Will this orchid be as good?....

[Tim P.]

Ok... so i am buying an orchid! I am a little intimidated by the prices . I was looking at the website orchidsbyhausermann.com and saw that there was another variety that looked just like baldans kelidescope. Will the other one be vigorous like baldans kelidescope? the reason that i was asking this question was because there is a huge price difference between the two and one the other one is in spike that i wanted to buy, but like I said Kelidescope is very robust... Will the other one be robust too? they look about the same.... so will they be comparable? Thanks

The name of the other one is called K.V. Beauty.

I also noticed that there are two versions of the KV Beauty! Will one of them be any better growing and flowering wise? THANKS

I am new to orchids so.... ya...

[Tim P.]

Should i just take the plunge and buy baldans kelidescope, due to the fact people know it is very robust and a bloomer, even though it is almost twice as much and not in bud?

[tucker85]

Tim, it sounds like you're new to orchids. Every new orchid grower has successes and failures in the journey to being an experienced grower. My suggestion would be to try and keep the cost of your hobby down until you're confident that you can have many more successes than failures. I would go with reasonable prices at this point. But that's just a suggestion. Good luck.

[Strider 60]

I'm new to Orchids as well so I'm not familiar with all the different var. You might try "Oak Hill" too, I've had luck with them. The main thing is though is buy what your looking for and are able to match it's culture and maybe add something else to the order to justify the S&H. You'll find that if you do that it might split down the cost a little

[zxyqu]

Tucker said it best. As an recent adpoter, it may be better to buy cheaper 'chids, just in case some dont make it. However, some people catch on really quick, and dont kill many. Buy whichever you like best, or go to a local nursery if possible, and buy what you see. Hausermann's orchids are incredible in my experience. Oak hill has sent me some fantastic mounts, but I dont know about their potted plants. Other options include waldor orchids, Brennan's orchids, Al's orchids, Orchids limited, and Orchid view. There is a little bit of heaven at each of these sellers! Good Luck, and welcome to the addiction!

[Eyebabe]

Buy the one that is ready to bloom

[Tim P.]

ok... i guess i will get the cheaper one... hope this will stay alive The only orchid is always the special one!!! Any good tips to keep it alive for years?

[zxyqu]

Weakly weekly watering, letting it mostly dry out before watering, and giving it some indirect sunlight with some decent level of humidity. Get a couple in spike, and go from there.

[quiltergal]

My advice is to buy the one you like. You actually are getting more plant for your money. Balden's Kaleidoscope is in a 6" pot. KV Beauty is in a 4" pot....and frankly I don't think it's as pretty. A plant in a 6" pot will be very mature, and with maturity comes more vigor. That's not to say the other would not do well.

Just as a side note, Hausermann's usually has a big sale in July. Then you might be able to afford more than one!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Have you considered getting Phal equestris as a beginner's Phal? It only costs $8.95 for a plant in a 2" pot at Hausermann.

A specimen in a 3" pot will only be $12.95.

One of the advantages to growing this species is that they tend to be slightly faster growing than many other Phals. I also think that they tend to be easier to bloom than many other Phals. There's also the advantage of them being able to tolerate being grown on the lower end of the temperature range of a Phal's temperature tolerance better than some other Phals are. Not to mention, if space were ever an issue, they are one of the smaller Phals.

While you don't have to follow this suggestion, it may be something that may be worth considering in your next Phalaenopsis purchase.