Do you need to add soil when growing orchids in pine bark? Treat pine bark this way

When using pine bark to grow orchids, there is no need to add soil. You can appropriately mix in clean perlite, cinder ash, etc. If you want to add a little soil, you can add some pine needle soil. Crush the pine bark, put it in a sealed plastic bag, and leave it in the sun to bake. Then scald it with boiling water, take it out and let it dry, mix in other substrates and it is ready to use.

I. Do you need to add soil

When using pine bark to grow orchids, there is no need to add soil. Because it likes to grow in a substrate that is breathable and well-draining, which is beneficial for growth, while adding loess actually makes things more difficult. You can appropriately mix in clean perlite, cinder ash, etc. This combination can jointly create a breathable growing environment. If you want to add a little soil, you can add some pine needle soil. Note that pine bark must undergo degreasing and fermentation before use, and after decomposing it must be disinfected and sterilized. If used directly without treatment, it can easily cause the plant to die.

II. How to treat it

1. Collect the pine bark, then crush it with a hammer, break it into small pieces of a certain size, and then soak it thoroughly in water.

2. Prepare a sealed plastic bag, put the bark in, then tie the opening tightly, and leave it in the sun to bake. After about 2-3 months it will be well decomposed, and you will see signs of the bark turning black.

3. Scald the well-decomposed bark with boiling water to sterilize and disinfect it, preventing later infection.

4. Dry the treated bark, then mix in other substrates and it is ready to use.