Seasonal orchid offerings from vendors

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Calling on all experienced orchidists, or those in the know: On belalf of myself, and perhaps those less experienced, Is there a cyclical nature to when online retailers and other vendors offer their plants? I also assume that it depends on their suppliers.
If so, what are they? Anyone feel like starting a thread and including some ideas? I know I'de like to know approx. when to look for something- perhaps others too?
Anyone else with ideas or feedback? Hope I am not overstepping.
All feedback welcome

[Roberta]

Especially for shows (remember them??? someday...) the focus will be on those in bloom. Some things are more seasonal in their blooming cycle than others, but blooming plants do sell better... Cymbidiums, for instance, usually appear at winter/spring shows. The early (summer) bloomers might be found at fall shows. But for most genera, different species and hybrids bloom at different times. That's how I manage to always have something in bloom... over the years, I visited shows and open houses at different times of year, bought things in bloom because I do like to see the flowers if possible. Now, with everything being internet sales, it's less precise - but there is a larger pool to choose from. (Vendors will bring mostly the the blooming plants to shows because they can carry just so much and want to sell as many as possible, but online they can show more of their inventory) And many vendors have a section on their websites "In bloom or spike" so that you can get instant gratification.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Roberta is spot on and you can ROUGHLY use that to find the peaks of sales and then plan accordingly.

If you wanted a Christmas Cattleya, buy it in January

if you like catasetums, buy them in fall as dormancy is mostly setting in


there are two huge schools of thought, instant gratification and 'I can wait...'

i like a balance LOL..make sure you have SOMETHING nice to look at but get babies and seedlings and cuttings and wait....a lot....too



oh, Roberta....shows....i just discovered them THIS YEAR!!!! i went to three...it is so unfair to give someone juuuuuust enough of a drug to get them insanely addicted and then do this....in just saying lol

[Roberta]

DC, look for open houses too. A few nurseries are venturing into doing them in-person, with suitable precautions. I suspect that as more areas bring the plague under some level of control there will be more...shows are likely to remain on hold for a good bit longer. Which works for those of us lucky enough to live a reasonable driving distance from those vendors, at least.

[DirtyCoconuts]

oh, im plenty close...unfortunately i live in A-hole central and our numbers are somehow getting WORSE by the day here.....smh

[Ray]

There are "growers", resellers", and some that straddle that fence.

Growers tend to release stuff more frequently and in larger quantities, so stuff stays available longer.

Both types are victims of weather conditions affecting shipments.

[Roberta]

Another point... people who grow orchids for a living often don't also have the bandwidth to keep their websites current - especially true of the larger growers (who grow their own plants and so have a rather fluid inventory) Thinking of Andy's Orchids (champion of not having anything even remotely close to everything on line) but that's not the only one. If there's something specific that you're looking for and the vendor has a history (or some probability) of having the plant, inquire. You never know when you'll hit pay dirt. Email is free and painless. There are a lot of vendors who have been discussed on the Board, so that will help you in deciding which ones have a good record for quality and service.

[estación seca]

Sign up for E-mail bulletins from vendors. Some have new things available on and off through the year. Some have big unveilings a few times a year. Carter & Holmes and Motes regularly add new orchids. SVO and H&R have regular large additions to their catalog.

[Keysguy]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

oh, im plenty close...unfortunately i live in A-hole central and our numbers are somehow getting WORSE by the day here.....smh

I'll try and come back with a thoughtful contribution to this thread if I ever stop laughing.....

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by Ray

There are "growers", resellers", and some that straddle that fence.

Growers tend to release stuff more frequently and in larger quantities, so stuff stays available longer.

Both types are victims of weather conditions affecting shipments.

Very true (I think I am a 'straddler' per Ray's definitions). In the northeast, there are very few growers left, as heating costs are prohibitively expensive - making it impossible grow up 100s of the same thing. Yet, some of us will buy flasks or plugs, and take the time to grow up batches - though rarely more than several dozen plants of each cross or species.

And, even those who qualify as 'growers', bring in a lot of seasonal material from Hawaii.