$10,000.00 Orchid on EBay

[Roly0217]

To me it's just a reap off. Maybe $80 or $90 if it is so valuable or even $100 but $5000. That is just ridiculous and I can tell. I'm an orchidholic....LOL

[JennS]

It is interesting because the seller says she got the plant from Tom Ritter in Orlando. I have some plants from him and didn't think he dealt in $5,000 plants. I wonder what the seller paid for the original plant? Thanks for the interesting link.

[orchids3]

I talked to the hybridizer of (Blc Eva Marie Barnett 'Magnificent Watermellon Gold' Who claimed to have sold of piece for $75,000 dollars to be cloned. The guy was a "promoter" and I never confirmed that - but on E-Bay yet. Sounds like and addage known to stock traders - prices rise when a big fool sells to an even bigger fool.

[DebsC]

So, knowing the history and value of this plant, what would you think is a fair price for it?

[tuvoc]

If it is a division of the original plant, it could be worth that much. But a clone, probably not. That was not made clear, and the plant looks like an unbloomed seedling, so---.

Kim

[Mahon]

No chance the plant could possibly be worth even a 10th of $10G at that size. I think the seller of this plant is Stewie Griffin...

Here's another Cattleya warscewiczii var.alba up on eBay as well, with the "$10G" cultivar in its parentage:
Cattleya warscewiczii alba 'Leo Holguin' orchid species - eBay (item 200240678938 end time Jul-27-08 20:04:29 PDT)

The difference is, the cheaper one is the real thing, that has bloomed before. The "$10G" plant is either a sickly division or a seedling. Also, the cheaper one looks to be MUCH better formed than the older one.

Whoever gets suckered into that "$10G" orchid, must have a brain weight of 10g...

-PM

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Mahon

I think the seller of this plant is Stewie Griffin...

[susiep]

I love Stewie! "Damn you Lois! Damn you to hell!" But if I had $300 I might buy that plant. Pretty, with a cool history.

[Mahon]

Reviewing the picture of the "$10G" orchid, look closely at the first bulbs. You will have EVEN more doubts about this plant and auction in general...

The first bulbs are VERY small, not mature. If it were a division, the bulbs would be large. Remember, the plant is soooooo old, and no seedling bulbs would have survived all these 100+ years.

Supposing that the "$10G" orchid was a division, it was a cheap (or free) backbulb division. But that couldn't be the case, those small bulbs will exist on seedlings...

Comments for discussion on the validity of the plant up for auction?

-PM

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Mahon

Comments for discussion on the validity of the plant up for auction?

I too think its a seedling. At best this is an NBS clone, but until it blooms I would treat it as an NBS NOID. Maybe worth $20, but thats only on the hope that it is what it is advertised to be. Other than that, I wouldnt pay more than what they charge at Home Depot.