Should You Use Orchid Bark When Potting Indoor Orchids?

Orchids have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to grow as houseplants. Striking the right balance of watering, fertilizing, potting and humidity can be daunting. Sadly, sometimes this means quite a bit of trial and error, with the error being major disappointment if your orchid doesn’t survive.

Overwatering is, overwhelmingly, the greatest killer of orchids kept as houseplants.  As a result, how, and how much to water tends to be a topic of great discussion and debate. Overwatering leads to root rot in orchids, and eventually, whole plant death.

Did you know that the amount and frequency of watering are not the only factors in the equation? Another very important factor is the potting medium used, and its ability to drain properly to avoid the roots staying wet. The way an orchid is contained makes all the difference in the amount of excess water it has to contend with.

An orchid’s container is an important factor in proper potting habits, but perhaps most important is the potting medium. Let’s talk about potting mediums, also known as orchid bark, and discuss whether using a bark based potting mix has a positive effect on plant health, and why.

The Short Answer

Yes, orchid bark or a mix of bark, coco coir, perlite, charcoal, and sponge rock are best mediums for potting orchids. This is due to their ability to allow for maximum airflow and drainage around the roots. For nearly all species of orchids, a bark mix is the ideal potting medium.

The Long Answer

To make sense of the best type of potting mix, it is important to talk about the way orchids live in their native habitats. When we are looking to determine the best practices for taking care of any plant, the best place to start is in the place where that plant thrives in the wild.

Once we know what a plant needs in order to grow wild, we can make educated determinations about how best to care for them in captivity. The best way to keep a plant happy is to make it feel at home, in the home.

Orchids in Nature

Orchids vary slightly by genera in terms of their growth habits, however, most of them are epiphytic. Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees. They wrap their roots around tree trunks and limbs. This allows them to draw moisture and nutrients from the air and rainwater. These tropical flowers are predominantly native to their tropical zones, where there is plentiful rainfall.

This epiphytic habit naturally creates a situation where they get filtered sunlight, and lots of water. The catch is, their roots are entirely exposed, so there is no risk of them sitting in water. When their roots sit in water, they quickly reach saturation. They then begin to break down, making them vulnerable to bacteria and fungus.

In nature, the fact that they are suspended in the air, and their roots are exposed, means that they get plenty of air circulation. It can rain everyday in their native habitats and their roots will not rot because they do not sit in water. This changes when there is water being held in the root system.

Some orchids are lithophytes, which means they grow in crevices of rocks. These orchids also get plenty of drainage, as rocks do not hold water the way that soil does.

The exception to this rule in terms of tropical species, is the Spathoglottis Orchid, which is a terrestrial plant. This species grows in the ground. While they still need soil that drains well, their roots are less vulnerable to moisture than other species.

Armed with our knowledge of how they thrive in nature, we can make some assumptions about their needs when kept otherwise, as houseplants, or indoor/outdoor plants.

Orchids as Houseplants

Root rot kills indoor orchids like nothing else can. Once their root system is compromised, it is no longer able to absorb the nutrients that it needs to survive. The plant will quickly begin to deteriorate.

The first sign of root rot is mushy, brown roots. If you can’t see the roots, this sign will be easy to miss, of course. Next, the leaves will begin to yellow, and gradually fall off. Once rot advances to affect the entire plant, it is nearly impossible to bring it back to health.

Potting Medium Composition

The best solution to root rot is prevention. There are 3 factors to consider in prevention: watering, air circulation, and drainage. Your potting medium is instrumental in all three of these important factors.

If your potting medium is too dense, or holds a lot of moisture, it will contribute greatly to root rot. Since they need air circulation, they need to be kept in a pot that has plenty of openings. This makes regular potting soil an impossibility. It’s also just not a good idea because of the amount of moisture it can hold.

The need for air circulation, and drainage, brings us to the composition of our orchid potting medium. Orchid bark mixes are typically composed of a combination of 50-60% bark, with the remaining 40-50% composed of a combination of charcoal, pumice, coco coir, sponge rock and perlite.

Avoid conventional potting mixes and stay clear of fads like using coffee grounds as fertilizer or as a soil amendment.

Orchid Bark Mixes

In commercial orchid bark, sphagnum moss it not generally used. However, if you are mixing your own medium, sphagnum moss is recommended for some orchids that prefer a bit more water or those about to bloom, as they will need additional moisture to support the flowers.

The large particles in the orchid mix makes drainage a snap. While the bark will absorb and therefore hold a bit of water, it will not pool in the container. The roots will not sit in that moisture that causes rotting and other diseases.

Large particle potting medium also lends itself to excellent air circulation. The larger spaces between particles means more space for air to circulate. This helps to evaporate moisture, keeping the roots happy and healthy.

Orchid bark mix, whether purchased pre-prepared, or mixed at home, will make a significant difference in the health of your plant. Likewise, the use of more loamy soil can result in a very quick death. So, the answer to the question of whether to use bark mix when potting orchids is a resounding yes!

Spathoglottis Orhids

The exception I mentioned earlier is the Spathoglottis orchid. This orchid species is terrestrial, meaning it grows in the ground. You can find them on the floor of rainforests and in the mountains. It naturally grows from soil that is loamy and rich in organic matter.

When potting a Spathoglottis orchid, a mixture of 75% standard potting mix, and 25% bark or bark mix, will give an ideal balance for this specific plant.