wal-mart's orchid mistake

[bonsai1504]

i was browsing through the orchid section of the local wal-mart and i saw two dendros potted in REGULAR potting soil! have any of you seen this horrible orchid cruelty!? should i go back and buy them and try to save them or let them sit on the store shelves to wither away to a lifeless blob of dead orchid?

[megk07]

If you go back and buy them you will be nursing a sick orchid of probably low quality for while until it shakes off the neglect and can start to put on good growth. Believe me- I used to do this all the time! I dont recomend it. Meg

[Gin]

It is probably Pro-Mix some growers use it , works fine if you are careful watering . Gin

[bonsai1504]

these orchids were sopping wet and sitting in their own water. (is that careful watering?)

BTW i went to the same wal-mart yesterday and the orchids were gone.

[nancy]

One of the long-time growers in our OS says that when he first started his addiction (he is THE Encyclia guy), he put everything in garden soil (that he scooped out of his garden!). They did fine, and bloomed, so he got more interested, started to read, realized his mistake; changed everything into a bark mix and they all croaked almost instantly.
So - if you let them lure you into a rescue mission, they might not survive your good intentions. They might not survive either way!
Orchids are pretty adaptable, just not when you want them to be - they're contrary.
Regards - Nancy

[bonsai1504]

i went back the other day and the orchids were potted in bark and looked very healthy.

[cowboy51278]

orchids are amazing little things. when the orchid obsession first took hold they were lopped off at the roots and hauled back to europe in the dark and dingy hulls of old wooden ships and still some survived.

i think most of us started out in the 'rescue' business. ive done it and don't reccomend it. its sad, but buy healthy plants that are worth the time and effort. i won't even walk through the lawn and garden section of walmart anymore. i cant take the heartache!