This is how I get the pine bark media that I use in my fig cuttings mix.

Why do you start with such a coarse bark? I've seen much finer bark at HD, you could get the same output amount from half a bag instead of two..

Tom,

Walmart sells pine fines which is about the size of what you are screening.  They come in a purple bag and just marked "pine mulch".  $2.56 a 2 CF bag.    Would save you a step or would art least give you more material quicker.  You don't mix anything in with the pinebark?  

I found the one from HD, it is Earthgro 2 cu. ft. Groundcover Bark.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Earthgro-2-cu-ft-Groundcover-Bark-88352185/100355687#.UVDhVdbg18E
it is quite fine.

Some of these products might be regional.  I've never seen the HD Earthgro.  It sort of looks like that shredded rubber mulch.  Believe it or not there is not a Walmart near me but I'll check it out.  The purple bags at HD have the shredded pine bark which is a different.  I didn't buy the nuggets for this. I like the look of the course nugget for mulch around the trees so I had these bags sitting around.  I have tried the orchid bark put it's too big.  I don't see pine fines on Walmart's website

Would cedar or hemlock mulch work? The real kind. I can buy a yard of it for the price of 10 bags of pine bark.

Why don't you get an inexspensive shredder and run the pine park through it

Cedar inhibits the growth of other plants.  I wouldn't use it.

The best I have found is the 3 CuFt Pine Bark Mulch (sized ~1/2") available from 'Agway' (quality; almost orchid-grade!):

http://www.agway.com/catalog/home_and_garden/mulches/pine/10202313_agway_pine_bark_mulch_3_cuft.html

Agreed, George, that Agway stuff is good.  I have yet to use it in rooting or mixing as a potting soil though.

I agree with Matt 100 percent. There are trace heavy metals ( zinc, cadmium, and lead) that leach out as decomposition occurs. This is expedited by the addition of fertilizers and pH amendments. The other chemical present in abundance is BHA ( butylated hydroxyanisole-a known carcinogen.

Hello members-

I have used "Repti-Bark" that's sold in pet stores and Turface-MVP as a medium in which to start cuttings.  The small, bark chunks are mixed with an equal amount of Turface-MVP, and the cuttings are just simply pushed into this inert medium.  I keep the medium slightly damp, and the cuttings in full light.  I use a large, translucent, plastic storage box with a clear lid, for my rooting chamber.  After rooting, the cuttings just lift out of the loose, crumbly medium, and can be potted up.

I have successfully rooted 2-3 node dormant wood cuttings, and even rooted green cuttings, in this medium.  No mold, fungus gnats, or other problems.  You can even fill a taller soda bottle with this bark medium and shove a longer twig into it.

Just know that the "Repti-Bark" is far more expensive than Pine Bark Mulch/Nuggets, but it's much more convenient to use if mixing a small volume of rooting medium.  When mixed with Turface-MVP is makes for a very light, and airy rooting medium, that hold some moisture.




Frank