Orchid bark, and coal

[Dave CH]

Hi everyone,
We are, as advised on these forums, moving to 100 percent orchid bark for our indoor enclosures (six-year-old Hermanns).

One of the two suppliers we're talking with always puts coal in her orchid bark, but would (of course) omit perlite, etc.
My question: Should we avoid coal?

Big thanks -
Dave

 

[wellington]

I would not use coal. It's not meant to be eaten. Could do damage even kill.

 

[jaizei]

I presume you're talking about horticultural charcoal?

If the substrate is just orchid bark, idk if there would be a benefit. If I was planting in the substrate or making a bioactive substrate then I might use some charcoal.

 

[Tom]

Hi everyone,
We are, as advised on these forums, moving to 100 percent orchid bark for our indoor enclosures (six-year-old Hermanns).

One of the two suppliers we're talking with always puts coal in her orchid bark, but would (of course) omit perlite, etc.
My question: Should we avoid coal?

Big thanks -
Dave

I would omit it.

 

[Dave CH]

I would not use coal. It's not meant to be eaten. Could do damage even kill.

Thanks Wellington.
We can opt out with the coal.

 

[Dave CH]

I presume you're talking about horticultural charcoal?

If the substrate is just orchid bark, idk if there would be a benefit. If I was planting in the substrate or making a bioactive substrate then I might use some charcoal.

Yes jaizei, I believe so.
Dave

 

[Dave CH]

I would omit it.

Thank you Tom. Noted.

 

[Dave CH]

I presume you're talking about horticultural charcoal?

If the substrate is just orchid bark, idk if there would be a benefit. If I was planting in the substrate or making a bioactive substrate then I might use some charcoal.

I don't think we'll be planting before the next time we refresh the substrate.
This (the terrariums) is purely for them to come out of hibernation and for them pre-hibernation. The rest of the time they're outside day and night.

 

[Blackdog1714]

I don't think we'll be planting before the next time we refresh the substrate.
This (the terrariums) is purely for them to come out of hibernation and for them pre-hibernation. The rest of the time they're outside day and night.

I use pothos in pots in my enclosure and that helps keep them just above chomping range. I also added some metal mesh fence that I bent into an arc so the pothos could grow on top from the pot and create a tunnel as it grew onto the wall. Otherwise plants are not necessary like the heat and humidity requirements. Good Luck!

 

[Dave CH]

I use pothos in pots in my enclosure and that helps keep them just above chomping range. I also added some metal mesh fence that I bent into an arc so the pothos could grow on top from the pot and create a tunnel as it grew onto the wall. Otherwise plants are not necessary like the heat and humidity requirements. Good Luck!

Thanks Blackdog1714.
Plants will, I guess, come along next year. This is the first year for these new terrariums and we're still getting to know them.
Dave