What procedures do you do when you buy new plants?

[Cymbaline]

I'm heading down to another city this weekend and there is a large orchid distributor there. He/they do not grow them but they have probably hundreds if not a thousand of different Phalaenopsis / moth orchids and some other types of orchids as well.

Last year I bought a few catasetums and slipper orchids from them . There weren't any issues thankfully but it does make me wonder, besides just isolating the orchid for a while to see if anything pops up .. Is there anything else you do for new orchids to ensure they aren't contaminated with bugs or disease?

Do you isolate and if so how long ? Thank You

[DirtyCoconuts]

if you can, id keep them separated at least a week, go for longer if you can.

I repot almost all my plants when i acquire them to inspect them and see what is what. I find that this lets me shorten my Q time since i know where are not x, y, and z...

the longer you wait the more certain you will be that there is nothing hiding in the plants like a virus and you should (should) be able to see signs of most fungal and bacterial issues on a plant.

If it is a grower you have dealt with you can change the routine. i do NOTHNG but remove the sphag and repot when i buy from Sunset Valley Orchids for example...i know they arrive netter than I will ever be able to keep them...ebay, i treat it like it has everything possible and then work backwards to healthy plant

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

if you can, id keep them separated at least a week, go for longer if you can.

I repot almost all my plants when i acquire them to inspect them and see what is what. I find that this lets me shorten my Q time since i know where are not x, y, and z...

the longer you wait the more certain you will be that there is nothing hiding in the plants like a virus and you should (should) be able to see signs of most fungal and bacterial issues on a plant.

If it is a grower you have dealt with you can change the routine. i do NOTHNG but remove the sphag and repot when i buy from Sunset Valley Orchids for example...i know they arrive netter than I will ever be able to keep them...ebay, i treat it like it has everything possible and then work backwards to healthy plant

Great advice! Thank you.

[DirtyCoconuts]

it helps to know where and how you grow as well. I grow almost exclusively outside and in a very wet area so i have to repot or else most plants will die the way a greenhouse grower has them potted..folks who do SH probably do the same.

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

it helps to know where and how you grow as well. I grow almost exclusively outside and in a very wet area so i have to repot or else most plants will die the way a greenhouse grower has them potted..folks who do SH probably do the same.

All my orchids are indoors . I have them in an indoor greenhouse because my backyard sucks and it's just too hot and too strong with sun.