Grocery Store Orchids

[quiltergal]

I think you have a 50/50 chance of getting something with a name on it. I've seen both in grocery stores here. Our distributor here is Nurserymen's Exchange. I always look for a name and if someone in the store asks me if I would like to buy it I always say no if it has no tag and tell them why. I'm a collector and am not about to spend 20+ bucks on a no name plant when I can order a named one online for less. They just kind of give me this look.

[dave b]

Though they may not come out and say it, the mass producers arent real concerned if you learn to care for and rebloom their plants. Buy it in bloom, pitch it when its done and go buy more.

[Gwenchanter]

I also bought a phal at BJ's wholesale market but it actually had a tag! Brother Lancer. Anways, I think it sucks that so many main-stream store orchids are not tagged. Still, one of my most profuse bloomers to this day is a noid from Publix supermarket. (Which incendently was selling some spectacular looking cymbidums for 34.99 around valentines day.) If I wasn't trying to contain my collection to phals for the time being (and if I wasn't a poor college student) I would have bought one.

[susiep]

Dave, I agree. And although the mass produced plants we see in grocery stores look good right now.... you can bet they have been rushed through the growing cycle with above normal amounts of chemicals, hormones, who know what else (like the other produce). Problably creating weaker, less likely to thrive after blooming, plants in the process.

[quiltergal]

It does say something about the growers expectations for the plants when you buy them in the cut flower section of the store.

[boardybell]

I certainly know they aren't for purists, and have been abused terrible en route to their final destination. It is obvious with price points of 1499 and 1999 that these plants we destined for the garbage can.