Easiest phal for novice grower?

[Rross]

I just tried looking up the supermarket prices online, but they didn’t list them. I just remember being amazed when I was in Los Angeles, at the glorious and incredibly cheap phals at the entrance to the supermarket across from my hotel. The other day, as I was walking into my local supermarket, I saw a phal with one very pretty flower left on it. All the others on the spike had either finished or been knocked off. The other phals beside itwere in a similar condition, in containers of moss with no drainage. It seems to be the norm. When I’m next shopping I’ll take note of the exact price.

[camille1585]

Your experience of supermarket Phals sounds a lot like the situation in France. They have a couple of orchids in the plant/flower section, no one buys them because they're expensive, the employees don't know how to water them, and the end result is a sorry looking bunch of plants...

I now live in the Netherlands were the situation is completely different. Dutch love plants and buy tons of them. Many houses have a couple Phals on display in the window of the street facing room. Supermarket Phals are dirt cheap (sometimes just 5€), super healthy, and the turnover is so fast that they don't have time to end up in poor condition.

[Rross]

Just took these pics of this $36.00 supermarket phal. It had one, half-chewed flower left on it. The phals with fuller spikes were $56.00.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Rross

Just took these pics of this $36.00 supermarket phal. It had one, half-chewed flower left on it. The phals with fuller spikes were $56.00.

Yikes, those are outrageous prices!!! There is no reason for a common hybrid Phal to cost that much.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Rross

Just took these pics of this $36.00 supermarket phal. It had one, half-chewed flower left on it. The phals with fuller spikes were $56.00.

whoa man, that totally sux and now i understand more your position/opinion. yeah, just pay a little more (or less) and start supporting your aussie orchid growers!

[estación seca]

Wow. Yes, search out nurseries in Australia.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Wow. Yes, search out nurseries in Australia.

Speaking of prices in the US, my local groceries have noid phals in bloom for upwards of $60, also. What does it look like in your area? I want to go to the managers and show them commercial retail prices and shame them into bringing their pricing more in line.

[WaterWitchin]

Anywhere from $10 to $20. $30 for two in same pot. All in good shape. If not in good shape, go to the sale rack for $2 to $5 (no blooms left). Our local Dillons (Kroger).

Price based on what it's potted in, whether there's one or two spikes, etc. Always higher priced ones in fancy pots around Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.

[estación seca]

It has to do with shipping distance and cost. I'm less than a day's drive from Los Angeles and the growing areas around there. You are much further. It would be very difficult shipping orchids in a semitrailer across the southern US during late summer.

I recently posted this mini Phal I got in flower at a supermarket, with an exterior ceramic container, for $12:
NOID mini Phal

A week ago I bought this one, grown by the same company, at another supermarket. It had finished flowering and sat on a table with about 25 others flowering in different colors. The manager sold it to me for $7 because it had no flowers. It was very dry, and the leaves limp. I've soaked it overnight a few times in rain water. It plumped up and is making a new leaf.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

The trailers that deliver live plants are refrigerated around here. Not sure about other areas. And there are growers I have heard about, but not physically found yet, that are supposedly relatively close. I'm not sure what the deal is, but I never buy plants I fancy pots.