What is a bag baby?

[plantluvver]

I have seen some orchids described as a bag baby and I would like to know what that is.

Thank you.

[DeaC]

The big-box stores(Lowes and Home Depot) may sell plants,usually small in stature and age,in pot in plastic bags. Those places in my area seemed to have d/c'ed this practice...never looked as tho they sold well and store personnel are not so knowledgeable about orchids!

[plantluvver]

Thank you,
The orchids I have seen are wrapped in a plastic sleeve, like florists use for cut flowers.

[pipsxlch]

What DeaC said. Not all Lowe's/Home Depot stores carry them; it seems to be both a regional and individual store thing. The displays are sometimes tucked in hidden corners; the stores rarely care for the plants so they may no longer be healthy when you do find them. They are from a nursery here in Florida (Sun-Bulb) that seems to be a grow out nursery wholesaling under the Better-Gro name 'bag babies', older blooming plants, and orchid supplies. (I don't know about the grow out part, but I have seen 'bag babies' and bloomers from other well known breeding/cloning nurseries. I have also seen plants with their names, both as grex and clone) The plants are of a variety of both species and hybrids, mostly cattleya and vanda alliances. They are in 2 sizes- 'plug' or seedling size babies about $7 and several years from blooming, and near blooming size about $13- these may even be blooming size on plants that bloom small. Others may be a couple years yet. They usually seem healthy on arrival at the stores, and can be an economical choice for the hobbyist who knows what they're getting. The pics on the hangtag are just representative and probably not the grex/species in the bag.
There was a thread recently on Lowe's bag babies, maybe you can find it.
I saw this yesterday and couldn't resist- Encyclia guadelupeae x. tampensis; here's pics of the packaging (pic is of Enc. cordigera var. rosea, so flowers WILL be different)



And here's one I've had for about 2 years now- Bc. Hippodamia x. C. aclandiae (which is Bc. Theresa Ricci); it's had 4 bloom flushes and is falling out of its spaghetti strainer; Pepsi can for size and I'm no great grower



Imagine a couple dozen of these

[plantluvver]

I think all the orchids I have ever seen locally have been sold in bloom. Or at least they WERE blooming when they first came into the store.

Thank you for the explanation.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have actually gotten some nice plants this way. If you see them, and find something you like, buy while healthy and before the stores neglect them too much. If they have something I like, I buy as soon as possible.

[plantluvver]

THe most likely place for me to shop are Fred Meyer's stores and Trader Joe's. At Trader Joe's the orchids are usually in nice condition.

At Fred Meyers, they will often cut the price in half, but if the orchid came in an ornamental pot, The price even at half off may be more than I am willing to spend. But every so often, they get new stock, and have to get the older stock out and mark it down before it gets to be really bad looking.

[piping plover]

I know this is an older post, but rather than start a new one I thought I’d try here first. Anyone know if BetterGro was selling the baggy babies to garden centers, wholesalers, florists in the 1980s? Yes, even before Home Depot and Lowe’s were nationwide.

Also, anyone know if there were other companies other than BetterGro selling these nationwide? Or was it most likely that a baggy baby in a retail shop in the 80s would have been from BetterGro?

I’m trying to narrow down options of suppliers to get an ID for a baggy baby noid I bought in the northeast in the 80s. I’m pretty sure it was BetterGro because an orchid nursery supplying wholesale 37 years ago would most likely be a FL nursery unless there were other nurseries doing the same thing in CA or something.

I contacted the folks at BetterGro and they have been super helpful to me. Just wanted to be sure I’m focused on the most probable supplier.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can provide!

Best,
Joe