What kind of wood is it??

[bailey]

HI all I'm in the process of getting my enclosures set up for my pair of corn snakes I'm getting Saturday. I want to use the orchid bark but I have a few questions. One of my very good friends here in town is the town florist/landscaper and has large quanitities of orchid bark in storage. He let me look at it. Has no bugs and is stored in a climate controlled room. He told me that the kind of wood it is is California Redwood. Is this correct? Is orchid bark not orchid wood? I realize orchid is a flower but I was just taking the name for what it was worth. The bark is nice. It's in palm size or smaller chips and is not jagged like the cypress mulch. Thanks for any info!!

Denise

[Dani33]

I believe that it is actually fir bark. I have only learned that on these forums recently.

[bailey]

the small $6 bag we saw in lowes yesterday was fir bark but we decided to shop around before buying a 6-7 dollar bag of bark when we could probably go to another chain and get a large bag. Sam could be wrong about the redwood but he's been in the business a long time and I'm pretty sure he knows what he's getting from his suppliers. Maybe all will be revealed soon.
Thanks Dani.
Denise

[sapphire_moon]

redwoods of any kind as far as I knew were illegal to cut down...............As far as I know anyways...I could be wrong?

[bailey]

ok well maybe sam is wrong. I think I'll just wait till we can get to a lowe's that isn't out of the big bags of orchid. I don't want to take any chances using unidentified substrate. Thanks Sapphire.

Denise

[Derrick]

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
redwoods of any kind as far as I knew were illegal to cut down...............As far as I know anyways...I could be wrong?

maybe in a national park but you can get redwood at any good lumber store.

Orchid bark IS fir bark. Its what you grow orchids in.

[HetForHuman]

Yes just as Derrick said, orchid bark is Fir.

It is the exact same as the repti-bark you buy in the store, but alot cheaper.

I say go ahead and use it, but maybe just give it a wash before you use it.

[bailey]

Thanks HetforHuman. I think the huge bag of Sam's is like 8 dollars so it's a really good deal. How do you suggest I go about washing it?? Boil it?? Thanks so much.
Denise

[Derrick]

Any wood i get I bake at 350 for an hour or so. Boiling seems a little messy at least for this application. This is probably over kill but its just what I do.

[Bighead]

Yeah, baking it is easier. Just throw it on a baking sheet, put it in the oven, and forget about it for a while, then let it cool. You can use a 5% bleach to water solution too, but I'm still paranoid about bleach and baking is easier.

[Derrick]

well for bedding Ild go with a roaster or 2 instead of a sheet...you can get more done. Do it all at once and get it over with. Store it in a big rubbermaid

[bailey]

Thanks very much for that information everyone. Got the rubbermaid a little while ago and we are getting a 50 lb. bag tomarrow. :)
Denise