The future of orchid growing

[jeremyinsf]

So, I’m curious to have a discussion about long term thoughts on orchids, here in mid-2013.

One of the larger orchid greenhouses here in the SF bay area is closing soon. I had a long talk with the owner about how much things have changed over the years. He’s been ‘doing orchids’ longer than I've been alive (I’m 35) and is burnt out. What today demands is no longer compatible with his business and it’s not sustainable for him to continue (my words). I've had the same discussions with other shops and at some level, there seems to be consensus:

Over the last 15 years or so, a $35 Phal with 5 flowers on it has become a $10 Phal with five *branches* of flowers on it. Yes, that’s what they go for at Trader Joe’s here now… $9.99. That’s not sale or clearance or whatever, that’s a fully grown, maybe even multiple spike plant.

Like many things in today’s society, they have become DISPOSABLE to most people. They are bought for the pretty flowers on them –right now-, and then in a couple months, the whole thing is thrown away, and they just go buy another and repeat the cycle.

I’m bringing this up, because we on this forum are inherently different. We enjoy this, we invest in it, and we grow them for the long term. This is a fun hobby, at a minimum. But what happens as these trends continue, and the places we go to, that we have come to trust, can’t survive? I don’t want a $10 Phal to be the center of my collection. I want Paph Bruno, Paph Druryi, and other things that I would never, ever find at Trader Joes. I want to go to a nice greenhouse, with very special plants, that has been taken care of over the years.

We may be willing to spend (when possible) money on nice stuff, different stuff, amazing stuff. But mostly it's the general public that 'moves product' that pays the bills for these places.

So, what do people think will happen over the next 15 years or so? I know we don't have a crystal ball, but I would love to hear thoughts on this topic.