Orchids (other than phals) in Canada sold in retail stores?

[LightsCameraFlowerspike]

I'm wondering if anyone has stumbled upon orchids in Canada (that are not phals) in a common retail store? I'm reading about how all these Americans have bought orchids from Trader Joe's in the states, and it's making me increasingly jealous All I've seen are phalaenopsis orchids, and I had the luck of buying a 40 dollar oncidium for 5 dollars at a nursery once.

Other than that instance, I feel like i'm forced to buy from a vendor... which is fine if i can't find it anywhere else, but I believe it's more expensive... and the closest vendor to me would be 400km away 0_0

Let me know Thanks!

[silken]

I have found named Oncidiums at Home Depot and Walmart carries Cymbidiums occasionally, some with names. Right now Home Depot has Cyms but I find theirs are usually NOID and around $45.00 which is too much for NOID in my mind. Safeway stores have Milts, Onc. Dens, the odd Cattleya but not very often for the Catts. Most of them are NOID's but at least a decent price.

Do you have an orchid society in Fort McMurray? If you do, it might be helpful to join. Our society does group orders which makes the cost more effective. I assume you are referring to Edmonton as being 400 km? We are 500 km from there but a number of us attend their annual orchid show every year. They have vendors from all over and you can pre-order from most of them.

[ALToronto]

Even when retailers do carry non-phal orchids, they're often virused. I wouldn't trust anything that makes it up to Fort Mac. Vendors are your best bet, but you'll have to wait till next spring.

[calvin_orchidL]

To echo the above - support our national orchid vendors, societies, etc..!

[LightsCameraFlowerspike]

I am all for supporting national orchid vendors.. however, if I could find an orchid at a grocery store near my house at an inexpensive price, I would buy that. The means of buying from vendors can be very expensive, especially for people that don't have easy access to them..

Silken,

Thank you for the info! I'm gonna start checking Safeway more often!

[ALToronto]

There is a world of difference between grocery store orchids and small vendor-grown orchids. For one, the ones in grocery stores almost certainly have viruses that could spread to your other plants. Also, they're grown in a way to speed up the first flowering, with no concern for the plant's longterm health.

I had several store-bought orchids, mostly phals, but also two oncidiums. Only one oncidium remains, and I'm wondering if it's virused as well.

By all means, buy plants you like, but don't imagine that you're buying 'orchids' from a grocery store. They're like cut flowers, they just last longer.

[calvin_orchidL]

Originally Posted by LightsCameraFlowerspike

I am all for supporting national orchid vendors.. however, if I could find an orchid at a grocery store near my house at an inexpensive price, I would buy that. The means of buying from vendors can be very expensive, especially for people that don't have easy access

You're preaching to the choir. I totally hear you - most of us started with grocery store orchids, discount etc... And they are a great way to feel out your conditions, experiment with culture etc.

Sorry I've never seen anything more exotic than a noid miltonopsis or cymbidium in a Canadian store. Garden centres will sometimes have different things like brassias for $$$.

[silken]

I don't believe that ALL grocery or box store orchids have virus. I have never found that. My named Onc. Tiger Crow 'Golden Girl' from Home Depot has 2 spikes and is the picture of health, more so than some of the Onc. I got from "orchid vendors". When you are hundreds of km. from any orchid vendor, as I am, when you see an orchid, especially a non Phal then you appreciate it being there. Our largest Safeway (in Saskatoon) has had some wonderful Oncidiums that are NOID, but I am sure they are Shelob Tolkein, Twinkle, Sweet Sugar, etc. Also Dens like All Season Blue and the few I have acquired have shown no more sign of disease than any other of my orchids.

I still grab at the chance to take part in a society pre order or go to an orchid show. I bought test strips and threw a few virused orchids from vendors out in the past year tho. Nothing is a guarantee.

[LightsCameraFlowerspike]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

For one, the ones in grocery stores almost certainly have virsues

I don't believe this. Of course it is possible, *maybe* it's more likely, but to say that grocery stores orchids almost certainly have viruses, I can't believe. Especially since all my 9 of my phals have rebloomed and were all bought at the grocery stores.

Originally Posted by ALToronto

Also, they're grown in a way to speed up the first flowering, with no concern for the plant's longterm health.

I'm sure this is true. But in most cases, I think the orchids would just end up stressed after it has bloomed.. Maybe taking some time to recover. Although most of my phals did quite well afterwards.

Originally Posted by ALToronto

By all means, buy plants you like, but don't imagine that you're buying 'orchids' from a grocery store. They're like cut flowers, they just last longer.

I don't even understand this. I could say the same thing about the broccoli and carrots you buy at the store. Don't think you're buying 'vegetables,' because they've likely been sprayed by some pesticides.