Can you recommend a reputable spagnum moss and wood chip brand for orchids?
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners concerning your orchid.
For any plant to thrive the key is to emulate a plant’s native habitat. For the sake of this response I am asumming you have a phaleanopsis orchid. These orchids are epiphytic, which means that they are attached to trees by bare roots. In their native habitat they receive a deluge of rain, then they dry out. As a result, for this type of orchid, bark is much better planting medium than moss. Sphagnum moss is either really wet or really dry, making it not ideal for epiphytic roots.
I reached out to a Toronto Master Gardener who is an avid orchid collector and grower. This is what she had to say about acquiring reptuable orchid bark “It’s hard to find a good bark mix these days. Some brands are adding soil … This includes Miracle Gro orchid mix. Promix used to be good, but I can’t find it anymore. That leaves Golf Green mix which I think you can only get in Canadian Tire.”
My suggestion would be to go to a nursery that specializes in orchids. Doing a quick goggle search there are a number of orchid growers in Toronto.
For your interest, I am attaching our Garden Guide on Growing Orchids
June 28, 2023