bark

[Dave E]

anyone have experience with bark sold as bedding at pet stores-like repti bark?

is it safe to use,any additives not safe for plants etc..

 

[Eric Group]

It should be fine- when I kept lizards one of the most important feature of ground covers for their cages was a complete lack of dangerous chemicals and stuff, so anything intended for reptiles should be fine for trees...

The question is though- does it make sense? Generally the reptile stuff is packaged in small quantity and WAY over priced for what you are getting! Go buy a bag of generic "soil conditioner" from Lowes if you want bark in your mix - it is basically shredded up pine bark in a size perfect for Bonsai soil, comes in a huge quantity and is super cheap!

 

[Dave E]

this was about $8 for 4 qt bag cheapest i found without ordering online but with shipping it works out cheaper

thanks for the heads up to the soil conditioner i'll look into that

 

[M. Frary]

Do you really need bark in your mix?

 

[Chad D]

I used it one season with no problems but didn't like the red color. I finally found soil conditioner but got tired of sifting out the super fines so I order my pine bark from Bonsai Jack now as I only use a little in my mix just for maples and tropicals. You can buy it from him off eBay or his website. He's a BNut member here as well

 

[DougB]

Go buy a bag of generic "soil conditioner" from Lowes

I have used the Natures Helper from Home Depot but they seem to be changing brands to almost a soil. Specifically what do you buy from Lowes?

 

[Eric Group]

I have used the Natures Helper from Home Depot but they seem to be changing brands to almost a soil. Specifically what do you buy from Lowes?

I don't have a bag right now because I barely use it any longer... I mainly only put it in my "potting soil" mix I use for growing trees out and supplementing ground solid when putting trees in the ground... It is their "generic" brand. I think it is called Evergreen or something like that? Comes in a white bag... Like $2 for a... Whole bunch of it! 3 Cf?

I think this is it:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_97675-66882-97675_1z0wgia__?productId=3048087&pl=1

Sorry, it is $3 not $2...

 

[Dave E]

think lowes isn't selling that anymore-it's not at my local store and not available at any in the area,and not available for delivery either

 

[Dave E]

homey d's didn't have anything like this at least at my local store or anything on there website. there was a soil conditioner that was more like top soil

 

[Dave E]

the best deal i could find was $9 reptical 10 qt. at petsmart
anything pine bark wise i found online averaged $10 or so for 1 qt.
i could buy the bags of pb mulch and figure out how to shred it but the $9 reptical made more sense

 

[sorce]

I've used it cuz I had it.

Couldn't bring myself to pay for it.

A little big. And feeder roots go through it, so you pull a lot off....no good.

Napa oil dry 8822. Cheap and effective.

Sorce

 

[Chad D]

think lowes isn't selling that anymore-it's not at my local store and not available at any in the area,and not available for delivery either

The Lowes and Home Depot in my area do not carry it either. I could only find soil conditioner at one small nursery around here.

 

[Eric Group]

think lowes isn't selling that anymore-it's not at my local store and not available at any in the area,and not available for delivery either

Hmm... Says it is available in my area. They probably kept ordering it because I was as buying a couple bags a year- just enough to keep it moving.
I would offer to ship one to you, but we would REALLY be getting up there in price then!

 

[pgstroud@aol.com]

I have used the Natures Helper from Home Depot but they seem to be changing brands to almost a soil. Specifically what do you buy from Lowes?

Lowe's soil conditioner is excellent! I've used it many times!!

 

[DougB]

The Lowes web site has a 25 lb Harvest Organic Soil Conditioner listed ($3.58). Is this what you are using, and what is the size of the chunk's of bark? how much is just too fine to use for bonsai?

 

[Paradox]

DaveE, you should just get a bag of pine bark mulch from Lowes and sift out the very large and the fines. You can buy some sifting screens at any bonsai store online or locally if you have one near you. It will be much cheaper in the long run than Repti-Bark with only your time for sifting spent. I use everything that goes through the 3/8" screen and is kept on the 1/8" screen.
You can probably get a 50lb bag for around $10 maybe less and youll have more than you need for one season. In fact, one bag will last multiple seasons unless you have 100+ trees.
Just feel the bag and choose a brand with smaller pieces. I found that around here, Home Depot carries pine bark mulch that is much larger than the one Lowes carries.

 

[Dave E]

thanks i'll have to check lowes out i know the home dept mini nuggets seemed a little big(as you said)
i did get a bag of reptical but i'm thinking if i get a bag of lowes bark maybe i can compost it to help bring the size down-does that make sense?

 

[Lazylightningny]

I save all my soil from nursery trees and sift out the fines and big chunks. The bark is already partially composted due to being in the pot for years and is basically free. I use it in nearly all my soil mixtures with pumice and Napa Oil-Dri and so far it seems to work fine. The one I have to be most careful with is the Napa stuff, as it holds a lot of water. Keep in mind this is only my third season doing bonsai, though.

 

[M. Frary]

Do you really need bark in your mix?

It seems so.