Catasetum cristatum and Fredclarkeara "Black Pearl"

[kavanaru]

LOL that's why the cheap word is written between "__"

but now that you ask, 100% for a high quality plant (not a mass production NOID from the supermarket) is not really expensive! The bulb division, is not a mericlone, but a division of the original plant. This makes it more valuable!

As Tim mentionned, Paph divisions can be even more expensive! Paph can rarely be mericloned, therefore a division of a very good plant can reach astronomic prices... of course, an orchids lovers, who grows them just to have some flowers at home, will not buy these rare divisions.. It is breeders, who would buy them (or Orchids collectors freaks )

Paph sanderianum 'Rapunzel' AM/AOS (record guinnes for the longest petals ever) was offered once at over $ 40 000, while a particular clon of Phrag Jason Fischer was offered at $ 20 000, and some other Paphios have been offered for more than $ 100 000! If you think that's expensive, you should check the prices for especial plants of Japanese Hepaticas (some over a million dollars!) and some Neofinetia falcata divisions!

[Bruno De Toni]

Ok guys here is my opinion. I have this plant because it was given to me as a christmas gift nearly two years ago. I'm still believe that anyone should think twice to pay 100 box just looking a picture of the flower in a web page. Actually I'm a little bit dissapointed with this black pearl, because is not really black. The color is dark purple, I mean very very dark, but not black. I don't know if it is because the climate conditions of my greehouse or what, but it doesn't look as in the picture of the sunset webpage. I also believe that 100 box for an orchid is quite expensive but why we have to pay so much for a plant, well if you really like what you are seeing and you can afford it then go ahead. I paid also 100 box for a cattleya lueddemanniana coerulea, but in this case I carefully examined the plant and the flowers and me and my wife got in love with such a piece of art, please take a look to this link and take a look at it:
Cattleya lueddemanniana coerulea | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

For this case I had the plant under my hands and I watch it in detail before bying it. In the case of buying plants by internet is another matter, if you already know the clone and you really like to have it then you may acquire the plant, but for really expensive plants is better to watch them in live before. If it really full fill your expectations then take the decision to buy it or not, is just an advice. How much to pay for a plant, well it always depends of the pocket of anyone.

[kavanaru]

Bruno, you are absolutely right. $100 is not just peanuts, my "cheap" was menat a bitironically... however, it is a fact that many high quality or rare orchids can go high above that price. That's one of the reasons why I do not have a Mexipedium (in Europe you must think of paying over 50€ per growth, and a more or less good plant would have at least 3).
You can see the case of your C. lueddemanniana, which is a fantastic clon (Congrats!) and like that, many others... as you said, the best is always have the plant in your hands before buying it, however it is not always possible!

as per your Fredclarkeara, I must admit I was also very surprised to see how light colored it is. Yes, I knew it was very dark purble and not black, as the black color does not exist in flowers. However, I have seen that specific clone of Fredclarkeara in real life, and it was a lot darker than your plant. One could say, it was black! Probably it is a climatic thing, as your plant has bloomed in October, which is not really the coolest month in Caracas. The plant I have seen, bloomed in December (European winter) in a greenhouse with an average temp of 18°C. Let's see how my plant will bloom, it is now sending a little spike and my green house has a temp range between 16°C to 28°C during this time.

[Mikeg]

Originally Posted by Tim

Hahaha Mike, I'd agree, but I saw a paph division for sale at the ripe price of $12,000. I've never spent more that $30-$35, which is probably as high as i'll go unless it's something I just CAN'T pass up I think most of the high end plants are bought, primarily, by other breeders and collectors... People planning on making a profit off the purchase yuh know?

Yeah I seee the point of making a profit, but I don't see the point of why so much!!!!! And I completely see the point of spending more than normal for an orchid I have been looking at a Neo. on Ebay foor a little over $20, I am really cheap! Lol

[Mikeg]

Well if they can't be mericloned I see the point a little but not for that much.............................................. .............................!

[Mikeg]

Is this plant hard to grow? The leaves look different than normal orchids I have seen. If I was to spend this much for this plant I am not gonna kill it!!! LOL