"Strategies" for "rescuing" orchids from grocery stores/big box stores

[LadySoren]

I recently asked an acquaintance of mine what the grocery store she works at does with orchids that aren't doing very well or are done/finishing blooming. Her answer was simple. "Dumpster."
She also said that they sell some for cheap cheap if they think they can get some money for it.

Obviously different store managers will have different opinions for how they want to handle the situation.

Do any of you have experience "rescuing" orchids from grocery/big box stores?
I feel bad for them now that I know their fate, even tho I figured that would be her answer.

Any strategies for rescuing successfully? ;P

Thought I'd ask.

[Stray59]

Many, Many of us are rescuers!!!! Happily!
Currently I am nursing two Cattleya hybrids bought for $2.00 each and a mule-ear Oncidium that only had one leaf on it for $1.00. When I got home I realized the Oncidium's crown had rotted - BUT two new starts were emerging from under the leaf and now they are about 2" high in just a couple of weeks. The Cat's are ready to repot now and have really good looking root and leaf growth.
It can be a challenge and everyone has their own suggestions for how to tend to them, but they are usually a cheap buy and you get great experience from trying to get them back to health!
Just don't bring home bugs or one's that look like they may be viral or really infectious -
Best of luck!
Steve

[SlipperGirl]

I have rescued a phal it was in bad shape all roots are rotted off and it lost three of its six leaves.

The first thing I did was cut its flowers off, thay where coming off and it was in such bad shape I wanted it to focus on leaves and roots. Then I repoted it in mostly new zealand sphagnum moss really tight. Then I just made sure it had good light was warm and it is now giving me a new leaf and two roots are starting to come.

As to the stores just throwing the orchids in the garbage is very sad because if you think about it grocery stores in the US must kill 100s or more orchids a year I have seen stores that have almost dead phals and they will be selling them for $25.00 I like the stores that will sell them sheap so they have a chance of selling.

[Stray59]

I think the amount of plants that go to waste, especially in the large chain stores is more like in the hundreds of thousands of plants - so the resources and energy it took to raise them is just waste! I was told it was cheaper to throw them than to try and keep them alive for a long term in the store - once the blooms are gone most orchid plants are not big sellers to the general public - thus they get neglected and head to the dump. America is horrible about such wastes.
I agree - if the plant is suffering - get rid of the blooms. I usually repot immediately unless the plant is doing really well. I always dip the plant, bareroot or in the pot with planting media, in a general fungicide solution with some mild fertilizer, or if available a transplant specific booster added. If needed I use a pesticide, although I usually look close for infestations before I buy.
If the plant is in really bad shape, either kept too moist or too dry, I have had luck with removing all the planting media, remove any dead or dying roots, and soaking the plant as suggested. Then I lay it in a large ceramic pot that has moist coco chunks in the bottom. I don't actually plant the roots at first - I let them get plenty of air, but keep the humidity high around them by misting the ceramic pot and wetting the foliage at least once every day; I place the pot in with my other orchids - I have a small fan keeping air moving around the plants so I don't have an issue with fungus - this has worked well for Phalaenopsis, Cattleya -type, Oncidium-type and Dendrobium varieties.
This way I can really monitor the growth of the roots - once there are enough healthy, growing roots, I transplant to a appropriate potting media and enjoy a "cheap thrill".
Hope this gives you some ideas or tips!
Steve

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[Stray59]

Here are a couple of B. digbyana X L. purpurata that I purchased about 4 weeks ago - $2.00 each I think - When I got them home the entire root mass was rotted on both, so I just cleaned them well, soaked them a couple hours and plunked them into these two ceramics - I have left them alone until just now. The first one had a couple new roots forming when I bought it - the second had NO viable roots, but the foliage was really quite strong.
Hope this inspires you to try - sometimes even hopeless cases will surprise you!
An example -

[Ordphien]

The phal amabilis that currently blooming in my kitchen with 18 flowers came out of the dumpster behind Trader Joes.
Which for all of you out there is where Trader Joes puts their out of bloom orchids.
It had no roots, and one half dead severly shriveled leaf
It's now got 7 leaves tons of roots and 18 flowers just a few years later.

My method was pretty simple.
Basically sphag and bag, I did take a kelp vitamin that was lying around and mash it into a paste which I smeared on the base of the phal and misted every few days.
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[james mickelso]

James and many other orchid lovers everywhere says thank you to all who strive to help keep these orchids alive instead of letting them die the american way. I have been rescueing orchids of all kinds for a long time and salute those who do the same. There are so many orchid clubs who would love to have these orchids, once they are again viable, to sell on their raffle tables to help defray the costs of running the clubs. There are lots of elderly folks who would love to have a beautiful orchid in the homes that they otherwise could not afford to own. And lots of potential newbies that would love to learn using these cheap or free orchids. And then there is "you" who took the time and expended the effort to save them and now can enjoy the fruits of your labors. Hats off to you.
PS- These were nearly all rescues of one type or another.

[LadySoren]

Thank you all for your input!
As you've said, a lot of them are probably in bad shape so, cut off the bad parts, repot, and love water and love. About right?

When I go to rescue an orchid from a store, do you suggest I ask to speak to a manager or who do you ask about that? And those who dumpster dive, are you physically going through the store's dumpsters or do you actually ask the store about the one's they're going to trash and they show you?
Is there a best time of day when they're getting ready to trash the orchids or is it just whenever you go to the store?

I like to have a plan of action before I go and do something. hah

Thanks again!

I hope I don't bring any bugs/diseases home. Maybe I should research more about that beforehand....

[NYCorchidman]

All the major stores here in NYC do not throw away orchids. They simply take them back to whoever they got them from. makes me wonder, but that's how it is.

If someone knocks off orchids and damage them badly, then they do throw away the pots.
and these pots are free. I saved quite a few.
I had to wash real good in a dilution of clorox before using them though, of course. just in case.

[Stray59]

james michlso:
You have quite a phenom collection - why would anyone throw away something so easy to revive and sell? Lack of knowledge I suppose.
I would definitely ask the manager about reducing the price if there is one that looks really rough. And before I go Dumpster Diving, I ask - the dumpster is their property and (at least in Illinois/Indiana area) you can be charged with trespassing. Often when they dumpster something they have no intention of someone taking it out and getting it for free, but some managers are more understanding than others. I feel you should ask first; but what you choose to do after the store is closed and you happen to be parked in front of their dumpster at 3:00 am, wearing clothes appropriate from crawling around in a trash bin, flashlight in hand - well that is your decision to make! LOL!
Steve