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1/4-3/4” Diameter
Choosing cork bark chips and substrate
Chips are cork broken down to substrate grade. They do something no bark product in a larger format can: they hold humidity through the whole depth of a substrate layer while still letting air move, which is exactly the balance a bioactive enclosure needs to stay alive rather than turn anaerobic.
Mixed through a soil base, cork chips keep the mix from compacting, resist the mould that breaks down cheaper wood substrates, and give isopods and springtails somewhere to shelter and breed. A clean-up crew established in a cork-rich substrate tends to hold its numbers far better than one living in bare soil.
Chips are also useful as a drainage-layer topper and as a loose fill around mounted plants. They are not a standalone substrate for burrowing species — blend them into a mix rather than using them neat.
Where this cork comes from
Every piece we sell is virgin cork bark, hand harvested from cork oak forests in Portugal and graded at our warehouse in Madison, Florida. Harvesting does not fell the tree — the bark is stripped on a cycle and grows back, which is why cork oak forests are among the few working landscapes that get healthier the longer they are worked.
The bark is heat treated before it ships and contains no chemical additives. It is naturally resistant to mould and rot, which is what makes it usable in humid and bioactive enclosures where most woods break down, and it is safe for reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and small mammals.
Not sure which shape you need? The cork bark buying guide walks through it by species and setup, and the FAQ covers cleaning, mounting and sizing. Buying for a shop or a breeding operation? See wholesale and bulk.
