Orchiata FAQs
We have collated some of the most frequently asked question about Orchiata. Please select a question from the drop down below.
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Select from the list below:
Question
Answer
Is Orchiata composted?
What is FCB bark?
Are you cutting down forests to produce Orchiata?
How does Orchiata hold moisture?
What is the best pH and EC level?
How do you store Orchiata?
My leaves are going yellow
The tips of my Cymbidium leaves are turning white
There are insects in the Orchiata
Does the Orchiata contain weed seeds?
There is white powder on my Orchiata
What is dolomite?
What are the fungi that we see sometimes when we open a bag?
Some Orchiata smells unusual, is the material toxic?
Can Orchiata resist against pathogens such as Pythium and Fusarium?
Why is Orchiata better than other types of bark? Local bark is much cheaper and holds more water.
Why does the bag weight of Orchiata change?
No; Orchiata is processed through a uniquely managed maturing method, not composted. Maturing removes the outer waxy layer from the material but keeps the inner core hard.
Composting causes the whole particle to break down leading to a less structurally sound particle. You can think of our process like wine making. We take the grape and make wine, not vinegar.
Some manufacturers have confused the bark industry by promoting FCB bark. This is termed Fully Composted Bark, however, this material can be variable and may come from dump sites where the composting is uncontrolled.
No; our raw bark is a by-product of the timber industry in New Zealand. All of the bark that we use is Pinus radiata. Pinus radiata covers 1.8 million hectares of forest in New Zealand. The forests are completely man-made and renewable as they are used for the New Zealand timber industry. We do not use any endemic or non-renewable resources.
Through the production process, the waxy, water repellent layer of Pinus radiata is removed, allowing the Orchiata particles to hold onto water. When Orchiata dries it will also rewet well.
The best pH and EC will depend on the type of orchid you are growing as well as the fertiliser regime you use. We provide Orchiata at a start pH of 5.5 - 6.5 through the addition of dolomite. From research, most orchids grow well within this range. The initial EC of Orchiata is < 0.3 mS/cm, however, with fertiliser addition this will slowly increase.
Over time the pH will eventually drop and the EC will increase. It is important to check the pH and EC to make sure a balance is maintained and plant management in the pot is correct.
While a covered building specially designed for storage is always preferred, we realise that not all growers have these types of facilities. If the rules below are followed, the product should remain pest free and in a high quality state until used.
There are eight main features that will preserve the quality of Orchiata while in storage:
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The material should be stored with ample air movement both underneath and around the bags. This will prevent humidity or temperature build up which may encourage fungal and insect growth.
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Store under cover, either in a shed or storage facility or covered with a tarpaulin (still try to allow air to circulate around the bags). This will protect the material and packaging from the elements.
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Store out of direct sunlight so that the packaging is not affected and temperature and humidity are .
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Prevent the material from becoming too wet or dry. Conditions that allow Orchiata to become wet via rain or water pooling will encourage unwanted fungal growth. This may be detrimental to plant growth if kept unchecked. Orchiata that is too dry may create rewetting problems when used.
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Store in cool conditions to keep humidity and temperature low. This will prevent fungal growth and deter insect infestation.
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Store on a concreted area or metal shelves away from contamination such as weeds, flowing water, or animals.
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Use the product as soon as possible. Fresh is best.
Do not keep in containers that can attract heat and build up to high temperatures.
There may be many reasons that cause orchids leaves to go yellow. Some of the main causes may be a disease, a nutrient deficiency including iron or magnesium or high temperatures.
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Check the pH and EC and nutrient status
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If the substrate is too wet, allow it to dry out to reduce causes of disease
Check the temperature and light levels, if these are too high then the leaves may be burnt
This generally indicates a magnesium deficiency. Check the pH and EC of the substrate; low pH and high EC are indicators of this deficiency. Apply any fertiliser containing magnesium to help correct the problem. We apply dolomite to Orchiata to initially combat these types of deficiency and increase the pH, although the dolomite will break down over time (see What is dolomite?).
On leaving the processing site Orchiata does not contain populations of insects. The material is highly processed and insects generally do not live in Orchiata unless it has been stored for a period of time without movement. We carry out regular tests to ensure that there are no insects present in Orchiata material before dispatch.
If you find insects in the Orchiata, whether it is potted plants or bagged material there are a few questions you should ask :
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How was the product stored? Was it stored in an area that could harbour insects?
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Has the material been kept moist for too long without drying out? If the material is kept moist for too long then it is likely that fungus gnats will colonise the media. They feed on growing fungi in moist conditions, it is therefore important to make sure the Orchiata dries out sufficiently between watering.
Orchiata is completely weed free on leaving our production facility. Due to the origins of our raw resources, the amount of processing the material goes through and the high temperatures the bark gets to, no seeds could survive to final product stage.
We also have a weed free management system that reduces the possibility of seed contamination. It is important that you follow the correct storage procedure (see How do you store Orchiata?) to ensure no weed seeds enter the substrate after it leaves our production facility.
This is dolomite (calcium magnesium) which we apply to Orchiata in the final stages of production. This is beneficial for your plant (see What is dolomite?); if you see this do not wash it out.
Dolomite is a natural mineral that contains calcium and magnesium. Research shows dolomite addition to substrates is very beneficial. We add dolomite to Orchiata to:
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Stabilise the substrate by increasing the pH to within a range of 5.5 to 6.5
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Prevent salt accumulation
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Provide the minerals calcium and magnesium, essential for plant growth
The dolomite in Orchiata provides the plant with an initial start up supply of these two minerals. Growers must remember though that after a good length of time (around 9 months), dolomite will have broken down and growers must reapply dolomite or other liming compounds to maintain optimum plant growth.
In certain conditions, fungi may grow on Orchiata. If the product is left in warm moist conditions, it can encourage fungi growth.
Often you will see a fine whitish grey layer of fungi on Orchiata when you open the bag. These are most likely Penicillium or Paecilomyces. These are not detrimental to your plants; they are often beneficial as they help to prevent the colonisation of pathogenic fungi. In most cases, when the material is moved or shifted around the fungi is disturbed and will disappear.
Washing Orchiata to remove fungi is unnecessary and, as a micro-organism, the fungi will likely still be present after washing.
Occasionally due to some certain types of fungi growing or storage conditions, Orchiata may smell strange. Often Orchiata has a strong pine smell which is the natural smell of the bark and can be mistaken for a bad smell; other times it may be a musty smell. Sometimes fungi grow in wetter conditions and this can cause a bad odour. If the material smells unusual try and store the material in an aerated place and let us know about its condition.
Yes; if the product is not fumigated then the material contains a range of beneficial micro-orgainsms that help prevent the growth of pathogens. As long as the material is irrigated correctly there should be very little incidence of pathogenic problems.
Orchiata, in general, is better than other types of bark products for many reasons. First, New Zealand Pinus radiata is a very thick, much harder and structurally sound material which allows us to form a rounder nugget. Bark from other countries may consist of fir or other pine that is not as hard and may delaminate when it is processed. As other barks are not as structurally hard they do not last very long in the pot and can cause water, nutrient and pathogen problems.
Pinus radiata naturally has a waxy layer that prevents the material taking up water. This is why fresh Pinus radiata bark can have some rewetting issues. We process the Pinus radiata bark so that it holds onto water and nutrients for the plants while maintaining a hard core so it lasts a longer period of time in the pot.
Although local bark may be cheaper, you are likely to have more management issues with this material and lower quality plants.
At different times of the year due to weather conditions the moisture content of Orchiata can change. Therefore the weight will change. Orchiata is packed by the litre so you will always receive the same amount of Orchiata.