Blue Phal at Home Depot

[flhiker]

I was at my second home (home depot) and saw these new Blue and I mean knock you over Blue Phals for $40.00. But after closer inspection I noticed they were dyed. Apparently they took white Phals and feed them Blue dye. I didn't have my Camera but I will take a picture of them next time I go. Have any of you seen these yet?

[Angurek]

You mean these guys?



I think it'd be awesome if they were really that color, but it's so obvious that they're dyed.

A real shame that these are starting to become run-of-the-mill plants without any sense of orchid dignity, stripped of any identity and forced to grow in conditions that ultimately lead to their death. I really wish big-box stores would sell orchids with longevity in mind, not money, and that breeders of these commercial plants would be more mindful of naming. It always breaks my heart when someone starts a thread of a dying or troubled phal from a local store.

And I gotta be honest with you...I wanna knock some sense into the person who started the whole "Just add ice" gimmick. Seriously, if you don't have time for your plants and don't want to cater to their true cultural demands, don't bother getting any.

[Orchidreamer]

It's not only that people buy unhealthy orchids from big box stores and watch them die. At my local HD and Lowe's, the poor phals are dying right in the stores. At Wal-Mart the phals were sitting outside in the middle of the summer, under full sun. At Lowe's, they never even bother watering the orchids, and every time I go there, it seems like I'm seeing the same shipment of phals sitting there and deteriorating. At Safeway, there's a one-leafed phal that hasn't been pitched yet only because it still has a spike with two flowers (they throw away orchids once the flowers fade).

I feel those blue phals are too artificial, if you know what I mean. It's just another marketing gimmick and nothing more.

[rehric00]

I just saw these for the first time today. I thought WOW! then at a closer look, you can tell they were dyed. They were sooo pretty, but I hear you guys when you say they all just die and get thrown away in the stores. I buy mine from Lowe's and this past weekend I went to look at some. They had gotten a FRESH shipment that day, and there was a palate of mini oncidium that were so incredibly dry that the flowers were shrivled up and dropping with the slightest bump. They were not even in the greenhouse, but in the middle of the store. wth! I asked if they were going to clearance them (which I prefer, of course) and they said no, they had just gotten them in. My boyfriend used to work there and said the plants they don't sell they throw into a compactor and get credit for. I thought, wow, that is so sad. He said they do it with everything they cant sell, even lawn furniture. Needless to say, I went back the next day and they were 50% off, still not a great deal for such a little plant that was not doing well. I paid 4.50 and when I got home drenched it with water and the flowers perked right up. The roots look okay, but I think the plant will drop the flowers sooner than later. I just wish they didn't have to throw so many away and waste so much. They either overwater and the plants rot, or they don't water enough and they still die. I think we are lucky to purchase a truely healthy plant anymore....

[karategirl73]

Yes it is so true. I went into Home Depot the other day, and of course I stopped by the orchids to take a look. They had racks and racks of the "ice cube" orchids, and every last one of them were dead as a door nail. A bunch of them had small flowers on them that were dead, so you can just tell they are totally neglected in the store. The "ice cube" gimmick is so stupid, and it just encourages neglect with the plants. I feel sorry for the orchids that get sent there, they are basically sent to their death.

[sii]

I've seen these types of orchids at Costco as well. They get some beautiful ones too. I have to admit, this is what originally got me hooked on orchids because it seemed so easy to care for them. It was just my 'orchids' luck I couldn't find my ice cube tray and had to water them at the tap. Only this lead to soggy roots. Boy, I've learned so much...and am still learning.

[Roly0217]

Dave this is the talk of the month I must say. These ugly orchids are everywhere. And somebody posted a link with dyed dendrobiums too on this thread.http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ue-orchid.html

[dounoharm]

the only good thing about the mass creation, distribution and consumption of orchids is that sometimes one of the consumers actually gets bit by the orchid bug and finds the forum here and begins to collect and tend orchids.....most of the plants are doomed to decoration and destruction. its just a fact of life....

[prc11]

The mega producers of orchids have turned them into a throw away plant. Most people just let them bloom their hearts out then throw them away. The one store that I know that kind of takes care of the plants they have is my local wegman's. They have a bunch of orchids that aren't only Phals. I was there once and I noticed that they would water them. This is good and bad because I usually wait till they are on clearance and it takes some of them longer to bloom out that way. However, they also sell the orchids in bloom regardless of what they are for $30. I have been lucky though. I got two Oncidium Jungle Monarchs for $5 each (in decent condition) and they sell their mini phals that are on clearance for $1. I have yet to get one of their cattleyas or cymbidiums on clearance because other people watch for them too. I can't say too much though because Phal's from the local stores got me started. I just wish they would pay more attention to them, it would probably help them in a long run.

[RJSquirrel]

hay man!!

dont complain about the big stores having orchids..it was a big box store that got me started with there " Rot in-a Pot " program ...If it hadnt been for the Lowes having them "Rot in-a Pot" specials I would not be here...and men would have never pretended to land on the moon ..I love going to lowes and HD and catchin people eyeballing the plants..Then I tell em take it out of the pot and look at the roots..what they look like? rotten? yeah what ya going to expect when you get home they gonna get all better? _ so I have my fun at Lowes too...



So look at it this way you didn't always know a good plant from an almost dead one. You had to learn too If it wasnt for them box stores Orchid board would be a lonely place..