Such Different Condition In New Purchases

[oregon woodsmoke]

I just bought three large gorgeous Phals from Costco. These are all the same size, all potted the same, and all from the same nursery.

I get them home and remove the pottery pots. On one the roots look to be in good condition. On one the roots at the bottom inch of the planter are all rotted but the rest of the roots look OK.

The third one looks like they removed it from a smaller pot, placed it into the large pot and filled in the empty space with sawdust.

I will do what I've done with my earlier purchases: remove the pottery pots and keep the orchids in their clear pots. I take a sharp knife and cut drainage and aeration slits along the sides of the clear pots.... more like the plastic pots I buy for re-potting.

I will let them dry out, which is easier to gauge when looking at the clear pots.

I just thought it was interesting that three plants from the exact same place were so different. It appears that you don't know what you've got until you get it home and take it apart,

[DirtyCoconuts]

wow, that is wild...i often find the older ones at stores like that will vary differently from one to another but not fresh and healthy new plants

[oregon woodsmoke]

I'm thinking that maybe, in the future, before I buy, I should lift the plastic liner out of the pot and look at the roots.

I knew to check and see if the orchid is firmly rooted.

Although, I did buy one that was loose in the pot because it was the prettiest orchid flower I've ever seen. I got it at Home Depot and their plants are guaranteed. So I would have taken it back if it died. It has settle in quite happy, fortunately, and it grabbed on to the potting mix and is now firm in its pot.