Transporting orchids from show

[The Orchid Boy]

I was wondering how all of you who may buy lots of plants from an orchid show transport orchids from the building to your car in winter. I have a foam cooler but don't want to look foolish but, most importantly, don't want my plants to get harmed. And do you usually buy plants after you're done looking at stuff or do you carry them all around? I'm going to a show this weekend and am getting a Paph. dulenatii v. dunkel seedling, a Paph. delenatii v. alba seedling, and a blooming sized Paph. belatullum.

[silken]

The shows I have been to have 'plant hotels' There is no cost and you check your plants and get a tag for them so you can wander around empty handed and go to the display area which doesn't allow plant purchases in that part. I don't know if most shows do that or not.

Lots of people use coolers and Rubbermaid or similar tubs or cardboard boxes. Nothing foolish about protecting your new chids

[Ferns Daddy]

I buy my plant when I first get to the show and them leave them at the holding table until I'm done looking around and maybe buy one or two more , I have a box that I keep in the car just for plants I use it to transport my new plants they stay warm and dry that way

[WhiteRabbit]

Actually, I think a cooler sounds like a good idea!

[james mickelso]

I usually just bring the truck and back it up to the loading dock

[The Orchid Boy]

Thanks for all the tips. This show is one of the smaller shows in the country. It's in Nebraska, and there are no "big" cities in NE. It's the only orchid show I've been too, Id love to go to a big one sometime.

[rangiku]

You can ask the vendor to hold your plant after you've paid for it while you look at other plants.

[greengarden]

In my experience the best plants disappear very quickly so i always make my purchases first and then either ask the vendor to hold them or if the weather is mild I put them in the car or I carry them around if that is what it comes to.

[quiltergal]

Either buy the first day for the best plants, or wait until the last day and hope for some bargains on what is left. If you are in an area that doesn't have many shows or greenhouses then I would recommend the first day for purchases. All the orchid starved people in the area will pick the vendors clean the first day. Go early if you can. If you see a plant you like but aren't sure you want it pick it up and hold it until you are. If you put it down it will be gone in seconds. Most shows have a plant hotel to hold your purchases until you are ready to leave. If it's a short walk to your car I wouldn't worry about them too much depending of course on the temp. I was a Pacific Orchid Expo a week ago and it was in the 40's. We had a fairly long walk to the car. It didn't phase my Paph. fairrieanum which was in bloom, or my friend's blooming Phal. Just walk fast!

[cbuchman]

I transported a plant to the Philly Flower show in a 5 gallon bucket. I used a neck warmer (the kind filled with beads that you can warm in the microwave, but I didn't) to create a donut in the bottom and placed in the plant in the donut hole. It was very stable, well protected. I didn't use the bucket lid, but I could have. It was easy to carry too.

For shows, many vendors will h old you plants while you wander the show. I always ask for a second bag to place over any plant tops that are exposed.

I love the idea of plant lockers to hold your purchases. I've got to suggest that one