Our slabs are flat and vary in size from about 6 inches to over 12 inches wide and 12 to 30 inches long. Thickness varies from about a half inch to two inches with the majority being in between those numbers.

To get an idea of size to weight, you can figure roughly a square foot per pound, rarely under that, usually over. This material is widely touted to be the best and most durable substrate for mounting epiphytic plants; resisting rot and pests and lasting for many years under greenhouse conditions. The upper surface is rough and craggy and the underside, harder and fairly smooth. Great for use in terrariums or cages and useful as a decorative background to display jewelry or other objects.

This product is harvested sustainably in Portugal from Quercus suber, the cork oak, and it’s main use is for bottle stoppers and shoe soles. This is a completely natural product. Easily broken into any size needed and can be ‘drilled’ with an awl or ice pick.

 Quantity is sold by the pound.

This is a commercial mix that we at Tropiflora have custom made 50 yards at a time. We use this formula because #1 it works for us and #2 it is economical.

Anyone can mix their own potting media and we encourage you to do so in order to best suit your needs. However, if you wish to use our proven mix, we are more than happy to oblige!

Here is the formulation:

• 30% Canadian Peat
• 30% Green Bark
• 30% Hardwood Chips
• 10% Perlite (though this can vary with availability of materials).

It also includes 3 pounds of minor elements per yard and has a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5.  This mix allows good air access to the root zone, good moisture retention without getting soggy, long pot life, and good substance for holding plants upright.

Note: A one quarter cubic foot bag of soil should fill about half a dozen 6 inch Azalea Pots.

Tropiflora Succulent Mix – While we call this our ‘succulent mix’ we use this for many more things around the nursery. Succulents thrive in it under our rather wet, humid conditions and so do many plants such as terrestrial bromeliads, tuberous Arums and others. It is a good quality mix that we have custom made for us in 50 yard loads.

The formula is:

• 15% Canadian Peat
• 45% small Fir Bark
• 15% coarse Sand
• 35% coarse Perlite (Sponge Rock)

It has a pH of 6.0. You may notice that the formula adds up to 110%, this is because of the sand component which tends to ‘disappear’ in the mix and not change total volume.

Orchid mixes are as varied as the people who grow orchids! We offer what we at Tropiflora use ourselves for most varieties, a good general mix great for Cattleya, Oncidium, and most epiphytic species. Note that some find our bromeliad mix useful for terrestrial orchids and even Phalaenopsis.

Our orchid mix is simple:

• 50% high quality medium Fir Bark
• 25% medium Charcoal
• 25% coarse Perlite (Spongerock)

This mix can be augmented with some good quality peat, treefern fiber or other components by the end user to make this mix suitable for other specialty plant culture.  Great also for most epiphytic bromeliads as well, especially with some added peat.

Tropiflora's Air Plant Food Soluble 20-10-20

This is a good quality, versatile formula for epiphytic plants. This fertilizer does not use urea as a nitrogen source, as it is not usable by epiphytic plants. Water soluble, it can be used in daily irrigation or applied at intervals. Will not burn foliage at recommended rates and does not stain foliage. This is the fertilizer we use here at Tropiflora for our bromeliads, orchids and all epiphytic plants.

Guaranteed Analysis: Total Nitrogen (N) 20% 7.90% ammoniacal nitrogen 12.10% nitrate nitrogen Available phosphate (P2O5) 10% Soluble potash (K2O) 20% Magnesium (Mg) 0.10%Boron (B) 0.02%Copper (Cu) 0.025% Iron (Fe) 0.05%Manganese (Mn) 0.025% Molybdenum (Mo) 0.0029% Zinc (Zn) 0.025%

Application Rates: Constant Feed: A rate of 50 to 150 ppm of nitrogen is recommended. For bi-weekly applications: Use at the rate of 1½ to 2 tsp per gallon of water. Monthly: 1 to 1½ to tbs/gal.

Useful for many epiphytic plants and essential for Vanda culture. These sturdy, well made baskets are manufactured in Central America from Cedrela odorata, or Tropical Cedar, which has a cedar fragrance and looks like mahogany. 

The source of this wood for baskets is mostly as a byproduct of furniture manufacturing, it is long lasting, non toxic to plants and resists rot. The galvanized wires that hold the slats together are of a heavy gauge to last for years.

Useful for many epiphytic plants and essential for Vanda culture. These sturdy, well made baskets are manufactured in Central America from Cedrela odorata, or Tropical Cedar, which has a cedar fragrance and looks like mahogany.

The source of this wood for baskets is mostly as a byproduct of furniture manufacturing, it is long lasting, non toxic to plants and resists rot. The galvanized wires that hold the slats together are of a heavy gauge to last for years.

We offer cork pieces already broken into useful sizes, especially useful for those who may find it difficult to break pieces up by hand. Thickness varies from about a half inch to an inch and weighs 2 ounces (small) and 6 ounces (medium) each.

This material is widely touted to be the best and most durable substrate for mounting epiphytic plants; resisting rot and pests and lasting for many years under greenhouse conditions. The upper surface is rough and craggy and the underside, harder and fairly smooth. This product is harvested sustainably in Portugal from Quercus suber, the cork oak, and it's main use is for bottle stoppers and shoe soles. This is a completely natural product. Easily broken into any size needed and can be 'drilled' with an awl or ice pick. 

Medium Orchid Fir Bark -This is an excellent grade of western fir bark suitable for incorporation in potting media.

This is the grade most often used in orchid mixes, bromeliad mixes and those for almost any epiphytic plant. Fir bark adds substance to the mix and aeration.