My Mother-in-Laws secret to ever-blooming Phals

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

However, and here the trick. Since these mass production nurseries specialize themselves in just few hybrids (this helps to keep prices low too), sometimes you can go to their websites and see which hybrids they have in their catalogues (does not help always!), as tehy tend to have them idetified there.

I think that's what Gehentogo did with his last Paph NOID and it's no longer a NOID. I wish I had thought of that before, it's a good tip, I don't know the nurseries for mine now as I didn't see the point in keeping the lables at the time.

[JennS]

I found that story very funny, but had a similar shock of my own not too long ago. My b/f picked me up a Phal (not knowing much about orchids then, but I have since tried to educate him) on his way home from a music festival to give me as a gift. It was very sweet of him because he just knew I loved orchids and nothing else (that was over a year ago and know he knows all about them and my preferences...LOL). Anyway, I was reading the tag that came with it about how to care for it. I usually get a chuckle out of them as they are generally incorrect or very vague. Anyway, this one said:
"After blooming is finished, throw plant away. Don't worry, we'll grow more!"

I couldn't believe it! I wonder how many people follow those instructions. I wish i had kept the tag to scan in...it was new to me.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by JennS

Anyway, this one said:
"After blooming is finished, throw plant away. Don't worry, we'll grow more!"

I can not believe they actually wrote that! Boy they'll do anything to sell orchids to unsuspecting people!

[JennS]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I can not believe they actually wrote that! Boy they'll do anything to sell orchids to unsuspecting people!

I was pretty shocked too! I made a big deal about it to my boyfriend. I am happy to say that it is one of my healthiest phals and doing quite well!

[gehentogo]

Thanks for reminding me, RosieC, I haven't posted a photo of that Paph yet. Here it is, and a link to the original post

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by gehentogo

Thanks for reminding me, RosieC, I haven't posted a photo of that Paph yet. Here it is, and a link to the original post

Oh wow! Now that is an orchid to not pass up! I'm very glad for you that you went back and got it.

[gehentogo]

Thanks, Camille1585! I am really proud of it. BTW, the company website calls this orchid 'Callosum Jack.' Is that a real name or something they made up?

Just in case anyone wanted to know (a little gloat here), this paph was EURO 12.99 and came with a glass pot.

[kavanaru]

wow! that's really a nice one... Congrats!

however, I am not really sure it is indeed Paph callosum 'Jack'
have a look at these sites:
Zimmerpflanzenlexikon.info - Paphiopedilum callosum
Paphiopedilum callosum

[Joanie]

Of course you might wonder if this woman is also fooling everyone with her $2.99 orchid price tag along with the ever blooming phal tale!!!!!!!!!

[SueK]

You people are lucky to live in Europe where you can buy orchids so cheap, but I don't think a real orchid grower couldn't throw the the cheapies away when the blooms were gone. If it were me, I would just keep hoarding them. Here in Australia last week, Woolworths, our biggest supermarket chain, had phalies in a glass pot with spag for $30. It had no name - just orchid - so that is quite a big price difference to 2.99.

I guess Australia is a very large country with a small population hence the high prices in the shops.

Sue