Orchid Pricing...Same Species Large Diffential in Price

[Pete]

Another question from the newb....

Let's say that I am interested in purchasing a Phal. Bellina. I look at one vendors site and I can purchase a beautiful Phal. Bellina 'Nancy' for say $125. I look at another vendors site and I can purchase a nic Phal. Bellina var. for $10.

Why the large price difference? Is the one orchid higher priced because it reflects a desirable cultivar whereas the lower priced orchid has an unkown pedigree?

Just trying to understand as I wade my way into the world of orchids. I do not want to name vendors and would appreciate others not doing so as well.

Thanks.

Pete

[Shirley]

Pete, It partly might be due to the age of the plant (how far away from blooming-size that it is). Just a thought!

[Royal]

Size does matter, but I think I see what you're asking. Assuming they're both listed as "blooming size" there can be consierable differences in price.

In my opinion If a plant had awarded parents that would increase the appeal. If the parents are listed, that's a good sign. If it's a stem prop it could be one of a kind. The way I look at it, if I drop 100 bucks for a plant, I'd only use a known vendor/breeder. If it's selling for $10, I get suspicious. These days I try to buy the best quality plants I can afford. If you do want a few good vendors feel free to pm me.

[Royal]

I know I didn't really answer your question. Kind of tough when you take vendor reputation out of the equation. That's really the key variable, other than size.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Shirley

Pete, It partly might be due to the age of the plant (how far away from blooming-size that it is). Just a thought!

Thanks Shirley, that was one of my first thoughts as well. The $125 plant is blooming size whereas the $10 plant is "near mature" but not yet bloomed. I guess the latter would be a "seedling" in the orchid world but still not sure on that yet.

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Size does matter, but I think I see what you're asking. Assuming they're both listed as "blooming size" there can be consierable differences in price.

In my opinion If a plant had awarded parents that would increase the appeal. If the parents are listed, that's a good sign. If it's a stem prop it could be one of a kind. The way I look at it, if I drop 100 bucks for a plant, I'd only use a known vendor/breeder. If it's selling for $10, I get suspicious. These days I try to buy the best quality plants I can afford. If you do want a few good vendors feel free to pm me.

The higher priced plant is from a known vendor that gets rave reviews on this forum. The lower priced plant is also from a highly regarded vendor. PM sent.

Thanks.

[cabnc]

In your example, Phal. Bellina 'Nancy' is a named and perhaps awarded plant which has shown to have desireable characteristics (color, shape etc). Phal. Bellina var. maybe has not flowered and you therefore don't know what you will have until you get it to flower.

Charlie

[orkie]

Typically, a particular and especially nice cultivar costs a lot more than a seed cross, for example, Big Leaf Orchids sells extremely nice high quality cultivars of a lot of Phals and are much pricier than others, you are paying for knowing you are getting an extremely nice cultivar. Another good vendor might be selling a Phal bellina, but if it's a seed cross, you don't know how good the flower will actually be until it blooms, so the price is much lower, as it's a gamble whether the flower is just average for bellina or exceptionally nice (award quality). Plus size plays a factor as well.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I think, as others pointed out, one pays for breeding and vendor reputation. So for example, I know I can buy a Laelia anceps rather cheaply, but at this point, I'd rather pay for plants that have awarded parents or divisions of awarded plants, rather than taking a chance on other things.

I think it really does make a difference in quality of the plants. And, the way I look at this is that I'm spending all this time with fertilizing, taking care, giving it good potting medium and growing conditions--so I'd rather start with something good rather than struggle with something that's not of that great quality.

So, that's the tack that I've taken starting this year. I know places like Big Leaf Orchids, Santa Barbara Orchid Estate and Orchidweb are pricier than others, but I've ordered from all three and the quality is exceptional. I plan on ordering from them in the future, and as a matter of fact, I'm getting one of their awarded Laelia anceps in about 2 weeks.