Orchid Bark

Tom

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Some people in some parts of the country seem to be having trouble finding orchid bark. I thought I could post a couple of pics here that might help them order it. I've been using both of these for years and had no issues. Its good stuff and cheap in bulk.

IMG_0518.JPG IMG_0521.JPG
 

W Shaw

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It was! Thanks! None of the Lowes in my area has heard of it, but I have 2 options now. I found a place online where I can get reptibark for $15 / 24 qt bag, and also, another member is passing through my area on the way back from a vacation where she's planning on picking up a bunch of bulk bark for herself because it's inexpensive in the area she's traveling to, so we may be able to manage a meet up.
 

Tom

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Home Depot usually always has orchid bark. It's in the indoor flower/plant area.

That is good to know. Out here, none of the hardware chains carry it. I think it would be much easier if people could get it at HD or Lowes, soI'm glad you mentioned this. I have seen it at OSH in 1.0 cu/ft bags, but its the same price at OSH for the 1 cu/ft as it is at the garden center for a 2.0 cu/ft bag. Both are still WAYYYYY cheaper than pet store prices for tiny quantities.
 

wellington

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I have not been able to find it in really big bags at HD. I can't remember the size but is it cheaper then pet stores.
Also, just to throw in, if anyone has a Pet Supply Plus store near them, they will match almost any price on an online pet store or Amazon. Example. They sell the coir brick three pack for around 12 bucks. Chewy.com had it on sale for 4.04. The store didn't have as many as I needed, but got to have it order for the price match price.
 

Jenni

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That is good to know. Out here, none of the hardware chains carry it. I think it would be much easier if people could get it at HD or Lowes, soI'm glad you mentioned this. I have seen it at OSH in 1.0 cu/ft bags, but its the same price at OSH for the 1 cu/ft as it is at the garden center for a 2.0 cu/ft bag. Both are still WAYYYYY cheaper than pet store prices for tiny quantities.

Right, went to Lowe's yesterday and they told me they had it but she brought up a bag of treated orchid potting soil....
 

Okinawan

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At my local Ace Hardware Store, they do stock the orchid bark so if one is near by I'd check them out, it's also available online through them.
 

Farcryjj

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I can't find those in Montreal... HD and Lowe's only carry cedar or pine mulch... I did find some Cocoa shell mulch, hemlock mulch and western barks in a local garden center. Do you think they can work with Russian tortoiseWestern-bark-eng-large-300x300.jpgmulch-cacoa-cao-decor-vegetable-garden-eng-large-370x500.jpg mulch-hemlock-eng-large-370x500.jpg?
 

Yvonne G

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It was! Thanks! None of the Lowes in my area has heard of it, but I have 2 options now. I found a place online where I can get reptibark for $15 / 24 qt bag, and also, another member is passing through my area on the way back from a vacation where she's planning on picking up a bunch of bulk bark for herself because it's inexpensive in the area she's traveling to, so we may be able to manage a meet up.
Maybe Home Depot?
 

Yvonne G

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JoesMum

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Reptilony

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I can't find those in Montreal... HD and Lowe's only carry cedar or pine mulch... I did find some Cocoa shell mulch, hemlock mulch and western barks in a local garden center. Do you think they can work with Russian tortoiseView attachment 269106View attachment 269107 View attachment 269109?

Hello fellow Québecois, I found this at my local garden center, you can also just use the coco coir bricks they sell at pet stores but it’s really messy that’s why the orchid bark is good but like you I have not been able to find any here. IMG_1404.jpgIMG_1405.jpg I did not get any feedback from this forum yet but I believe as long as it’s not a coniferous it should be good.
 

Yvonne G

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I found this on Google about willow:

Willow trees aren't usually a source of cat and dog poisoning, but medicines derived from their bark -- aspirin, most notably -- can be quite toxic. Cats, who lack the ability to process the salicylic acid found in willow tree bark and aspirin, are particularly prone to toxic exposure.

And since that bag of stuff is willow bark, I would be hesitant to use it as a tortoise substrate.
 

Tom

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I found this on Google about willow:

Willow trees aren't usually a source of cat and dog poisoning, but medicines derived from their bark -- aspirin, most notably -- can be quite toxic. Cats, who lack the ability to process the salicylic acid found in willow tree bark and aspirin, are particularly prone to toxic exposure.

And since that bag of stuff is willow bark, I would be hesitant to use it as a tortoise substrate.
This sounds like good advice to me.

I would add to the conversation that there are probably different species of "willow". Much like eucalyptus. Some varieties of eucalyptus are toxic and some are not.
 

Reptilony

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This sounds like good advice to me.

I would add to the conversation that there are probably different species of "willow". Much like eucalyptus. Some varieties of eucalyptus are toxic and some are not.

Oh well...I really tought this would be good, wrong again, I had bought the western bark too before. What I don’t get is I heard coniferous are bad but fir is one so is fir an exception? I already bought a lot of substrate I hope the next one be good lol.
 
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