Orchiata

No! Orchiata does not need to be washed before use; it should be used straight from the bag. Unlike some other bark products, Orchiata:

If you DO wash Orchiata you will wash out the dolomite, which is beneficial for plant growth and purposely added during the production process. Washing Orchiata will also unnecessarily increase labor costs while likely destroying this key benefit of the product.

Orchiata should not be sterilized by any means. Often steam sterilization of bark substrate is used to kill any potentially pathogenic organisms. However, sterilization of Orchiata will destroy the beneficial micro-organisms.

When a substrate is sterilized it can quickly become colonized by new organisms from the environment. Since the substrate has no other organisms growing on it, new colonizers can grow very quickly and without obstruction. If a pathogenic organism is first to colonize a sterile substrate it could infect the plant.

By using Orchiata straight from the bag, there will be many beneficial micro-organisms already present in the substrate to prevent pathogenic organisms from growing. It is therefore strongly recommended that Orchiata is not sterilized.

You can use any fertilizer that is suited to orchids in combination with Orchiata.

No; during the processing of Orchiata the outside, waxy, water repellent layer has been removed allowing the substrate to take up water easily.

With Orchiata, the inner core of the bark is still hard so it will not absorb too much water. It is very difficult to over-water Orchiata.

It is important that you allow Orchiata to dry sufficiently before re-watering. These wet and dry cycles lead to stronger root growth. You can tell when Orchiata has dried sufficiently by either picking up the pot and feeling the weight (a dry pot will be very light compared to a wet pot), or by carefully digging down into the media (the media should be dry for the first inch in small pots and two inches in larger pots).

How often you water the orchid will depend on the orchid type, pot type and time of year.

No. Orchiata is not like other bark-based substrates. Pinus Radiata bark is not soft and spongy, therefore it does not absorb additional salts. It only holds enough nutrients on the outside layer of the chip for the plant. To check this you can test the EC of the Orchiata over time. There is no need for flushing; just good water and fertilizer management.

Orchiata lasts a very long time so can easily be used in the next stage of potting. You can use the existing substrate when you move up in pot size and simply fill the remaining space with extra Orchiata. However, do not remove the material and then re-use for potting younger plants (e.g. recycling the substrate). When potting young plants, fresh Orchiata should be used.

Orchiata is a very stable substrate and it is recommended that you do not mix other materials with it for growth. However, many growers begin their plants in Sphagnum moss and then transplant into Orchiata. If you start growth in Sphagnum moss you can plant the plugs into Orchiata saving time and labor but you must only use high quality Sphagnum such as New Zealand Sphagnum moss. This is because lower quality Sphagnum such as Chinese moss breaks down very quickly and can contain materials that cause pathogen and water problems. NZ Sphagnum moss is more robust, does not break down and can last as long as the Orchiata.

This will depend on the orchid type you are growing and its climate requirements. However most orchids prefer to be restricted in their pot. You must never use pots that are too big. It is also important that the pots have appropriate drain holes that allow all water to drain (no pooling) and air to reach the roots. See our sizing guide on the orchids page under the applications drop down menu for guidance on selecting an appropriate grade of Orchiata for your particular plant.

Mixing substrates is definitely not recommended. Inconsistent mixing can lead to inconsistencies in watering, which may cause wet and dry spots within the pot. Orchiata is a good substrate by itself; if other substrates are used there may be pathogens present which could infect the substrate and cause problems for your plants.