Survival odds of compot in transit 10 days - Orchid Board

Jayfar · #1 10-21-2011, 11:10 AM

So I ordered:

Phal. cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae ('Orchidgrove' CHM/AOS x 'Chinaithorn') 3 plant compot

It's now 10 days in transit by USPS Priority Mail® and may arrive today. The vendor has already refunded my purchase and advised me to refuse the package un-opened. I was thinking of accepting the package, if it arrives today, and paying the vendor again. What do you suppose the odds are of the seedlings surviving? This was the vendor's last compot of chattaladae.

I hate Priority Mail®, but some vendors just don't do Fedex.

Quote:

Your item arrived at 7:17 am on October 21, 2011 in PHILADELPHIA, PA 19146. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

Detailed Results:

Arrival at Unit, October 21, 2011, 7:17 am, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19146
Processed through USPS Sort Facility, October 20, 2011, 9:25 pm, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19116
Processed through USPS Sort Facility, October 14, 2011, 8:55 pm, AMARILLO, TX 79120
Processed through USPS Sort Facility, October 12, 2011, 12:07 am, HONOLULU, HI 96820
Electronic Shipping Info Received, October 10, 2011

Fortunately, I do have another nice chattaladae seedling I received recently from Olympic Orchids, but I wanted to have several of them to hedge my bets.

Daethen · #2 10-21-2011, 11:26 AM

I would probably accept it and check them out. Maybe contact the vendor and let them know that you are going to check them out and see if he even wants payment. Some will just say good luck and let you keep them.

camille1585 · #3 10-21-2011, 11:33 AM

If the compot was shipped dry then I don't see why they wouldn't be fine. I've received plants in the past that had been in transit for 7-8 days and they looked perfect.
On the other hand if the plants were in damp medium, it may not be a pretty sight...

Too bad you can't refuse the package only after inspection of the contents.

Olivia · #4 10-21-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayfar

I hate Priority Mail®, but some vendors just don't do Fedex.

That's so weird. I've had the exact opposite experience with priority mail and fedex. But what a shame for the poor little plants. Hopefully everything works out.

Jayfar · #5 10-21-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olivia

That's so weird. I've had the exact opposite experience with priority mail and fedex. But what a shame for the poor little plants. Hopefully everything works out.

Thanks.

What I do with Fedex is that as soon as I have the tracking info, I go to the Fedex website and set the option to have it held for me at the nearby Fedex facility, which happens to be mere 10 minutes away by bus. Then, instead of waiting for a late afternoon delivery, I run down to the Fedex at around 9am and pick up my package.

tucker85 · #6 10-21-2011, 12:46 PM

If it was an orchid with a psuedobulb like a cattleya it could probably withstand a month in shipping. But I don't know how long a phal can last. Let us know how the plants are if you decide to open the box.

zxyqu · #7 10-21-2011, 01:07 PM

If the compot was watered, and the plants in sphag, then they would probably be just fine. However, with the recent cold spike in several places, I'd be worried about temp changes from Hawaii to Philly. If it's been a bit chilly, they might not make it. Dont know what's best. if the seller will let you open and keep regardless, go for it. If they want payment if it's opened, refuse it.

Jayfar · #8 10-21-2011, 03:40 PM

Looks like at least 2 of the 3 may survive. These are itty bitty seedlings, but all but 1 leaf on the smallest one are intact and not wilted. The roots are dry. They were in a little bit of spag (now dry) on top of some bark mix. I have them all soaking in a solution of water with a little bit of sugar, fert, KLN, seaweed extract and a few grains of epsom salt. I'll rinse them off in an hour or so and pot them up in some spag.

Bud · #9 10-21-2011, 04:01 PM

I dont think it will be a problem. Theres no frost yet from Hawaii to PA all post offices are in a controlled climate environment plus it is inside a box and inside a van. The only problem is if was banged about and the contents are physically strewn about.
I received a bulbophyllum phalaenopsis taken out of a flask and put inside a sealed plastic bag and it took 14 days to arrive to me by mail (which is ridiculous since I live with in miles of 4 major intl. airports (JFK, La Guardia, Newark and Islip) I receive overnight FEDEX,UPS,USPS, DHL etc...)
It arrived to me in very good condition and I even took my time repotting every itty bitty plant I have and now its all thriving and happy.