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[katrina]

From what I can see...it's not the healthiest looking catt I've seen...but it doesn't look like rot.

The issue w/the root is that it looks like it's probably had some rough treatment (mechanical damage) and it's died off. If the lower portion of the root is still good it could branch but it that lower portion is just as brown and dead then the root will be of no use to the plant.

Based on the appearance of the pbulbs...the plant looks very dehydrated so my guess is the plant is just "eating" those back pbulbs in order to survive.

Was this sold as a division?

Any chance we can get a pic of the whole plant? I'm curious how the leaves look.

[LovePhals]

No, this plant was not cheap and from a reputable place with very good reviews. It was not sold as division but bloom size plant (doesn't look like bloom size to me). I was disappointed when I got it. I can see it is a division and where it was cut. I also thought it looked dehydrated.

[Hiester]

Let's put it this way, I would not have paid very much at all for this plant had I been shopping in person at a reputable orchid house or retailer. I think $5.00 would have been max considering the amount of care and work it would take to redeem this puppy.

[judith_arquette]

Therein lies the problem with buying something you really can't examine first. I just recently placed several online orders and have mostly been pleased but as other members have stated, when you order online the only thing u can really expect is to receive the plants. Def let the vendor know you're displeased and keep us posted. Good luck.

The sticky "an orchid buyers guide for beginners" has tons of great info too

[katrina]

The leaves look good.

OK...first things first...division doesn't mean cheap or expensive...it's just that a division can sometimes react and look very different than one that is not a division. A division...especially a back bulb division can come to you w/very few (if any!) viable roots...that's just the way it is. However, a strong division will produce new growths that go on to produce your new and healthy roots. I've bought and been given some VERY rough looking division (not even back bulbs!) and they were perfectly healthy.

Example...a few months back I bought a division of C nobilior (3 growth) and I paid $50 for it. I thought that was a good deal because even though it was a tad rough looking it was a strong division. It has since made a new growth and is now making new roots but it will be a couple of years before I have what I would call a pretty plant.

C walkeriana is one of my favorites (I have 5 cultivars!) and quite frankly...they can sometimes be funky looking plants and yet they can still be very, very healthy. They are not big plants and many times a small plant will cost a good deal more than a much larger complex hybrid.

I don't know how much you paid for this but, personally, if it's a good cultivar...even $50 might not be asking too much for what I'm seeing in that pot. When it comes to price though...it's a very subjective topic because what one person considers expensive...the next person will think a bargain. The bottom line...you plant can be grown on very well...it has no apparent illness or disease and should do very well for you provided it's given the correct conditions in which it will thrive.

With all of that said...if you received something other than what was advertised (especially if it's much smaller than described) then you have reason to be displeased and should speak up.

[RandomGemini]

I purchased this same plant from the same vendor she did and my plant does NOT look like that. I was concerned about some blackening around one of the pbulbs and carefully pulled away the brownish bract type material and found healthy green plant underneath, that's it. Roots, everything looks awesome.

My plant does NOT look like this. I would DEFINITELY email the vendor about this. I'd be peeved if I mail ordered a plant from them and got one that looked like this without at least an email forewarning me that the thing was a little bit rough. They should at least give you free shipping on your next order.

C. Walkeriana is truly a miniature cattleya. The plant is supposed to be under 6" tall, I believe that your plant is blooming size. My plant had evidence of past blooming.

---------- Post added at 09:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------

Regarding the price, it was not 50$. It was expensive compared to what I usually pay for an orchid, but I mostly buy phal and oncidium hybrids. This price was pretty average for a cattleya.

I don't see cattleyas marked for significantly less than this very often and those plants that are cheaper than that are almost always seedlings, rarely blooming size, unless the plant is in rough shape and is on the clearance page.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by vjo

They will never know you aren't satisfied if you don't tell them. Be nice but let them know....Jean

I could not ditto this more than I ditto this! Starting....for YOU and your life force and autonomy and sense of being in charge of your own life.

When we have integrity and deal in good faith, we must never let that be compromised by rolling over for sleazoid, Less Than businesses without integrity.

Forget, again, that is how Capitalism is meant to work.

[LovePhals]

I could not be more happy with the way they handled it and were also very kind. Will def shop with Seattle again.. really great service!

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

I could not be more happy with the way they handled it and were also very kind. Will def shop with Seattle again.. really great service!

Very happy-making to hear! As always, vital to chase all the data and make a viable differential assesment based on all of them.

[RandomGemini]

I'm so glad they made it right for you!