What is orchid bark?

Orchid bark is a mounting material for growing orchids, mimicking their natural adaptation to grow on host trees to stay away from predators and close to pollinating insects. Orchid bark can be made of cork, cypress or other woods.

Specific kinds of orchids grow best on mounts like orchid bark. Smaller orchids, like the miniature cattleya and the moth orchid, are good candidates, as are Brassavola orchids. Large orchids cannot grow on a mount unless the mount is outdoors and large enough to hold the mature plant. Also, orchids that need constant moisture, such as Sarcochilus and Phragmipedium orchids, are usually difficult to grow on orchid bark.