How do you buy your orchids?

[ScottMcC]

With money, I know.

What I means is, how big are they when you buy them? Do you only get seedlings/mature plants/blooming plants? Do you order them from the internets/catalogs, or do you pick them out in person? What criteria do you look for in a new purchase?

I'll answer my own question later, don't have enough time right now.

[littlefrog]

In bulk... *grin* Actually I'm still trying to sell off the plants which came with the greenhouse (long story), so I don't buy as many plants as I used to.

I buy a lot of flasks and compots for the things I really like (weird or cutting edge slipper hybrids, species I can't find any other way, etc). In my attempt to pay the heat bill, I often supplement my already way too full greenhouse by buying plants near blooming size (wholesale, of course), although it is a stubborn matter of pride for me that I prefer to put the spikes and flowers on myself - if I can't do it I don't really want to sell it.

I'm not immune to the temptation of a blooming orchid hybrid at a show (if I have time to look), but I'm pretty close to immune now. If there is something I absolutely need to have for breeding, or a 'classic' paph clone, I'll buy it as big as I can find it. I will buy species orchids (in the genera I like) whenever I find them, though, retail or wholesale.

I actually wrote up a little story on my old website about selecting plants... it is linked to my new website. That was before you could find everything on the internet. I like to shop in person, but I confess that I actually buy almost everything over the web.

[ScottMcC]

ok so here's my answer to my own question. Almost all of them I bought in person, in bloom/bud, mainly because I like to see what I'm really getting, and I don't trust photos. I'm also low on patience, so ordering things off the internets or getting seedlings are lower on my list. as for what I look for, the first thing is how it looks, then followed quickly by do I think I could keep it alive. and of course, cost always factors in.

on the other hand, I do have my test plants which are seedlings, and I did get an ascocenda off the internets, and provided the project 2 orchid is cool I'll be getting that off the internets too, so I'm not completely set in my ways.

[Tindomul]

For some strange reason, in three's. Only once did I buy a single plant at one time. Oh well. I haven't bought any flasks, seeds, or seedlings. Always something that will give me a flower in a year or less. Hopefully.
Plus I've bought them all online or at shows. My Home Depot NOID's were not bought by me.

[Oscarman]

Started out buying large catt seedlings 2-3 yrs from flowering and mature catts, phals and paphs so that I could grow some to blooming and have some blooming in the meantime. Over the last few years been buying flasks - paphs, phals and some catts and B/S phals. I buys from any source that is reputable, in person, online, society meetings, orchid shows, other members, visiting guests at meetings and the occasional Home depot/garden centre offerings.

Criteria:
- hybrids from species that fascinate me with their color, shape or fragrance.
- awarded clones that stand out as being a milestone in a particular line of breeding.

[Tikva]

Hmmm
I buy deals. Whatever seems like a low price for what I'm looking for. I have a few specifically unspecific things I look for - like I need an orchid with waxy leaves - maybe several different species. I adore the Catt type with the white petals and ink purple ruffle.
Now I really really want minis.
I don't buy in person at all anymore, because there is NOTHING in person neat to me - nothing but the very rare Dend, the usual suspect dying Phals.... I am in orchid wasteland!!!
I'll take seedling cause I LOVE watching things grow and seeing the progress - more than the flowers. My heart skips a beat when I see more ROOTS or a new growth than just flowers lol!! I actually get excited when flowers fall because I know now my plant can grow LOL!
I like mature plants and flowers so some of my collection looks less like sloppy weeds (since I buy deals, some plants come to me in sloppy state)
I am ONLY asking others who they recommend now, since I have been burned so many many times!!

[justatypn]

I have to admit I was drawn by the blooms, they are like non-other. The bloom must be a starter bloom, not anywhere close to being through it's blooming cycle. Actually found a few locally at HD, local markets, nurseries and yes, who can't resist the sickly looking ones that you can bring back from their dying medium. I now buy online, sight unseen, which makes it alike x-mas all year long. So far, I like what I have bought and liking the mini's more and more, my space is limited, but lately have been looking around my home and wow, unimaginable space is popping up right in front of my eyes so the smaller the more chids I can buy...great concept.

[Ray]

C'mon folks. We all know that the correct and most valid answer is "any way I want, whenever I can!"

If I'm at a show or nursery, I browse. If I see something I really like, home it goes, unless the price is rediculous, and that's not always a deterrant.

Online, I look for stuff I really want for my own collection, preferring as mature a plant as I can reasonably get.

The whole starting basis of "Fist Rays" was rebuilding a collection lost to a heater failure on a 7-degree (F) night, so I look for wholesale deals on anything from flasks to seedlings to spiking plants that I want for ME, keep one or two, and offer the others for sale. That's why you don't often see me repeating a previous offer.

[justatypn]

Great concept Ray, a truely great orchid grower. Like dah, I thought you were a local Floridian, did not know your in my borne state, short lived but still have claiming rights.

[Paul]

Don't think I've ever bought a seedling ... I don't want to wait that long. Space is at a premium [I live in an apt] so I really have little desire to "waste" the limited space on seedlings that may or may not survive and may or may not bloom & may or may not have blooms I actually like. So I go for blooming plants.

I prefer to pic my plants out in person so I can not only make sure I like the color, but also so I can check the plant itself out.