I'd say so! Well keep looking. You will find some again sometime. It is weird how you will see tons of one species at multiple growers then a little while later you can't find any of that plant. I guess they come and go in fads like everything else. It seems like when you really want a particular plant it's hard to find it or it's too expensive. Then when you aren't looking for it it's everywhere!

I have noticed that too, and plants come and go. I have a feeling that many of the growers buy their stock fro the same places, and they buy whatever the suppliers have. For instance afew years ago Paph Pinnochio was absolutely everywhere, seems like all the Eu vendors sold it. Now, good luck finding one, it's nowhere! Now I noticed that Tolumnias are easy to find, while just 2-3 years ago they were non existant.

Those Paphs look nice :) I would be unhappy with the Phal as well.

While I was trying to find a particular plant I spoke to a nursary about this thing of plants coming and going. They said those that produce them produce masses of plants at once and basically flood the European market with them. Then they move on to something else because everyone's got the first thing so sales drop off. Then they flood the market with something else. They said old things can be found if odd plants exist that a nursery has not managed to sell, but generally they are limited by what the breeders are producing.

I've gotten a reply from the vendor and this Monday Mr Phal will go back to where it came from and I'll get my money back.

I've ordered a new Phal. stuartiana from another Swedish vendor and I pray that this one isn't in as a bad condition as the one I got now.


They do, don't they? I'm very pleased with them and since the hainanense came from the same vendor as the stuartiana, I emphasized how pleased I was with it, because it's a very fine plant indeed. And I HATE complaining about merchandise I've bought that I'm not satisfied with, it makes me feel like a whiny person. :(

Wow! That's really sad for the Phal... Had you purchasedplants from this vendor before or heard about others experience with it? I agree with Camile that this species can be cheaper somewhere else... Very often, if you do not see in the catalogues, just send an e-mail to the nursey and ask whether they stil have a plant (but not in the online catalogue)... You would be amazed how many plants are at many nurseries, which are not listed in their catalogue!

No I haven't. I'm ordering from several vendors from Sweden and Europe just to get an understanding of what to expect from them. I think I had bad luck with the Phal since the Paph. hainanense was in such good condition.

I've ordered a new one from another Swedish vendor, and hopefully it won't be the last Phal. stuartiana at the vendor's that I get this time. If that one turns out to be in a sad state as well, I know that Elsner has Phal. stuartiana, otherwise I'll do as you suggested Ramon. :nod:

I have started some threads for vendors (they are under vendor feedback), where I have listed vendors for which I have good experience, or know that people I know have good experience ordering from them. As well, I invite everybody to list those vendors you know which are also reliable...
I know no vendors from Sweden, so maybe it would be a good idea if you could add those you know as good vendors to the list as well.. :)

That's a great idea! As soon as I know which ones are good, I'll add them. I'll check and see if you've written anything about some of the European vendors I've ordered from. :nod:

Great paphs! I think phal would make it - those three roots look quite long and happy, but of course plant over all wouldn't pull 45 USD.
Hope the new one will be much better.