Oncidium mask

[Roberta]

Some of us have issues with killing orchids (even "farmed" ones) to make products from their parts. In too many places, greedy people don't limit themselves to the farmed ones.

[RoseSD]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Some of us have issues with killing orchids (even "farmed" ones) to make products from their parts. In too many places, greedy people don't limit themselves to the farmed ones.

It's all about context. Technology has enabled mass production of orchids (and save the wild ones from being poached) and the market demands have led to different parts of the plants for various uses. For example, in this nursery they export only the cut ocidium flowers to Japan as that's what Japanese like to buy (like we buy cut roses). I wouldn't consider the use of psudobulb as cosmetics ingredients inappropriate in anyway, unless some thinks cut roses or rose flavored fragrance are inappropriate also? Not knowing the context and only inject one's own bias only leads to unnecessary misunderstandings.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by RoseSD

Technology has enabled mass production of orchids (and save the wild ones from being poached)...

But it doesn't.

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by RoseSD

It's all about context. Technology has enabled mass production of orchids (and save the wild ones from being poached) and the market demands have led to different parts of the plants for various uses.

The problem isn't so much with the large manufacturers going out and poaching wild plants; they know better than to try that, it's much easier and legally safer to grow their own. The problem arises when individuals decide to capitalize on the newfound market by poaching wild plants for a quick buck. We're seeing that here in California and other parts of the US Southwest and northern Mexico with our native white sage populations. Sage bundles have grown in popularity and while there are people growing nursery-acquired plants for their materials, there are a lot of people going out and unsustainably harvesting wild plants. It's so bad in this case that wild populations in some areas are on the verge of being wiped out, and that isn't even considering the impacts this is having on our native tribes.

So, it's very likely that wild orchids will suffer a similar fate due to the increased demand. This isn't to say that using orchids for cosmetics is inherently wrong, just that ignoring the unpleasant and damaging consequences of the new use isn't something we should do.