New order from C&H in what looks like potting soil

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by SHag42

I have to say I might agree with you. I had two orders come this week. This one and one from Oak hill, the seedlings I received from Oak hill all came packaged well and planted in bark. The plants all look healthy, just small. Which I think is going to be great fun watching them grow. The ones I got from C&H were not is that good of shape. In fact the one that was bare root has most of the center roots rotted out and the rest don't look so hot. The rest I will know more about when I pull the out of the mess they are in. I will take picks and post them when I repot.
Who do you order from now? I have looked around and it is hard to find a place to order orchids that does not have outrageous prices. I know some orchids are expensive but some of these places are charging top dollar for common orchids. I don't mind paying good money for quality plants but I don't want to be ripped off either. I would greatly appreciate any advise on this.

Thanks

Well, I've tried several places this year, including both of those, and what I've come to realize is that I'm probably not going to be happy ordering online off a website where I can't look at the actual plant or talk to the owner about them before buying. Every time it's just from a site, it's been a major let-down. Mind you, I'm from Northern California where I'm able to visit some large nurseries, and I'm mostly only into paph's, phrags, and masdevallias. So for me, there are only so many choices in plants, at all. I have some really large specimen plants I've acquired locally, as well as a couple I got by a nursery sending me a photo of the plant, and me paying good money for it, along with shipping.

I've had some plants off ebay, with mixed results. Having said that, considering my list is getting short of what I want and don't have, it's more than likely one of the only remaining places to 'look'. At least then, I know what I'm getting (I only will bid on an actual plant) and know what I will pay to have it shipped. All the same, I could get a plant with bad roots etc, but as I've said in other posts before, I've never gone to a nursery and uprooted every plant I was considering to inspect roots. I have, however, asked that to be done with more expensive plants and was happily obliged.

I think my paramount thought is that I have had the best plants and best experiences buying them from people (i.e. actual individuals) that care about what they are doing and take pride in their work. Sometimes that's talking to an owner on the phone, and sometimes it's face-to-face.

I'm a relationship-based person, and people that meet me figure that out very quickly, and know I care about this stuff and want quality. I respect their work and will pay fairly for what I'm getting. I've always, with one exception, been treated very fairly in return. The other was a orchid hoarder who spends too much time with her plants and not enough time with human beings ;-) I still learned a few things from that experience, however. In the mean time, I was advised recently by someone I trust a lot... reminded, shall we say - to wait for a 'good plant' rather than getting 'one' now, just so I can cross it off my list. It was great advice. I have enough other plants for now - I'd rather have a great new one, than just a tag next to a weak plant that might not last or be worth keeping around.
<end ramble>

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

C&H does pot some stuff in pro-mix (peat and perlite) from what I've seen. Many orchids, including Phals, do very well in this kind of mix provided you use it right.

Nothing wrong with repotting things right away if you don't like pro-mix but I'm a little puzzled by the apparent disapproval of C&H's quality/growing practices I'm seeing expressed here. As far as I've seen C&H sells excellent plants at very fair prices.

I just was a little disappointed with my bare root phal and am not saying that all there plants would be bad. It was my first time ordering plants from the web and I expected big healthy roots, The leaves look good and I am not sure about the others until I repot them. the prices are good can't complain there. that is why I ordered form them. And I saw them recommended on this board. As for the potting mix they use, it maybe fine but I had never seen it used before.

[DweamGoiL]

I ordered from several vendors this Summer. The best quality plant I received was from Carter & Holmes, a Paph Oberhausen's Diamant. It was in great condition when it arrived and needed no cleanup; no dead leaves, no parasite markings, etc. The leaves were perky and a healthy grassy and glossy shade of green. The other vendors I ordered from were not as impressive.

[kindrag23]

My only 2 issues are potting material and shipping cost! Yikes!

---------- Post added at 09:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 PM ----------

Otherwise I get wonderful plants from them.

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I think my paramount thought is that I have had the best plants and best experiences buying them from people (i.e. actual individuals) that care about what they are doing and take pride in their work. Sometimes that's talking to an owner on the phone, and sometimes it's face-to-face.

I was advised recently by someone I trust a lot... reminded, shall we say - to wait for a 'good plant' rather than getting 'one' now, just so I can cross it off my list. It was great advice. I have enough other plants for now - I'd rather have a great new one, than just a tag next to a weak plant that might not last or be worth keeping around.
<end ramble>

Thanks for the advise, it is very good and makes sense. I am not as much a people person but I am very hands on and visual. I think that when you order something you have never seen what you imagine and what you get can be two very different things. Of course that doesn't mean what you got was necessarily bad just not the picture you had in your head. Which can lead to disappointment. If things ever slow down for me I would love to go to some of the nurseries further down in fl. I am in North Fl. and they anit jack here. I would have to drive 2 to 3 hours to get one. But one day soon i hope. Of course I better make sure the wallet if full before I go.
Cause I know I won't be coming back empty handed.

Thanks Again

[kindrag23]

I have ordered from kawamotto 5 or more times now. Each plant exceeds my expectations.

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by DweamGoiL

I ordered from several vendors this Summer. The best quality plant I received was from Carter & Holmes, a Paph Oberhausen's Diamant. It was in great condition when it arrived and needed no cleanup; no dead leaves, no parasite markings, etc. The leaves were perky and a healthy grassy and glossy shade of green. The other vendors I ordered from were not as impressive.

Glad to hear you got a great plant. I do know that orders can vary depending on when you order, how far it has to travel and what you order. I have placed orders with a company and be very happy one time and disappointed the next. I guess it could also depend on the who packed the plants and from what area that they took them. They do have a few more that I would like to have so I may try another small order to see how it goes. Thanks for the info.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I have ordered from kawamotto 5 or more times now. Each plant exceeds my expectations.

Cool I will have to check them out. Thanks.

[kindrag23]

They are awesome. And their boxes have a slip with hours of op. Number everything. They want u satisfied.

[jeremyinsf]

Originally Posted by SHag42

Thanks for the advise, it is very good and makes sense. I am not as much a people person but I am very hands on and visual. I think that when you order something you have never seen what you imagine and what you get can be two very different things. Of course that doesn't mean what you got was necessarily bad just not the picture you had in your head. Which can lead to disappointment. If things ever slow down for me I would love to go to some of the nurseries further down in fl. I am in North Fl. and they anit jack here. I would have to drive 2 to 3 hours to get one. But one day soon i hope. Of course I better make sure the wallet if full before I go.
Cause I know I won't be coming back empty handed.

Thanks Again

You are welcome! I do think expectations can be one of the biggest killers. Unfortunately, at least in some cases, mine are very very high. Which lands me where I am.

If you can't get to any soon, and want a new plant, maybe try to find something specific on ebay with an actual plant picture - you would have that, plus all the ratings etc. No matter what, have fun and enjoy!

---------- Post added at 07:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I have ordered from kawamotto 5 or more times now. Each plant exceeds my expectations.

All those plants, and no slippers :/

Nice psychopsis selection though!

[kindrag23]

Check jewellorchids I got a fantastic schomburgkia f
From them