Kiwi Orchid Bark Products and Grades
Kiwi Orchid Bark is a premium, sustainable orchid growing media made in Aotearoa New Zealand and used worldwide to grow superior orchids. As New Zealand’s premium orchid growing media it is special because it is made from raw (un-aged) bark from Pinus Radiata tree.
Kiwi Orchid Bark is prefect for growing orchids due to its hardness, which makes the bark long lasting (3+ years), meaning less repotting (and damage to the root system). The natural pH level of the bark and our ability to process fresh bark within days of the trees being felled, allows the bark to maintain its structure for longer with little to no pH fluctuation, leading to a healthier root system, healthier plant and fantastic flowers.
Kiwi Orchid Bark is primarily used to grow orchids, and can also be used for other purposes such as an ornamental bark, and in reptile/animal enclosures, due to its high quality and natural state.
No#1 Kiwi Orchid Bark
This bark is approx. 3-6 mm in size. It is perfect for seedlings and young orchids when in flasks, and can be mixed with No#2 bark as the plant grows and gets repotted. It can also be mixed with our 3FB bark (below) to increase water retention.
No#2 Kiwi Orchid Bark
This bark is approx. 3-9 mm in size and is used for Disa, Masdevallias and other orchid genera. Orchid growers often use it for deflasking and seedlings, and may use it as a Sphagnum Moss replacement. It can be mixed with our 3FB bark (below) to increase water retention.
No#3 Kiwi Orchid Bark
At approx. 8-20 mm in size, No#3 Kiwi Orchid Bark is the most popular of our range and is used by orchid growers worldwide. It is used widely for small to medium sized Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, Vandas, Phalaenopsis etc.
No#4 Kiwi Orchid Bark
This popular bark is approx. 20-25 mm in size, used worldwide and is often used to grow large Cymbidium plants.
No#5 Kiwi Orchid Bark
At approx. 25-50 mm, No#5 Kiwi Orchid Bark is the largest grade we produce. It is used for genera where the larger plants should be allowed to dry out between each application of water (e.g. Cattleya). It can also be placed in the bottom of a pot for increased drainage where grades 1, 2, 3 or 4 are used.
3 Fine Bark (3FB)
3FB stands for Fresh Fine Fibrous Bark. This bark, as the name suggests, consists of small, stingy particles of bark and is a great Sphagnum Moss replacement. It has excellent water retention and can be used to grow orchids on its own, or mixed with other media (such as No# 1 and 2 Kiwi Orchid Bark, or moss). Its small size makes it ideal to use for orchid seedlings straight from the flask. It can be used for Pleonies, Disa and Masdevallia, as well as other species and seedlings.