Where does everybody buy their orchids?

[Bud]

Most rare orchids in Europe come from a seller in Germany. There is a seller in Netherlands who can also give common species. There is also a reliable hybrider/vendor outskirts of London and you just have to find them online.
The best thing for you to do is Google for orchids that you want to care for then it will tell you where you can find it near your area.
That is how I acquire my orchids.
I also go to orchid shows but I don't find the orchids that I want. Sometimes I will just buy something for the sake of buying and I end up regretting my purchased orchid.
My best bet is looking at pictures of the flowers and the whole plant itself then I acquire it. I have ordered orchids from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and two South American countries because I refuse to settle for what is offered to me in a shop or in a show.
My latest dream orchid was the rare mouse tailed Bulbohyllum endemic to Florida= that after two years I finally now acquired from a grower there.
Now I have to search for my next quest.

[RandomGemini]

Bud, I don't think I will ever get as passionate about this hobby as you are. Bulbos are cool, but weird. I want to like them and I do find them fascinating because I wonder what sort of environmental processes created such crazy looking flowers, but some of them look like aliens. I'm not sure I'll ever get into them. Maybe in a few years… we'll see.

Edit: Oh, yeah I had a point to make. If you're like me and are planning to grow indoors in your home and don't have a ton of space to dedicate to orchid growing, I think you'll want to start by searching for local sources, then you'll probably find yourself wanting to mail order in some unique plants for your dream garden later on down the line.

[Bud]

I don't go for rare or expensive orchids....I have to look at the way the flower is proportionate to the plant ....and if I love it then I will obsess about it until I finally get it in my possession.
I love all white orchids....and I hated purple orchids because it associated with mourning and death....Not until I saw the blue Vandas....they are actually lavender or deep purplish blue but I saw how the flowers cascaded in proportionate to the leaves and how the plant and roots looks and I fell madly in love with them and I now care for vandas even how hard it is to grow them in my zone....its what the eye covets....

---------- Post added at 05:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 PM ----------

Its also an acquired taste. Bulbophyllum have a wide variety of choices....some are fragrant and some smell bad....some have a symmetrical shape and some have a 'weird' shape as you said....some are tiny and some have six feet leaves....not all are abstract art....some Bulbophyllums also get classic lines, textures, form and proportionate beautiful blooms.

---------- Post added at 05:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 PM ----------

* get in touch with euplusia who is from Germany. I have seen very interesting orchid pictures from various posts.

[DaRealKevinGibson]

I get my orchids from Lowe's or Home Depot but I think I'm going to start hitting my local florists and go to the New Orleans Botanical Gardens to attend my local orchid society's meetings and buy from individual sellers. Got to get my HANDS on a Lady Slipper!!!

[kindrag23]

@DaRealKevinGibson, check out ebay if you bust there or Carter&Holmes they have a special on amazon 6 paphs. for 50? plus 16 for shipping. 6 of my phal's, 1 vanda, are from them and they are wonderful, the only downfall is their shipping prices. OUCH!

[Bud]

Most of the orchids on my list are either given to me or I traded them for back bulbs when I repot. I was also lucky to inherit a lot of orchids from a friend who went back to Europe and left me all his major specimen collection. Otherwise, I will not be able to afford to buy most of the orchids I already have.

[kindrag23]

@BUD wow they gave you their collection (or most of them) wowza. Just wowza.

[naoki]

I've never bought plants from EU, but there are couple well known places:

Home
Elsner orchids
Popow Orchids - Herzlich willkommen!
Orchideen und Orchideenzubehr der Schwerter Orchideenzucht
Cypripedium.de (Frosch®)

Also, you might want to check here for a few UK-based nurseries:
The Orchid Mall - Plant Sources

In addition to that, you can pre-order from international vendors who are visiting EU orchid shows (Ecuagenera, Peruflora, Floralia, Ten-Shin Gardens etc). The acclimation process seems to be a bit more difficult with international orders (but you'll eventually get there!).

[Paul]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

@DaRealKevinGibson, check out ebay ...

A caveat or -- perhaps better -- a cautionary note with that route:

1) Do not fall for the "rare" hype -- on Ebay it seems EVERYTHING is "rare" or "ultra rare" when it fact little of it is.

2) Shop around FIRST. Check out the plants offered by orchid nurseries and their prices (including shipping). Then you can hit Ebay and see if you can happen upon an actual good deal. Keep in mind that if you order from an overseas vendor, you will incur additional expenses beyond the plant and shipping fee.

[kindrag23]

@Paul ahh yes I forgot about thanks thanks for the reminder