Back at Trader Joes

[dbarron]

Huh Roberta, I would have said the opposite..but I'm not an orchid killer (or not usually, maybe I do play one on television and stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night).

[Roberta]

Years ago, when Phals started being available everywhere for modest price, I had high hopes that clubs would grow and more people would get interested. Instead, I think that most people who buy them, treat them as expendable, like a bouquet... some will give the out of bloom plants to orchid-loving friends, but I cringe to think of how many get dumped. Either soon after they bloom, or when they expire from lack of care.

[dbarron]

That just sorta makes me cringe, since they're NOT marigolds or petunias with multiyear production.
But I guess given production methods, it is what it is.

[Roberta]

There was a documentary on PBS a few years ago, where several orchid growers were interviewed, looking at different aspects of the industry. At the high end was Fred Clarke (SVO), the low was a guy in Florida who mass-produced Phals, treating them as a crop (describing them as "beautiful broccoli")

[Relemitty]

What you describe is how I started in orchids.
A friend of mine bought the noid white phals from TJ and dumped them when the blooms dropped.
I heard she did that and was the recipient of all her phals for several years.
The TJ ones were potted in bark with a basket with peat in the middle so I removed that (all the roots in the peat had long rotted) and repotted in bark.
I have 7 that are about to bloom and have bloomed every year since 2020.

I also have phals from Whole Foods that were in sphag, that I put in bark, and are being much slower in getting healthy.

I have a lot more than phals now

[SteveM]

Just a question Roberta. Why will most last only one blooming season. I have to admit I have seen more sick orchids on shelves of supermarkets, home improvement centers, etc. I know they don't water them at all (a great source). They are actually treated very poorly by these stores. All the ones I see at TJ were in very good condition. If anything, my guess is that they did not come from a local nursery, if they did all the other stores would have them which they don't. So they were probably subjected to a harsher travel journey than the phals and occasional cattleya that you can regularly find on the shelves. Now I do think that TJ also caters to people who would be more interested n orchids and orchid enthusiasts, because in 2 weeks this batch will probably be gone and a new shipment will come in. Geez Lowes has there's on the shelves for a good month before a new shipment which by they are all shriveled up. I have had a phal from krogers for over a year so far, Im just getting into this, but I must say that a lot didnt make it a month nevertheless 3 months. I dont think my care is so terrible, I do the best that I can, yes winter is tiugh, but in a few weeks when I start moving things to the greenhouse I do expect things to get better, just a lot more work watering, but thats ok.

Personably I have killed quite a few orchids, not on purpose but I guess a learning curve. I will say 90% are phals in my sick section and from supermarkets. I have also heard from extremely knowledgeable people in this industry that they have killed s ton. There are even articles on this topic LOL....I usually hold on to them to the point in which I truely believe there is no hope, like all leaves gone, and roots dried up. I do have a section with a few not many orchids which are not doing well, but they are still hanging in there. Personably for me hybrids are harder. I think this is because I can understand the conditions that species come from and with hybrids to me it's a crap shoot. Some think they are more adaptable but it doesnt seem that way for me.

I have also read a few blogs and posts that these mass-produced orchids are produced not to last. that's all I will say about that because I could not see any grower selling a product that will not last. but then again I give people the benefit of the doubt a little too often.

[Roberta]

The ones that you buy, and that other orchid lovers buy, have a very good chance of living and blooming well into the future. But the vast majority end up in the hands of people who are just looking for something pretty to put on the table, haven't a clue how to take care of it, and can't be bothered to learn. The "just add ice" folks even trademarked the abuse... (I recall a friend telling the story of hosting an info table at a local nursery, and had a lady ask about a "coffee table orchid" ... a Phal, of course. She just wanted something to decorate a table for a party, wondered if it would last a week. And THAT was a person who actually asked (maybe it was a teachable moment). Most people don't even ask. (Do I have a lot of confidence in my fellow humans? Alas, not so much... <sigh>)

What fraction of the out-of-bloom Phals are given to a friend who grows orchids? (Baby on doorstep...) I think the fraction is small, sadly.

[estación seca]

The plants are all healthy when they arrive at the supermarket/hardware store/garden center. My impression over the last few years has been the potting mix has been in better shape than it was before that. I have been told by employees many big box stores start new hires in the garden section because almost nobody wants to work there, so they don't know how to take care of any plants.

And I'll repeat something again - sick Phals. do much better at much higher temperatures than most people keep their homes. I broke my rule recently and bought two rescue Phals. in winter at Lowe's because both had name tags, and both were in completely dry but not broken down sphagnum moss. They have damaged leaves but look healthy. My home is not often above 62 F / 17C in winter so I'll keep them mostly dry until it warms up and I can water more. I'm not repotting because the sphagnum is still good.

[Leafmite]

I wish we had a Trader Joe's in the area. The closest ones are both two hours away.

[Dimples]

I’m excited to be moving to a town that has a Trader Joe’s nearby.