, seeing that the water began to stagnate, and the substrate has already completely decomposed.
Types of bark for orchids
There are enough types of soil for plants; many growers prefer to use a proven substrate. One has only to figure out which bark is best suited for orchids in certain conditions.
Most often, flower growers in Russian latitudes use pine bark as a substrate, some use spruce. There are also specialists who use the bark of cedar, cypress or thuja. Very rare gardeners harvest the bark of deciduous trees (acacia, poplar, oak or elderberry) as a basis for soil. Some orchid growers use a mixture of the bark of several tree species, since each of them contains a different amount of useful and necessary elements for an orchid.
Pine bark
You can buy ready-made pine bark for orchids in the store, but if there is the possibility of self-harvesting, it can be easily collected in the nearest forest, the main thing is to be guided by the selection rules.
Pine bark for orchids
The collection can be carried out at any time of the year. A fallen tree should be chosen as the basis for the substrate.
It is worth paying attention to pieces of bark if there are signs of the presence of a bark beetle on them - they should not be collected, since soon the substrate on such a basis will become unusable.
Before collecting various pieces for the soil, you should look at the substrate of your plants. This will allow you to understand what kind of bark is needed for an orchid. You do not need to collect large pieces (they will have to be crushed), you need small fragments from 1 to 2 cm.
Spruce bark
For planting orchids, spruce bark is used less often than pine bark. This is due to the fact that it contains more resinous substances, moreover, it is more difficult to collect. To prepare the bark from the spruce, it must be carefully cut from the wood, and this is not so easy.
For harvesting, you need to find a recently felled tree, cut off small fragments of bark from it with gentle movements. If wood comes across, it must be removed, since it is not needed for growing Phalaenopsis.
Home cooking options
Regardless of what kind of bark can be used for orchids, it must be prepared, prepared, and then used as a substrate.
Bark preparation
Tools
Before taking up the procurement work, you should prepare the tools for harvesting the bark, then for processing it. To go to the forest you will need:
- Secateurs;
- Small capacity (bucket, bag, package);
- Knife (you can take 2 knives instead of secateurs: with long and short handles);
- A spatula with a rounded edge (preferably wooden).
For processing, you will need several containers (high and low). It all depends on which method is chosen for disinfecting the bark. If boiling, you need to prepare a galvanized bucket, if drying, you can use a baking sheet covered with foil.
Material preparation
Now you need to understand the question: how to prepare the bark of pine and spruce for orchids? All the fragments of the bark brought in must be rechecked, shaken off from insects, then start grinding to the required size (if the pieces were harvested large).
Orchid bark, preparation
Each individual piece is cleaned of debris by hand, the rest of the wood is removed from the inside, as well as all layers that easily peel off, then the areas where the bark has begun to rot are cut off. The prepared pieces are sorted by size.
Boiling and drying
Before using the bark as a substrate for planting orchids, it is necessary to prepare it. First you need to boil it over medium heat in water for an hour. Before cooking, the pieces are laid out on the bottom of a bucket (saucepan), then filled with water so that they are completely immersed in the liquid. After that, the bark is pressed down with a stone. This is done so that the pieces do not float during the cooking process. At the end of the cooking time, the bucket must be removed from the heat and allowed time for the liquid in which the bark is located to cool down. After that, the pieces are filtered, time is given for them to drain well.
After that, you need to dry the future substrate. The bark is laid out on a flat surface (preferably a balcony or veranda) and left for several weeks (3 to 5) to dry completely under natural conditions. Periodically, the pieces must be checked, turned over and dried ones taken from the total.
There is another good option to disinfect the substrate, in which bark it is planned to plant the orchid. To get rid of insects in the future soil, it is necessary to place pieces of bark in a shallow container, and put it in a warm oven. At temperatures up to 100 degrees, hold the pieces in it for 5-7 minutes. In this case, the oven door must be open. This procedure should be repeated 3-5 times. After that, each piece of bark is checked, peeled off by hand, and sorted.
Planting an orchid
The predominant way of growing these wonderful flowers is potting them. This is the most convenient method, as the roots of the plant are inside the pot, not outside, so the flower does not suffer from frequent drying out of the substrate. It is best to breed orchids in plastic containers (transparent and translucent versions are made for them), it is desirable that they have holes at the bottom (they are needed so that the plant is ventilated, and so that excess moisture drains, otherwise the roots will begin to rot, and the plant will die). Growing orchids in other containers is not encouraged, as it is inconvenient for them in massive, but narrow pots.
Planting an orchid
The second type of orchid cultivation is tree planting.These flowers in exotic countries lead an epiphytic lifestyle, that is, they can live on trees, dropping roots down. These flowers can also be grown at home. How to do it? You need to take a board or block from any tree (it is very important that the breed is not resinous). The plant is temporarily tied to the bar so that it locks onto it. Over time, the orchid will wrap itself around the wood and become attached to it. In order for everything to happen without difficulties, it is necessary to provide decent care for the plant, otherwise it will not take root and die. In order for the flower to live in this situation at home, you need to constantly use a spray bottle that will regularly spray the bar (if it is not moistened with water, the orchid will not survive), and also maintain a constant temperature of twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius.
Which bark is better to plant
Despite the fact that there are enough bases for the substrate, many experts believe that it is better to prepare it from pine bark. It is better in quality compared to other options, it has less resinous substances than spruce, and it also decomposes most slowly.
You can use soil based on various breeds for growing orchids. The main thing is to study the methodology for preparing each of them. In order not to create unnecessary trouble for yourself, you should take care and check with the sellers: what kind of bark is needed to transplant the orchid that you purchased. This will facilitate the process of harvesting the substrate and caring for the plant.
