Tired of seeing Phal abuse everywhere

[Priya_H]

Everywhere I go, I see people growing or selling phals in totally wrong conditions. Every supermarket, every nursery (yes even the fancy ones), grocery store, garden centre...Canadian Tire, Lowes, Home Depot...you name it!

Went to get a Phal from this florist I bought a jasmine plant from before. I saw vandas and oncidums there last time, so was hoping to buy one yesterday. It's a reputable place, very nice & healthy collection of plants and cut flowers. But they only had phals in 3 different colours and 2 different sizes this time (mini & medium). All of them were being grown in TIGHTLY packed moss. I can't even describe the condition. But what stuns me the most about these plants is their resiliency. All had BEAUTIFUL blooms, nice leaves. Many had new roots and leaves growing. Call me crazy but I actually felt sad for these plants. Why do the growers do this?! WHAT is wrong with them?? And don't even get me started on the Just Add Ice crap!!!

Anyway I took 2, a mini with deep, almost chocolate brown, blooms with tiny flecks...and a medium (or so I thought) with buttery yellow, with hints of green blooms. That one has half white, half yellow lips. Paid way more than I thought I would have to...but later realized why the bill was what it was. I brought them and got to work right away. Took the mini out, took all the ugly moss off. The roots were surprisingly in perfect condition! I repotted it with some fresh NZ moss I had and gave it a nice watering and cleaned the leaves with a mixture of water and 35% cream (you use milk for that but I only had cream around). Both plants had hard water spots.

Then I tried to took out the bigger plant...I had to FIGHT with the pot then i had to reaaalllyyy fight with the moss to take it off...It was a battle...the plant was tucked in SO tighly in a 3" pladtic pot. When I got the moss of...Holy hell!!! 50% of the roots I had to get rid off. Then I realized hey it's not a medium!!! It's a giant in the making!!! This needs a waaay bigger pot!! Glad I still had the pot left over from my (newly) mounted giant...so I packed it pretty losely in some fresh moss (this plant's roots were ready to burst out of that teeny pot it was in). I had no fir bark but this is brand new, imported from NZ moss and it's very fluffy and nice...so these plants won't face problems. Then i understood the price. It was in a 3" pot but it was being sold as a giant.

They're both doing great. I do plan on mounting them...they're growing new roots and the mini has a new leaf coming out..but I don't want to stress them out anymore...they're both in blooms. I will in a few months when the flowers go. They're such pretty plants! I just don't understand what problems will the growers face if they choose to grow phals in the conditions beneficial to these plants?!

[hanzy08]

phalaenopsis orchids are being mass produced as a home decor mostly, enjoyed for months then thrown away. sad but it is what it is.. that's why it has become america's favorite orchid cause it is being sold almost everywhere for a cheap price. sphagnum moss retains water a lot therefore needing less watering frequency in the greenhouse where they were grown and at the home. just look at the bright side at least there are still people like us who cares and obsess about these plants and more people are being bit by the orchid bug all because of the first orchid, the phalaenopsis.

[WhiteRabbit]

It is what it is ...

They are a cash crop.

We have had a number of threads in a similar vein over the past several months. They almost always turn in to problem threads *sigh*

So - I do hope there will be no arguing, chastising, criticizing, etc, happening here, or this thread will be quickly closed; infractions given.

[czygyny]

It's like seeing the fish, birds, kittens and puppies for sale in pet stores...you know that only a certain number will find suitable homes and the rest will be neglected or discarded after awhile.

The companies that sell them do not have the same sense of sentimentality about them as orchid-lovers do.

As noted above, they are a cash crop and when their value declines (which is rapid for most) they are fit only for discount racks or the dumpster.

They were precious when they were difficult and expensive to produce, but they are now just a cheap commodity to most people.

At least I can afford to bring home new and beautiful specimens, now.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Everything so far has been true - unfortunately.

The other part of the equation is people's attitudes and/or level of education regarding orchids in general.

It isn't just the producers, it's the consumers as well.

I'll keep this short because there are tons of threads about this subject matter spanning a few years already, as was mentioned. Do a search on the OB, and you'll find them...

It is what it is - and it is wasteful; but the solution to the problem hasn't come up yet.

I'll leave this thread with the following, rather troubling comment, and you'll understand what I mean when you sit down and mull it over:

There's money to be made in a mass produced product.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

They are a cash crop.

And what "WhiteRabbit" said was exactly what my trainer referred to them as.

I'm telling this to you as a former, trained, greenhouse employee of a local orchid nursery that deals largely with Phalaenopsis hybrids and some Phal species. Before you ask - I will not disclose their name, but I will say that if you're into Phals, and if you're in the US, you've most likely heard of them. I didn't work for an obscure company.

[RJSquirrel]

yuuuuup

[Optimist]

I have the three that I am now trying to save, but have pretty much told myself not to try to save any more big box store orchids, and instead, get them mail order from a proper breeder. I am going to try the mail order way next time because I want to stick to minis, like doritas, and get a few bromilliads for my terrarium too. The amount of time and effort expended in saving the box store orchids could be utilized more productively doing something else.

[digriz]

Here's how it's done. Sorry if this has been posted before.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This vid was very much appreciated.

Thank you.