Home Depot throws all orchids away once flowers drop?

[Tutmos]

I just found this a bit amazing. I was at Home Depot today and picked up a couple phals to replace losses to S&H not working out. I noticed a huge number of phals and some paps under the decking in the dark, at least 30 of them with cut stems. I asked the employee that covers the area and he said they throw them all out. I asked if I could take some of them and he said it was still full price.

How's that for messed up? Other than dropping flowers they looked like very healthy plants.

[Graehstone]

I used to work for an Orchid nursery here in the San Diego area and Home Depot was one of the places we supplied with Orchids.
I too found out that they would toss them out into the dumpster when they were out of flower. Needless to say I got caught "dumpster diving" once at one that I knew where they were throwing a bunch of stuff away.
This particular store now compacts all their plants regardless of the type.
It's a "Money" driven world and Lord forbid someone should get something for free when there could be a dollar made with it.
Just my 2 cents.

[Dorothy]

Two words - dumpster diving

I am surprised .. many times the big stores send them back to the suppliers who I assume replace them with ones that are in bloom .. How sad it is that they would be thrown away because they no longer look 'pretty' with flowers .. It's a terrible shame and just wrong! ..

[Dorothy]

Graeh - you beat me to it

[kiki-do]

That's horrible! I am a little too vocal about stuff like that. I would have asked for the manager and give him/her a piece of my mind.
Grrrr....they could have offered to sell them for a minor cost to cover shipping them there or something. Just knowing they do that really fries my butt!
We should flood the HD headquarters with letters/emails protesting the murder of orchids. I'm really outraged!

[flhiker]

Hi all, The Home Depot I deal with the most told me that the supplier takes them when they bring new. What they do with them, who knows. But true! I have a friend that worked there and they would rather destroy merchandise rather then give them away. A group like Habitat for Humanity could use a lot of what they destroy.

[Tutmos]

I would have been willing to buy some so long as it was a substantial discount.

[jim blanford]

I was shocked to find that my H.D. also they said they were sorry but they had to destroy them once they were out of flower, what a shame. Jim.

[khill]

I've never asked about that at my local H-D, but I have been there several times when the supplier is bringing in new orchids and bromeliads. I've watched them, and they put out new ones, move things around, and take back the ones that maybe don't look too good, etc.

Perhaps it depends on the supplier.

[gmdiaz]

Sure is wasteful. . .