What size orchids do you usually buy?

[Bulbopedilum]

What size orchids do you usually buy? Not miniature or big but in age. Do you usually buy flasks of seedlings or adult orchids or something else?

[Roberta]

Impossible to give one answer... the only size I usually don't buy is flasks... my success rate for the youngest babies is very poor. But I'll buy seedlings if I find something interesting that I think I can grow, lots of juveniles, and of course flowering size when I find something that I want for a price that I am willing to pay.

[Leafmite]

It depends on what is available. I actually have raised orchids just out of flask to maturity because the orchid was not available otherwise. I don't buy flasks due to limited space. Sometimes the only size available is blooming-size so I buy that. Most of the time, though, I buy orchids that have anywhere from one to four years until they will bloom. The Angraecum sesquipedale seedling could take much longer.

[jcec1]

I actually try and buy flowering plants so I can see what the bloom is like and since I like scented orchids to smell them. Unfortunately, I do have to rely on the internet for a lot of purchases so have been disappointed in either the bloom not matching the photo or sometimes getting a non scented clone.

[Leafmite]

As a fellow collector of scented orchids, that is definitely the problem with buying seedling crosses that 'should' be fragrant, young clones, and species on the internet. I have raised many an orchid only to give it away because it has no fragrance at all. I only have this problem with orchids. Other plants that are said to be fragrant actually always are. :|

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

... I only have this problem with orchids. Other plants that are said to be fragrant actually always are. :|

I never thought of that before, but it's true. I wonder if it's because scent is not a criterion in judging so can be easily lost? It would be nice to get scent when it's meant to be there.

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by jcec1

I never thought of that before, but it's true. I wonder if it's because scent is not a criterion in judging so can be easily lost? It would be nice to get scent when it's meant to be there.

Exactly. The same is happening to roses and even some other types of flowers. These flowers are only judged on appearance so the fragrance is often lost.

[rbarata]

I buy anything except seedlings in flasks.
I tend to think that buying a young plant gives it more chances to acclimatize.

[dounoharm]

I used to grow a lot of my cattleyas from plug trays, but now I prefer older plants so that hopefully I can see a bloom before I kick the bucket, lol....I did buy a plug tray last fall of one of my fav cattleyas, and the year before a flask of phrags.....but my little gh wont hold any more little ones...

[camille1585]

Hard to give one answer. I'll prefer adult plants or plants 1-2 years from blooming. I'll get younger plants or seedlings only for plants that are either hard to find (and so would rather have a seedling rather than nothing), or plants that are too expensive to buy adult size or near blooming size (like my Phal gigantea). The only thing I don't buy, mainly for lack of space, is flasks.