Thanks, I go to universal a lot and never bothered to check with them about fine bark. Bushel Stop also has the pine bark fines, although I think it's more expensive there or maybe its a larger sized bag.... I'll have to check...

Hello,
I am new to the forum, and would like to thank you very much for sharing this information. I have purchased the pine bark fines from Universal, after much frustration with other products. I had purchased the "fines" from Bushel Stop, and lost 75% of the bag with material that was too large and the dust. Bushel stop should not call this product "fines", because it is not. The product from Universal is about 1/4 bark that is too large (does not pass through 1/2"screen) and 1/3 "dust" (passes through 1/4" screen). Still very time consuming to screen this stuff, but at least Universal's yields alot more at the end, and it is @ $2
cheaper per bag than Bushel Stop.

Bark does not hold up well in Florida heat and humidity. I would not use 'fines' as they will break down quickly. If you don't mind repotting yearly, its okay. You would be better off going with straight gritty mix which will hold up.

I'm in Sarasota and grow orchids and some dirt plants. I use orchid bark for the orchids and inexpensive Timberlane (Walmart) pine bark pieces with dirt plants. I only use about 1/3 to perlite and miracle gro potting mix. I've had no problem with this as most of the dirt plants outgrow their pots after about a year or two.

I find orchid bark holds up the best (good orchid bark, not the cheap stuff) but most of my orchids are getting moved to rock because I can't afford to repot hundreds of plants each year using bark.

Just my experience and opinion.

Jane

Hi
Here's my two cents lol I get mine from Walmart "Timberline" brand comes in a purple bag Costs under 3 bucks for 2cf. I found the quality to be more consistant than
the type I bought from Bushel stop. You'll have to check out the website for Walmart while all the stores carry Timberline not all carry the smaller size
My basic mix for dirt plants is 3/1 using top soil .
i'm now using this on my terrestrial and semi epi orchids
Use crushed lava for epis
Works for me and I save a fortune lol gary

Walmart purple bag - $2.68 - it's all I use:

{{gwi:440844}}

Carol in Jacksonville

Thanks Gary and Carol. That's it! Sorry, spelled it wrong. Stuff works great.

Jane