Bulb. sumatranum - my latest acquisition!

[TwoStems]

Lovely bloom! Looks like a very healthy plant

[silken]

Originally Posted by camille1585

So it sounds like the shipping costs for orchids are going to be higher as well. Doesn't sound like a good move, getting even further away from their clients and making things more difficult/expensive.

Oh ya, ferry's are quite expensive to use. I think they are downsizing somewhat and those on the west coast who grow orchids will benefit. But they will be at the far end of a large country!

[eggshells]

Thanks, There is a place here who sells fine bark but it is labeled as frog substrate? Not sure if that would work but I think I will end up using that one.

[glengary54]

Originally Posted by silken

I wish I could see the real thing, but it won't be delivered to me till July. Paramount did say they were good size blooms on compact plants and good form and colour.

Well the guys at Paramount didn't lie to you, the color and form are wonderful, good for you.

[silken]

Thanks Glen. I haven't seen many of these Bulbos and only in pictures at that so I'll take your word for it It looks like it will need to be re-potted as soon as i get it.

[NatalieS]

Thank you for posting those pics! I'm working on growing my first bulbo (lobbii) and can finally see properly where the 'spikes' may grow from since sumatranum is sometimes referred to as a variety of lobbii.

I am envious of your beautiful plant!

[silken]

Thanks NatalieS. Good luck with the lobbii and be sure to show us blooms when they happen!

[NatalieS]

Thanks Silken!

[Oscarman]

Neat Bulbo. Have you guys checked with Willgro? Maybe Marlene is willing to workout a plan with your society. We rarely do society orders for media, so not sure how it will work.

Originally Posted by silken

Thanks all. This caught my eye when we were voting for the latest spring project plants. And then there has been one or two posted on here since.

Paramount is moving in the fall to the West coast-Vancouver Island. They are 650 km. from us now in Alberta but luckily we always attended the Calgary Orchid show as a society and my sister lives there. So they were a prime source for large bags of bark, perlite, the moss and a few other things for our society. Shipping from Vanc. Island won't be possible as the rates are high because ferries are needed to get to the mainland. That drives the price up for shipping. So we are left high and dry without a good outlet for orchid potting supplies that would be affordable. We do have a local gardening and farm supply store that has been getting a bit more in and I have spoken to the guy in charge or ordering, so we may have to pursue that more thoroughly! Paramount has been trying to arrange this move for close to 2 years now, but it is finally actually happening.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Neat Bulbo. Have you guys checked with Willgro? Maybe Marlene is willing to workout a plan with your society. We rarely do society orders for media, so not sure how it will work.

One of our members did check and she sells wholesale boxes of 12 small bags of bark. They were considerably more $$ because they are already pre-bagged into small ones. We have enough for a while now and will have to seriously check our options once we start up in the fall. I am also interested to see what the Regina society does for supplies as individuals or as a group. May be able to work something out with them as a joint order somewhere. We can get large bales of Chilean moss from a garden centre locally here and we got one recently for a lot less $$ than the NZ moss. Some swear by it so will give it a go. Bummer that they are moving for sure!

Any idea what some of your large private growers are going to do once Paramount is gone?