Thanks Ray, I knew I had spelled Orchiata wrong but didn't choose to go through the hassle of editing . We had a company rep come to our society meeting last week. He said to use the stuff straight from the bag. this being one of the advantages /v. having to soak other bark medium.
I liked the idea that you could go much longer without the need to re-pot,as it does not break down.

So here I sit with my Cymbidium soaking in a bucket of water to loosen the "mud" that is caked around the roots. There is this stuff the looks like decomposed sponge pellets in this old medium. Do you have any idea what that is?

I'll try to remember to post a picture, because I am not so sure that the p-bulbs are healthy. They are dark and not really firm. But then this is my first cym, so I know nothing. It is a BBS rescue.