Where do you shop? - Orchid Board

kmccormic · #1 09-08-2011, 10:55 PM

Hi! I thought this might be an interesting topic.

I tend to shop at OrchidWeb.com Buy Orchids and Orchid Supplies. They have excellent information on their orchids, a good advanced search feature, and a large selection. They have responded well to all of the questions I've asked them. Every orchid I have received, and they will ship in-spike orchids, has been painstakingly and lovingly packaged.

If I look at the local grocery store or Home Depot, the person operating the flower/garden area can't tell me what kind of orchid I have or where they got it from. I don't know of any retail orchid growers in my area, western massachusetts.

glengary54 · #2 09-08-2011, 11:35 PM

Great question but not an easy one to answer. I buy plants based on the best grower of the genus I am looking to buy. So if you asked where to go to buy quality Phals or Cattleyas or anything else I could tell you who I prefer to do business with, they may not always be the cheapest but they will always be healthy, well grown, quality plants.

plantaholic · #3 09-09-2011, 01:17 AM

I usually get mine from vendors in the area who come to our shows or do a talk at one of our meetings. Love getting orchids from Small Hill in Spokane.

RJSquirrel · #4 09-09-2011, 06:57 AM

I still have a few mom and pop orchid shops around town. I always like to go there 1st to look and see. Just about cleaned them out of everything I want after about a year or so. The plants went up in one place so much, had to tell them they have priced me out of the market for orchids in there store. Just got a blank stare.

Online, I tend to like kalapana tropicals. Ive been buying from them for over a year and they send me FREE plants all the time, write me little handwritten notes inside the box telling me thanks again! Im a member of the $1000 club now

and still have most of it too.

I can name about 5 other places I have bought from, but If I did I would also have to post the crap they sent me. So I stick with kalapana to avoid anymore cataclysmic meltdowns from me on OB about getting "Crap in a Pot".
Im having fun now

camille1585 · #5 09-09-2011, 08:41 AM

I'm like Glen, I shop where they have the widest range of the type of orchid I'm interested in on that particular shopping spree. I have a list of 6-7 trusted growers that I buy from. No places to shop from locally unfortunately, and there is only 1 show a year in my area. Otherwise I would have to go to neighboring countries.

NiNiDazzle · #6 09-09-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

I still have a few mom and pop orchid shops around town. I always like to go there 1st to look and see. Just about cleaned them out of everything I want after about a year or so. The plants went up in one place so much, had to tell them they have priced me out of the market for orchids in there store. Just got a blank stare.

Online, I tend to like kalapana tropicals. Ive been buying from them for over a year and they send me FREE plants all the time, write me little handwritten notes inside the box telling me thanks again! Im a member of the $1000 club now

and still have most of it too.

I can name about 5 other places I have bought from, but If I did I would also have to post the crap they sent me. So I stick with kalapana to avoid anymore cataclysmic meltdowns from me on OB about getting "Crap in a Pot".
Im having fun now

What are some of the mom & pop stores in the Houston area? My SIL lives in the Houston area and I would love to visit some of these shops when I go visit her. Not the one that has out priced you though.

I have been to Clown Alley Orchids and they have some great plants. Got lucky and it was their 20% off day, the day I went. Didn't know until I was at check-out.

Cym Ladye · #7 09-09-2011, 01:30 PM

I only shop at accredited, high quality orchid nurseries growing the specific genera I grow. I avoid the box stores like the plague due to common quality and the increasing appearance of virus.

CL

Otis226 · #8 09-09-2011, 01:34 PM

Well, the Ocala, FL area is pretty barren as for Orchid resources, this town couldn't even continue to support an orchid society, which folded the year before we moved here. Mostly, I'm tied to looking in HD or LOWES for my plants. I try to swap with different online buddies now and then, but that doesn't happen often. I'm against paying as much for shipping as the total amount of my order. Just won't do it. So I have been dabbling in ebay vendors lately, concentrating on the ones offering free or very reasonable shipping. So far, I've found some honest folks with quality plants, so no complaints.
Tony

Ms T · #9 09-09-2011, 01:38 PM

I buy orchids on a budget, I keep my eyes peeled for deals on ebay from other hobbyists and nurseries, and it's been mostly well. It's nice being able to get a plant for the same cost as just the shipping from some websites, though my dream is to one day make a nice order from Hausermann.

Of course, I started with getting clearance deals with noids from Lowes to learn how to grow orchids. I'm thankful that now I can look around and be picky with what I get there, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when the plants actually have IDs or are rather healthy.

Goatherder · #10 09-09-2011, 04:14 PM

From an Orchid standpoint, I am lucky to live in northern Illinois, the closest place, Oak Hill Gardens is a 45 minute drive, Hausermann's is also within driving distance. It is hard not to be impressed with either place, but Oak Hill is my favorite as the folks there are very friendly and helpful. And I don't have to pay any shipping.