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

[SHag42]

Hello all,

I just received a new order of phals today from Carter & Holmes.
1-Newberry bouquet "blushing Bride" Bare Root
1- corningiana Bountiful x Graprade" in moss
The other 2 Michael Crocker Contrast and Be Tris Newberry
were in this medium that looks like sponge rock and a little dirt. Never seen this in a orchid plant before. Wondering if any one else has. I just found this to be a little odd. Should I go ahead and repot them in bark?

I am excited about my new orchids they all are near blooming size and I can't wait to see them bloom.

[kindrag23]

I don't care for the Carter and Holmes mix, so I replant in Better gro for phal's and they all seem to be doing quite well.

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I don't care for the Carter and Holmes mix, so I replant in Better gro for phal's and they all seem to be doing quite well.

Yeah I didn't care to much for it either. Figured I will repot them this weekend. It just kinda seemed weird to me and I wondered if anyone else had gotten plants this way.
I use the better gro also but it is the special blend. the one for phals has peat in it and stays to wet with the humidity here in Fl.
Thanks and Happy Growing.

[AnonYMouse]

Are those two seedling sized? I've had one plant come with its roots in a brownie plug which was drop-potted in conventional media.

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Are those two seedling sized? I've had one plant come with its roots in a brownie plug which was drop-potted in conventional media.

No the are not suppose to be. They were listed as blooming size. I will let you know what is inside the pot when I repot them this weekend. I hate those plugs. They are hard to remove and rot the middle of the roots.

---------- Post added at 09:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I was pretty grossed out by the media my order came in. Maybe it's just because they mass produce things, that they don't put them in a quality mix. I'm probably not going order from them again any time soon. They'd have to have some cross I can't find somewhere else that is in spike/bud to get me to order again.

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

[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 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

[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]

What is a brownie plug?

[jeremyinsf]

I was pretty grossed out by the media my order came in. Maybe it's just because they mass produce things, that they don't put them in a quality mix. I'm probably not going order from them again any time soon. They'd have to have some cross I can't find somewhere else that is in spike/bud to get me to order again.