How well do slipper orchids ship bare root?

[Havoccity]

This is my first time venturing into paphs and phrags. I can either get them shipped over bare root, or pay quite a bit more and get it still potted. I'm not sure if its worth the extra buck.

[Optimist]

In my limited experience, allowing paph roots to dry is a death sentence, or will set them back. Phragmipediums are even more water loving and yet last year I got two bare root. If it is wrapped in paper towels with water, and then wrapped with plastic, you may get by, but then it is just as heavy because how much does some orchid bark and a plastic cup weigh? I am used to paying as much as 30$ for orchids to be sent to me. I generally get several at the same time to share the box to make it a bit more cost-effective. I would not cut corners on this one, but it is up to you. (Postal boxes are the same price regardless of the weight, I thought). I think it really depends on the shipping experience of the sender and whether they can wrap them in such a way as to not kill them. (Fun fact, in the 1800s orchids were thrown in a box and sent over-seas in slow boats. Many died, but not all).

[Roberta]

It's the size of the box, not so much the weight, that runs up the shipping price. As far as drying out, it depends on "how long". If it arrives in 2-3 days, the plant can tolerate a little drying out, usually roots are wrapped with sphagnum. If it's being shipped internationally (with inspections and such) where it can go to several weeks, that's another story.

[estación seca]

The Phrags I've bought from Ecuagenera came packed in damp sphagnum, with a plastic bag knotted tightly around the sphagnum ball. Each has arrived very healthy and began growing right away.

[Havoccity]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The Phrags I've bought from Ecuagenera came packed in damp sphagnum, with a plastic bag knotted tightly around the sphagnum ball. Each has arrived very healthy and began growing right away.

Thats the thing. I can order from Ecuagenera, which will ship bare root at lower prices, or I can order locally to get them shipped potted but at generally much higher prices. But when I ordered orchids from Ecuagenera in the past, the moss ball wrapped around the roots was bone dry.

[Lil Duck]

You want to order plants and pick them up at a show. When you order plants for a show make sure to order them right before the end of the deadline otherwise one of your plants may not be delivered.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

speaking of ecuagenera, my friend who ordered both phrag and paph. Her phrag seems to fair better than the paph who had seen a better day. One thing I believe the phrags at ecuagenera are more specialized than their paph. Personally I would not risk taking a bareroot paph especially when it is a fussy paph like the Brachy.