Orchid substrate

Hi,

There was an interesting film of a hobby Orchid grower on last weeks Gardeners World and clearly he knows how to grow them very well.

He showed what he used for the substate, being large peices of Bark and Pumice about the size of a thumb, exceptionally large compared to typical orchid composts.

Thought I might follow his method, but cannot find anywhere online selling such large pieces of Bark or Pumice.

Does anyone know of any such suppliers ?

 

I bought orchid compost a few years ago and it was large pieces of bark , but the stuff they sell now is not much coarser than ordinary potting compost.

You could try making your own with bark, the stuff used for mulching, and pieces of charcoal and some pea shingle, perhaps.

 

I have bought the bark and pumice online in large bags from people selling for reptile owners. You cannot get the larger grade of perlite they used to sell which was great, and the pumice is expensive so I try to reuse it from old pots!

 

Seems that guy is Mark Stone, Elite Orchids, so expect he will get Pumice and Bark in large quantities for his 100,000 stock of plants.

If you have not seen him before he has a few Ytubes including the recent Gardeners World film.
Appears he has the usual social media accounts.


Think the point he makes is that more air and drainage is the way to go rather than the typical pre packed orchid composts .

 

I must admit I've lost the plot recently with Phals, they have been varying between too wet and too dry with rotted roots in lots of cases.

I guess you could buy orchid compost a sieve out all the fine stuff.

 

@ricky101 I think he is Mark Turner for Elite Orchids.
We now use orchid compost from nurseries but when we aren't nearby then we have to use what we can get from GCs. Not always good.

 

I've found whenever bought from GCs it's been too claggy. That's why I buy bark and make my own. It seems expensive but you can buy 50-100l bags of bark which go a long way! I also add some charcoal - I bash up bits of lump wood which is bought for BBQ - weather too wet for many of those!

 

Any particular brand of Bark, eg Westlands, Wickes ?

The only supplier of course orchid bark seem to be this one that has Lava rock added which would seem to be similar to Pumice in its function, though quiet expensive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Terra-Core...d=1724229093&s=outdoors&search-type=ss&sr=1-8

 

If it's for phalaenopsis - I always grow in bark. I bought bark in clear bags (less water absorbent) and Orchiata (better water absorbency) from Peter White when he was at local orchid show.
There is an online shop too:
Orchid Repotting Bark, potting compost and orchid supplies- Orchid Accessories
I didn't appreciate bark bought somewhere else online as reptiles supplies, because of rotting quickly.

 

Local to me is Burnham Orchids, they have an online shop Compost I have no idea about delivery charges though.