---
title: "Hi all! Can anyone tell me if this Garden Basics Pine bark mulch (or…"
description: "Hi all! Can anyone tell me if this Garden Basics Pine bark mulch (or similar) would be any good for making a chunky soil mix? I generally use the Osmocote…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/768c9YMbe3kG2zBSvjP3sM"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Carly"
published: "2026-05-18T01:26:54.112783Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2jTnTo-OYBAmjNRzEEj141UAnUAfJGL4Rp_5WusxzkU/4N1thvxmQ-eIPGeOFS8NJw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi all! Can anyone tell me if this Garden Basics Pine bark mulch (or…

_Posted by Carly on 2026-05-18_

Hi all!

Can anyone tell me if this Garden Basics Pine bark mulch (or similar) would be any good for making a chunky soil mix? I generally use the Osmocote Orchid potting mix - I can’t seem to find many options for orchid bark in Australia and buying from Amazon/online is crazy expensive (like 10x the price).

I don’t love the Osmocote orchid mix as it is soil and bark (I just want bark) and sometimes I feel the chunks are too small.

Thank you!

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2jTnTo-OYBAmjNRzEEj141UAnUAfJGL4Rp_5WusxzkU/4N1thvxmQ-eIPGeOFS8NJw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2jTnTo-OYBAmjNRzEEj141UAnUAfJGL4Rp_5WusxzkU/HFEgsZmeTx2WxeKDSgG9VA.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### JR commented on 2026-05-18

If you can find it, I like the miracle gro orchid potting mix

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/tqz4EBDAvg8yEMwduoUZK1E9eWZadl-WaWJ0AB72hxk/aYv3D-yFQ-KtW-bSOMSwoA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/tqz4EBDAvg8yEMwduoUZK1E9eWZadl-WaWJ0AB72hxk/iPViXWqwQWGKxvOihF-EJw.webp?size=large)

#### PlantingwithGina replied on 2026-05-18

Same

### Waspinator commented on 2026-05-19

If you do mulch, you'll want relatively small chunks as mulch goes, but it should work. You might want to consider growing things mounted; that way it's just wood pieces (cork or fern fiber matts are common, but anything can work as long as you adjust moisture accordingly. Some orchids even grow on rock in the wild) and sphagnum (for when you need more moisture)

### Chloe commented on 2026-05-20

I use the orchid coarse one they have and it’s a bit chunkier but still mixed in with soil which is annoying. I mix mine with horticultural charcoal and the chunkier perlite I can sometimes find at Bunnings and that seems to work okay. I tried adding pine bark mulch but i use clear pots in my decorative pots and could see the bits of pine bark getting mouldy.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ndnjj6FYJF69Ze6yC5t-GKV0LdEqN4el42bSnM-cqyI/oLYkUEuvRXavQBEa4gMn_w.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ndnjj6FYJF69Ze6yC5t-GKV0LdEqN4el42bSnM-cqyI/JTPqDUTVQ72FqZc6Ctt0lA.webp?size=large)

#### Chloe replied on 2026-05-20

You could try the pine bark though! It didn’t seem to affect the plants at all but I didn’t like how it was moulding

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