Buying orchids

[nickel525]

What is the best option when considering buying an orchid?

We have a Fresh Market (kind of like whole foods market) and their orchids ALWAYS look amazing, just today I stopped by and there are still tons of phal. on display for purchase, even the variety i have...white with magenta lip, and those I've read bloom early spring.

So what gives? Are nursuries good places? Local or Franchise? Or is it best to buy seedlings? What about online orchid purchases? What about places like home depot and lowes?
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[Dorothy]

It depends on what tugs at your orchid heart strings ..

then I would first go with reputable growers - Andy's, Oak Hill, Big Leaf, Baldan's (they also sell on eBay) and quite a few others ..

Best thing is to check in the vendor feedback forum for other's experiences with vendors and eBay sellers.

I tend to stay away from HD, Wal-Mart and the big store orchids unless something really catches my eye. I have gotten more into species orchids which aren't usually available or found in mass production ...

[gmdiaz]

Me too, Dorthy.

I look for particular species or hybrids. I usually have to get them online.

My HD & Walmart have sucky plants. . .so that's a no go for me but those stores in Florida haves all kinds of coolio orchids, now and again.

You've just got to keep your eyes and ears open. . .scan the horizon for the next fabulous orchid to add to your collection.

[jkofferdahl]

Here where I am, in the Atlanta area, the orchids sold at the Whole Foods market are very good quality - well grown, well-rooted, and nicely established. However, before buying one from the store in your area I'd look really closely at it.

I tend to avoid the orchids at places like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. While they look good, typically they are pushed to grow and bloom as quickly as possible, sacrificing strength for short-term gain. Further, once they arrive at these stores they generally are very poorly treated, and so sink fast while on the store shelf. If you get them when they first come in you will do fine, but after a few days they're going to suffer. You can find flowers very like those at such stores but on far more healthy plants at the established outlets.

[HorseChick]

I, too, buy mostly species these day BUT I've had very good luck with orchids bought from the Home Depot.

Most of my hybrid floofs have come from there. You just want to make sure the stock is fresh and healthy.

I've never bought from any online vendors, so I can't help you there.

I'm lucky in that there are local growers in my area that I can satify my species needs

[justatypn]

Orchid buying is like anything else, it's what tickles your fancy at the time, with that you will find your choice of orchid growers.

I have about 4 vendors I go through online and with living in central Fl I am fortunate enough to live not so far from what I call Orchid Greenhouse Blvd, with at least 8-10 growers ... that's orchid heaven. But like anything else it's trial and error. What is good for one does not necessarily mean it's good for another.

The few choices given by D is a good start, personally I do not buy from ebay and some purchase is mass quantity and do well and with that options are open to an enormous amount of growers.

I bought my very first orchid from a Fresh Market here locally, I would say it was a forced blooming orchid, now 2 yrs later it's finally showing the stalk with an array of buds. We really do not have a clue how any orchid will survive in our environment, stress is a given so this needs to be taken in consideration when you purchase from anyone/anywhere.