Orchid cost poll... - Page 3 - Orchid Board

cb977 · #21 05-31-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffg

I have a funny story. I was visiting Tom Nasser at Carolina Orchids with my orchid "mentor". Those 2 are old friends. I'm eyeballing some paphs and phrags and Tom pulls some dandy plants he says need to be in the collection. As we are headed for checkout, the first plant in the box is $75. "Seventy Five Dollars" I yell... "wait, maybe he needs to stay". Tom looks at my mentor dismayed. She nods, "put the plant in the box" and I drop the $75 (around $500 traded hands in total).

We dont discuss the sale during the 2 hours home, but I'm angry. $75 bucks for a plant?? When I get home, I google Paph rothschildianum and find for this species you can easily spend $75 for a 4-5" LS. I go down and measure - it has 3 growths and is 2 feet across leaf tip to leaf tip. I see if vendors have any this size - they run $250 - 450.

I call my mentor and she is just hysterical. Then I call Nasser and tell him "you've made a grave error, Tom..." "I have, have I?" he booms. "well, yes, you grossly undercharged me". Now he's all a laughing. We have been pals since.

So, in this case, the $75 orchid I thought was an outrage, actually was.

Great story

Lady Tottington · #22 05-31-2010, 01:35 PM

Great story Jeff! I wish I had an orchid mentor and someone to go shopping with

jrodpad · #23 05-31-2010, 02:52 PM

I've paid anywhere from $5-$50 for an orchid - depending on the type and the size. I'm hesitant to pay more because I'm still not 100% confident in my ability to keep a given orchid alive. If I killed an orchid that was $25 - well, then that's a $25 lesson on how not to kill some of my other orchids, and I could live with that. If I killed an orchid that was $250... I would not be able to rationalize the loss so easily. If I felt more confident in my ability not to send an expensive orchid to an early and undeserved grave, I could see shelling out the big bucks for something remarkable.

Great thread you guys - thank you for sharing.

- J

stefpix · #24 05-31-2010, 07:04 PM

I still would not pay $75 for a plant that is even worth $300. It is not a real estate investment. I like plants but I would rarely spend more than 20$.
I am considering a Den laevifolium for 22 but need to ponder. Maybe I end up spending 75 on multiple plants in a little time and somebody may just spend 75 for months . Well it all depends how much money you make. I would not spend 50 K on a car.

Lady Tottington · #25 05-31-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrodpad

I've paid anywhere from $5-$50 for an orchid - depending on the type and the size. I'm hesitant to pay more because I'm still not 100% confident in my ability to keep a given orchid alive. If I killed an orchid that was $25 - well, then that's a $25 lesson on how not to kill some of my other orchids, and I could live with that. If I killed an orchid that was $250... I would not be able to rationalize the loss so easily. If I felt more confident in my ability not to send an expensive orchid to an early and undeserved grave, I could see shelling out the big bucks for something remarkable.

Great thread you guys - thank you for sharing.

- J

I can identify with this logic very much! It is part of my concern as well.

Lady Tottington · #26 05-31-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefpix

I still would not pay $75 for a plant that is even worth $300. It is not a real estate investment. I like plants but I would rarely spend more than 20$.
I am considering a Den laevifolium for 22 but need to ponder. Maybe I end up spending 75 on multiple plants in a little time and somebody may just spend 75 for months . Well it all depends how much money you make. I would not spend 50 K on a car.

I love that mini-dend... post pictures if you get it

I don't have 50K to spend on a car, and if I did, I wouldn't. So, I get what you are saying.

I had about $125 of birthday money, and I bought about 10 named plants, with only four of them being blooming size, the others are all hopers and waiters. Hoping that I can keep them alive to bloom and become specimens.

stefpix · #27 05-31-2010, 07:57 PM

Even if I could keep it alive I would not justify $250 for a plant. Recently I got into heirloom hot peppers and there is a lady that sells plants with tags with specie and cultivar names for $3. Found a site that shows how to overwinter and bonsai hot peppers [google bonchi bonsai chilies]. I bought a beautiful brazilian dwarf tree fern that was quite large for $16 at Gowanus nursery. I see a lot of boutique gardening stores that sell plants for a lot that you can get for cheap if you look around. At the botanic garden I loved the Den gonzalesii and the Den victoria-reginae. Found on ebay a primary hybrid of the 2. a small division for 5 + 9 shipping [if I found another cheap plant from teh same seller add'l shipping fee would have been a dollar or 50 cents].
Yes you can spend 100, 200 or more for a large specimen but after all someone else grew it to that size under different conditions. There is more satisfaction in getting something small and make it grow.

I got 3 pieces of sugarcane. 4 inches from a west indian market and they are growing on my window sill, I did not have to pay for it.

I got a ficus benjamina for 3 $ at the farmers market. It was 3 plants in one 6 inch pot and I mounted one on a brick and is growing nicely and happily.

I sometimes fear that collecting expensive stuff mught turn into an obsessive/ compulsive behavior.

I buy myself too many plants for the space I have. I understand that some nurseries invest time and energy and money to create great plants. But I do not care about awards and perfect flowers. Now I have an Eulophia graminea that is blooming without leaves. It is very interesting looking. Like somehow a mini Encyclia, vaguely. It is a weed in Florida but I like it.

If i made 100K a year maybe I would live somewhere with a yard and maybe I would get some mini greenhouse and maybe I would buy plants that cost 30 / 40 $ but I get a lot of satisfaction just by sowing seeds of fruit I ate and see them become plants. Prickly pears, mangos, dragonfruits, ginkgos, hot peppers from jamaica, DR, trinidad...

slipperfreak · #28 05-31-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefpix

I sometimes fear that collecting expensive stuff mught turn into an obsessive/ compulsive behavior.

It does! I definitely fall into that category. But I don't spend my extra money on anything else. I still save and go to school, even with my obsession. But I'm also living at home. When I start having to support myself I'll be tooting a different horn!

stefpix · #29 05-31-2010, 08:40 PM

Joe,
I have an obsessive side as well and it is hard to fit everything. I just rationalize by spending limits.

Then if you are into slippers... those are more expensive and apparently harder to propagate!

I am sure a lot of people can trade a small division of an Onc or Bulb or Den etc... but slippers? you have to get a division of your bank account to get a plant!
I think if you start growing something cheap and from seed. not just orchids you may save $$ and have diversity. I like tropical fruit plants and carnivorous plants are nice and easy.

jeffg · #30 05-31-2010, 10:55 PM

I highly recommend an "orchid mentor" (as well as involvement in the local OS). Mine has been invaluable. She has 20 years of experience and has not only introduced me around, but, as noted, assisted in some great purchases. She has also guided me against purchases - plants that would not fare well in my conditions. Her "taking me under her wing" has helped with the vast series of questions that have percolated in my newness and grown my confidence in taking care of these wondrous creatures. I find myself jotting down questions and consulting with her regularly. It reminds me of the value of this board - to hear the wisdom of folks who have more experience then me. My job then is only to be teachable.