Diamonds in the rough? Ever find something special from a big box store?

[pipsxlch]

New find at a store I'd never been in before... visiting my BIL and driving through Leesburg (FL) saw a store we'd never seen before, Rural King. We stopped in and in the outdoor nursery section they had a small greenish tarp style greenhouse with orchids inside. Prices I saw were $12.99/Assorted Dendrobiums and $14.99/Assorted 4" Pot Orchids. They had a mix of Phals (most common of course), Dens, Maudiae type Paphs and Catts, all in bloom or appearing to have just gone out. Almost all (even phals!) were tagged, came from Better-Gro. Seemed better cared for and in somewhat better shape than at the other big boxes.

At that price, I picked up Rlc. Chyong Guu Linnet 'Smile' AM/AOS. Cute little peloric w/ 4 blooms (1 hanging), blooms small but the plant is too, looks to be a first bloom. So it may improve in size, it does have that AM.

They had a better-than-the-big-boxes selection of potting mixes too, all Better Gro stuff.

Never heard of this store before, but if you have one in your area might be worth a try.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by tant385

Orchid Wisperer, what Lowes did you get Cattleya walkeriana? I also live in 7b area, if it not fare i am ready to make a trip to get so wonderful plant.

Lowes on the east side of Athens, Clarke County Georgia. I was in there the other day, they no longer have the Walkerianas, but do have Cattleya hybrids. The next closest store is in Oconee county Georgia. No walkerianas, but they did have big healthy Dendrobium spectabile and some Latouria Dendrobium hybrids, as well as Cattleyas etc.

The specific Better Gro plants that are distributed to various stores seems to be random rather than by design. I would just make a habit of stopping by Lowes when you pass one while driving around. Just check what each store has; you may get lucky! That is what I have been doing.

[SFLguy]

I've seen Onc. ampliatum, Den. spectabile Den. aggregatum, Den. speciosum, Max. tenuifolia, Rhynchostylis gigantea, Enc. cordigera, Enc. alata, Enc. tampensis, Enc. profusa, Brassavola nodosa along all the other NOID and non-NOID hybrid Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya, and intergenerics.
I'm really tempted to get ampliatum next time after having seen it in Panama

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by SFLguy

I've seen Onc. ampliatum, Den. spectabile Den. aggregatum, Den. speciosum, Max. tenuifolia, Rhynchostylis gigantea, Enc. cordigera, Enc. alata, Enc. tampensis, Enc. profusa, Brassavola nodosa along all the other NOID and non-NOID hybrid Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya, and intergenerics.
I'm really tempted to get ampliatum next time after having seen it in Panama

I got my O. ampliatum at a Lowes! They like mounts and are climbers to some degree.[

[SFLguy]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I got my O. ampliatum at a Lowes! They like mounts and are climbers to some degree.[

Was it a bag baby? How do the pseudobulbs look? Mostly green or with some spotting?

[SFLguy]

Speak of the devil and he shall appear

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by SFLguy

Was it a bag baby? How do the pseudobulbs look? Mostly green or with some spotting?

It was a Better Gro bagged orchid. The pseudobulbs are mostly green with some dark reddish brown spotting. I understand that the spots are considered normal for the species. It's a rewarding plant if you have the room.

[SFLguy]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

It was a Better Gro bagged orchid. The pseudobulbs are mostly green with some dark reddish brown spotting. I understand that the spots are considered normal for the species. It's a rewarding plant if you have the room.

Yes, that's normal and one of the reasons that I want it
I'm very tempted to get one.
I'll wait until after Redland to get one though

[cmoonbeam1]

Once I found a howeara lava burst at a grocery store among the phals, but I was a real beginner at the time and didn't realize it required emergency surgery for the root rot

Long story short, that howeara is no more.... but I have another one coming to me in may!

[My Green Pets]

Pictures or it didn't happen people, pictures or it didn't happen.