Buying Orchids Online

[cbuchman]

An internet search will give your shows near you . You can also check out the AOS (American Orchid Society listing) Orchid Event Calendars. Shows are a great place to visit several vendors all at once. Talk to the vendors about your conditions and they will make great recommendations. I've acquired some interesting and usual plants that work in my environment this way. Have fun!

[Connie Star]

I have to sing the praises of J&L Orchids in Ct. I have bought a lot of things from them, both by mail and at shows. They specialize in small species and hybrids, particularly small phals, masdies and pleurothalids. I have bloomed a number of seedlings from them without any difficulty, although it does require patience. They also describe the cultural requirements of each orchid so you can know whether it will work for you.
I've also had good luck with Andys Orchids, although I've learned to avoid mounted orchids because I can't care for them properly.
I'm not much into Cattleyas so haven't ordered from hausermans or Santa Barbara.
About half of my 80 or so orchids are mail orders, including a hand ful from ebay. But if you are going to buy from ebay you really, really have to scour OB for recommendations first.
The only vendor I've had real problems with only sells at shows- her plants are gorgeous, awarded and die after a few months- I suspect she grows them too fast and doesn't pay enough attention to the condition of the plants as opposed to getting them to flower.

[The Orchid Boy]

"The only vendor I've had real problems with only sells at shows- her plants are gorgeous, awarded and die after a few months- I suspect she grows them too fast and doesn't pay enough attention to the condition of the plants as opposed to getting them to flower."

This could be what another member (on SlipperTalk) calls "bloom and bust". Using fertilizer with too much P and K and not enough N. He counter acted this by flushing with plain, pure water and then used K-lite.

[Connie Star]

"This could be what another member (on SlipperTalk) calls "bloom and bust". Using fertilizer with too much P and K and not enough N. He counter acted this by flushing with plain, pure water and then used K-lite."
Interesting. That might be the problem. The first one I bought I just figured it was me. Second one same thing. By the third one I began to wonder- did that stop my from buying #4? I wish. I just have to think of them as long-lived cut flowers. I will try the flushing though.

[The Orchid Boy]

All plants need P and K, slow growing plants (orchids, tropicals) need much less than fast growing plants (vegetables, annuals). The orchids have no "regulators" to stop intake of excess P and K. Those 2 nutrients build up and can cause awesome blooming followed by sudden death. They block uptake of other nutrients and minerals. So just really flush plants with clean, pure water every time they need watered. Maybe even repotting and rinsing the roots and start with a clean pot would be good.

[Tommyr]

Andy's is great as is Kawamoto Orchids and Abita Orchids on eBay.

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

I also have to praise Abita Orchids on ebay as well. The only vandas I have ever been able to grow successfully have been from Will Brown at Abita. Nice plants with thick roots. He is one of my "saved sellers" and also has a website: Abita Orchids main page.

[sweetjblue]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

The only vendor I've had real problems with only sells at shows- her plants are gorgeous, awarded and die after a few months- I suspect she grows them too fast and doesn't pay enough attention to the condition of the plants as opposed to getting them to flower.

Connie, I think I know which vendor your speaking of and if its one and the same, I think the problem you may be having is with the way the orchids are potted from the original grower (in Taiwan). Most of these are potted in tightly packed moss. I've found that they will hold water for weeks, sometimes up to 4, before needing to be watered, especially in the winter. This along with cooler temps will lead to a fast rot of the root system.
What I've found that works for me is to remove about half of the moss especially from the center where it is very tightly packed and stays wetter longer. This allows for faster drying of the moss and the roots stay healthy. Once the plant is finished blooming it then gets repotted the way I know works for my conditions. I do this for most of my phals from other vendors too.
More than likely this is where your problem lies, for in all fairness, I have never had a problem with her plants that she has grown from flask and are generally potted up in bark.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack Becka.

If your into Phals, Big Leaf Orchids, is one you may want to check out.

Big Leaf Orchids, Fragrant and Novelty Phalaenopsis

Judi

[rangiku]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

The only vendor I've had real problems with only sells at shows- her plants are gorgeous, awarded and die after a few months- I suspect she grows them too fast and doesn't pay enough attention to the condition of the plants as opposed to getting them to flower.

Hi Connie, I've sadly killed my fair share of orchids from this vendor, but the vast majority are doing fine, even my very first four orchids from her in the fall of 2010. I started growing in the summer of 2010.

Others that are in larger pots of moss that haven't been repotted have spiked twice since purchasing them in bloom in 2011. Some are in spike right now.

Perhaps you should talk to her about this at the Amherst show. What I've learned is that cool/cold w.inter nights really set Phals back. If you can't raise temps, heating mats are good.

All but two of my first two orders from Hauserman's have gone to orchid heaven. Live and learn.

[Connie Star]

Thanks for the advice, everybody- and I too apologize to Becka for hijacking the thread.
Now I'm excited and I will but another orchid or two at our upcoming show next weekend, and flush, then remove most of the moss, which they are tightly packed in, and for good measure put in a new pot. I'm excited. I love phals.