Thailand Lost Box Found - Pics & Please Some Help! - Orchid Board

TOMMYMIAMI · #1 10-10-2013, 07:09 PM

Ok everyone, sorry for posting results little bit late, but it was hell of a day and roller coaster ride. After I did get memo package is ready for pick up, I did rush to get it. When I arrived, I discovered, there is the hole in the size of the fist, unsealed, opened, just staring at me. I could already see many dead leaves, but not if something is missing. When I got back home, the work began. I will post everything in few separate posts in this thread for you all to see.

GregorK · #2 10-10-2013, 07:13 PM

I think everyone is waiting for you to post some pictures, and of course we have our fingers crossed that most of the plants survived

TOMMYMIAMI · #3 10-10-2013, 07:14 PM

Ok, so result - from 18 ordered orchids, 3 orchids are missing - now, my gut feeling is that SOMEONE who had my package on the side waiting if it can be stolen completely got really pissed off when there was so much buzz over that, and when "returning" it back to sorting, at least he/she did punch the hole and stole these 3. I may be wrong, but I trully believe this big hole did not happen during shipment, and when in customs, if they would open it, they would not open it like this and they would definitely seal it. IIt may be, that these 3 may have fall out of the box through the hole when in transport as well, but we will never know. All 3 missing were mini orchids, so they could be easily taken out through this hole or they could easily slip through this huge hole as well. Missing pieces are Porpax gigantea, Schoenorchis fragrance and Dyakia hendersoniana

TOMMYMIAMI · #4 10-10-2013, 07:18 PM

Now, from the 15 that were left in the package, unfortunately one Bulbophyllum does look beyond the point of survival - Bulbo daerei, it lost totally all the leaves and it is totally dry yellow with no signs of any good roots. There are another 2 bulbos that are not looking so great, I will post in few minutes about them. Here are some pics of the whole order and dead daerei

TOMMYMIAMI · #5 10-10-2013, 07:21 PM

Another 2 bulbos in question - Bulbophyllum Patens has all 3 leaves still attached, but it is really yellow and not sure if iit will survive - see please pics and if you have any tips, let me know. The other one, Bulbophyllum macranthum has good color but only one leave left on 3 bulbs division - I hope it will pull through???

TOMMYMIAMI · #6 10-10-2013, 07:25 PM

So, these 3 are mine main concern, the rest looks somehow ok or even good. So here we go:
There was Dendrobium anosmum, Dendrobium bracteosum and Dendrobium pendulum. Both anosmum and bracteosum seems ok, some spots on the leaves, some yellowing but it is in my opinion only sun damage and from stress in the box, anosmum is mounted in tree fern basket, bracteosum is in plastic basket. I do bet that all the dead leaves in the box were from Dendrobium pendulum, because it came only as a cane, the longest newest cane is kinda yellow, but there were some ok roots, it is potted in Dendro mix and I hope ot will pull through?

TOMMYMIAMI · #7 10-10-2013, 07:27 PM

Bulbophyllum medusae is still not mounted, it has all 4 leaves, and I thing that it looks just ok?

TOMMYMIAMI · #8 10-10-2013, 07:30 PM

Bulbophyllum pardalotum and Bulbophyllum Smitinandii look ok, both mounted already

TOMMYMIAMI · #9 10-10-2013, 07:35 PM

And here is the rest, I do not see too many issues with the rest, some of them are pretty good looking after nearly 3 weeks in the box, but only time will show: Catasetum pileatum, Chiloschista ramifera, Dyakia hendersoniana, Myrmecophila tibicinis, Paphiopedilum godefroyae, Paraphalaenopsis labukensis, Rhynchodenia magic wand, Schoenorchis fragrans and Seidenfadenia mitrata.

TOMMYMIAMI · #10 10-10-2013, 07:39 PM

So, this is it, it took me some hours to soak all of them, and mount or pot them. I did my best with the research I got, used tree fern, baskets, Paphiopedilum is in hydroton pebbles (my other one is growing well in them). I guess, with the stress and the situation this is still good result, but I am kinda healed with trying to order again from outside the USA. I must admit, I was more scared about clearing this, but paperwork was really outstanding (some 10 pages of certificates and papers inside), and clearing was a piece of cake, I guess, but our Miami USPS facility was the hell on Earth! I just do not want to go through this again, it was interesting first ever international order experience, and I am glad for whatever I have left, even the lost/stolen ones and dead ones piss me off, especially when I know it could be totally different result if USPS would work as suppose to!