Justaddice orchids,anyone ever bought any? - Orchid Board

JerseyGirlBecky · #1 12-10-2010, 11:04 AM

I went into Aldi yesterday and they had orchids. And of course I could not go home without one. In fact, I bought two as they were only 12.99 and looked so healthy. The tag read justaddice. I have heard of that but would never do it.
I will say when I got them home and repotted that they have the most beautiful roots I have ever seen and both have two spikes. They were not in the spag either, but med. bark. what kind I do not know. I repotted in the orchiata. Have any of you ever gotten them? what a difference from the Lowes and Home Depot!
Becky

RosieC · #2 12-10-2010, 02:47 PM

I know there have been folks here who have had problems with the 'justaddice' technique, but I think they have said the actual orchids are fine.

Here in the UK most standard size phals are sold in bark (for some reason Mini's are sold in moss) and I find I can leave them in it 6 months or more before repotting for the first time. I usually leave them till the flowers have faded.

Daethen · #3 12-10-2010, 03:02 PM

I have bought several of these. I don't think that there is anything special about them other than the company they come from uses just add ice as their own special twist. I NEVER use ice. Have had pretty good luck with them. One I bought and didn't check the cache pot and I drowned it but it is slowly making a comeback.

camille1585 · #4 12-10-2010, 04:36 PM

I never understood why commercial growers in the USA pot everthing up in tightly wadded sphag. Once the plants hit the stores the employees are more than guaranteed to overwater and rot the roots. Nice that you found some super healthy ones in bark! Any pics of the orchid?

Like Rosie said, everything is sold in bark here, with the exception of mini phals and oncidiums (sold in bark with a sphag core).

Daethen · #5 12-10-2010, 04:41 PM

I actually just recently bought one of these and it is in bark this time. Still with the non-draining cache pot though.

JerseyGirlBecky · #6 12-10-2010, 06:38 PM

Sorry I do not have camera and wouldn't know how to send pictures anyway. I am a computer dummy.
The ones I got were in clear plastic pots with the side and bottom holes and a cone shape in the center. They were then in glass containers. Just lift out the plastic and you can see all the green roots. Some were growing out the bottom of the plastic pots.
Becky

CTB · #7 12-10-2010, 07:24 PM

MY buddy, down at the library, only adds ice, that's the only way she waters and has been doing it for two years with nothing but success. They are outside in Fl. so the ice doesn't last long, but it's more of a measurement of how much water for her.

littlefrog · #8 12-10-2010, 09:24 PM

stupidest idea ever, in my opinion...

Ice is not good for orchids, period. Unless they are temperate orchids with chilling requirements. An ice cube is not a standard unit of measure, they come in all sizes, so even that doesn't work. Bad bad idea.

katierkincaid · #9 12-10-2010, 09:31 PM

Ice method. Hmmmm..... I have never heard of that. CTB have you seen the ice method in person ?

JerseyGirlBecky · #10 12-10-2010, 09:50 PM

I looked on their website and they are quit a large operation. I would never use the ice cubes either, but their orchids are really nice. I will see if my daughter can take pictures for me and put them on. Of course, I am just beginning and they can be noids for me. I love them all.
Becky