Cheapest Non-Free Orchid Ever?

[jrodpad]

I was poking around my favorite orchid greenhouse last weekend and I came across a table in the very back labeled "bargain orchids - we need the space!" I was looking over the group of somewhat neglected 'chids when I came across this beauty.

Beallara Capitola Sunrise 'Pacific Starlite'

No price though. I brought it up to the counter and asked the grower how much. Get ready.... $5!!!!!! Seriously. I'm a member of the greenhouse so after my 10% discount - $4.50!!!!!!!

It's got to be the cheapest orchid in my collection that wasn't free. It's not in bloom, the pic of the flower is a representative photo.

Wish me luck in keeping the little guy alive.

- J

[Zoi2]

Fantastic bargain!
Joann

[peeweelovesbooks]

Congratulations.

I've never gotten a free orchid with any of my purchases--both online and locally.

I've never found an orchid at that price either. Congrats!!!!

[WhiteRabbit]

Well, there is a seller at the farmer's market near me - orchids sold by pot size - last summer the 3" pots were $4. None have tags, but many Oncidiums inter-generics, and Zygo hubrids, are identifiable.

I bought a noid Phal - two good sized plants in one pot - making them $2 a piece. At the time one plant had a spike with buds and blooms. The second had a small spike of about 3". The second spike, just kept growing and blooming for months, til I finally repotted a couple of months ago. Both plants quickly started new spikes after repotting. The first plant has two branching spikes. The second plant is a little behind the first in the spike developement, but currently has FIVE! (yes, you read that right) spikes! (I broke the first spike it started - it responded with 3 new spikes in a cluster from same leaf axis as the broken spike. Has started another spike in the same spot now, as well as another from a different leaf axis) -
So - they may be noids, but at $2 each, a very good deal in my opinion!

[grasshopper]

Awesome price for a beautiful orchid! I have a Beallara Capitola Sunrise 'Pacific Starlite' and it's one of my favorite orchids. I received it as a gift in bloom about 2 months ago and it's still blooming. Hopefully your lil' bargain Bllra. will shower you with flowers as a thank you for being rescued!

[RosieC]

Wow, great deal!

I have actually paid £0.99 before for a Phal. There was nothing wrong with it except the flowers were dead and I wanted one to experiment with for S/H. It had been reduced from £15 to £5 then when they still hadn't sold it they had stuck it at £0.99.

But you never find anything interesting at that price. Never seen anthing that price with a name (or anything not a Phal for that matter).

[fotofashion]

I recently got a Hawksinara Sogo Doll 'Little Doll' for $5 or was it the Dor. pulcherrima? One of them might have been free. A local grower has a large bunch of orchids of different types she is trying to find new homes for and I bought and received 9 plants for around $60. (The Blc Toshie Aoki 'Pizazz' was $15) If I get over there this week I need to take my have and want lists this time. There are many more that I might want to find space for. I once received a free Den. Little Sweet Scent from a vendor as a consolation because he had accidentally sold the only plant he had that I had ordered. I was glad to wait until he got the plant into stock again.
Aren't free and inexpensive plants fun?
Beverly A.

[camille1585]

Awesome deal! I get cheap orchids like that too every year. There's an orchid show not far from where I live in the netherlands where hobby growers can sell their excess plants (often are far healthier than those of some pro growers!) and I picked up some nice species each time for as little as 2-3€.

[jrodpad]

Nice! I love all the cheepo orchid stories. There's something exhilarating about landing those bargains, isn't there? It's a double reward. First you get the thrill of growing the collection and then you get the rush of landing the deal.

Keep the stories coming.

- J

[camille1585]

What I find even more exhilerating is coming home from one of those shows with a dozen orchids and then discovering, when I tally up the prices, that I spent less than 30€ on them all. Makes me feel real good, but wishing that I had bought more! Can't wait for the next show in october!