GIFT ORCHIDS???

[mayres]

If you were going to purchase an orchid online and have it shipped to someone, what would be your favorite place to use and would you suggest the typical phal or dend or something else? (Sending to someone who is NOT an orchid expert). If it matters the destination is MIDWEST.
THANKS!

[Singingirl96]

I've never been lucky in giving orchids away. Frankly most people don't care for them as they should, and I always regret giving them. This year I gave two away. They were great little phals. Even though I included a care sheet, one got killed and the other came back to me nearly dead.
I've gotten orchids from orchids.com and I've been happy with them.

Good luck.

[Singingirl96]

Oh... definately a phal. Not a den. Most people don't have enough light for dens.

[lily99]

I agree, a phalenopsis would be good. I got a nice one from Carter and Holmes once. It was planted in a loose potting mix that looked like it was mostly perlite, so the roots could get some air. I got some orchids as a gift once that were packed so tightly in sphagnum moss that they started to develop root rot. That tightly packed moss took an hour to remove completely.

[Jkelee]

I'd say any chid is good, if they can take care of her
Just kidding. But Phals especially!

[Sandy4453]

Well Mike, being that it's the midwest and to someone that probably doesn't have a setup to grow indoors (lights, etc.), a Phal. is a safe and always, beautiful choice. The care is easy enough to keep up. I think Dends would struggle without knowing the scope of their requirements and what and when to recognize their overall changing conditions, in the negative or positive. Bulbophyllums grow well indoors but to someone who isn't necessarily into orchids, they can seem somewhat, unattractive, perhaps.

As for 'where' to buy from, there are so many nurseries all over, which you already know, I know but if it's shipping you're looking to save on, then I'd suggest, ebay. Two vendors that I continuously buy from because their orchids are always in excellent condition are terif1 and nia22d

Let us know what you decide.

[mayres]

Yes, I know what you all mean by the fact that most people that you gift orchids to will kill them rapidly. We have an elderly neighbor that we give quite a few orchids to and they all fade into the sunset sad to say - but they are in another sense cheap "cut flowers" (sorry - to some that will be "blasphamy"). I've been tempted to tell her that they are only gifts until they stop blooming and then I'll take them back - but I haven't sunk to that level.
The person who I wanted to send a plant to is my daughter in St. Paul and I think I have solved the delimna by finding a vendor nearby called Orchids Limited? I think I've talked her into taking a little drive shortly? Don't know anyone who has purchased here - but looks on the surface to be promising! Here is a nice intro video to it OrchidWeb.com: Orchid Learning Center - "An Inside Look" Video

[greenbean]

Sorry for the tangent, but I had to say this :
Jkelee, I just took a tour of your chid pics. Beautiful! I'm so jealous! Well, give me a few years and my collection will probably have swelled to similar proportions. I really liked the red-on-yellow phals and the tolumnias. And the trichoglottis. Makes me kick myself for not getting one that I saw at a Home and Garden show . Does it really smell like baked apples? That's what I've read.
Ok