Cattleya schilleriana var. sanderiana 'Yardley'
 

I've been looking for this clone for a long time. I finally found it. I negotiated with the the seller and was told, it was mounted on cypress board and had been mounted since March of '08 and was near bloom size.
I bought it and happily awaited it's arrival.
Collecting my choice of species and then select clones or divisions is a cat and mouse game.
Anyway, the package arrived. It was a decent sized box. I opened it and noticed it was well packed. I kept unwrapping and unwrapping until I got down to this teeniney wrapped package. I opened it up and out popped what you see below. He sent me two to make up for the size is all I can guess.

Blooming sized my foot! I'll be using walker when these two mature.

Notice the butter knife as a reference :rofl:

http://thumperinflorida.zoomshare.co...icture_004.jpg

and actually the photo doesn't do justice as to how tiny these really are.....

What was the name of the vendor?

I don't want say his name or his orchid house. For all I know he is a member, here.

I would it might save the rest of us from getting what we would think is a bloom ready plant.

They don't look all that bad to me, and this species is a dwarf-growing cattleya, so perhaps he (the seller) was just being a bit optimistic instead of pulling a fast one over you. I have the "garden variety" (that is, non-sanderiana) version of this species and even though it's not terribly larger than your plants, it did produce a single bloom (probably it's first) last year. So maybe the little guys will surprise you! :-)

I have several shillerianas and while they are a very small rambling plant these are lilliputian sized.
The photo really makes them look larger then they truly are.
I have a really small hand and here it is holding one of these babies.
I'm ok with the deal...you win a few and lose a few ;-)

http://www.thumperinflorida.zoomshar...icture_008.jpg

cute little hand, lol yes it does seem rather small.
but maybe it,s a fast grower.

I also have a sanderiana that size that came in a 2" pot so it is not even close to blooming!! They look like strong healthy seedlings though. I hope you didnt pay more than $15 for 'em!! I will be looking for pics when they do bloom though!

Oops, I definitely stand corrected. Those are kind of puny (no offense intended) and they do look much larger in the photo without your hand. But like Steve said (the other Steve--the one who doesn't have to deal with living in a meat locker for half the year), they do like strong and healthy. Best of luck with them.

Who cares? He told you they were NBS and sold you small seedlings. Call him out and keep the same thing from happening to others.

I agree with ChrisFL.

You actually spoke to the guy and made sure about the details of the orchid, you paid for a larger blooming sized one, that is what you were expecting.

I think he knew he couldn't fulfill his end of the bargain, that's why he sent 2 instead of the large one you were expecting.

I dont blame you for being upset, I would be seething for a long time. I would be seriously be put off from ordering again.

You have the right attitude though, you win some you lose some. This is a learning experience, maybe not one that was needed, but you got it anyway.

:iagree:
The good vendors should be praised and the bad ones ..............!

I think I bought from the same vendor. In Hawaii? He or she sent me 2 as well, but a schilleriana without the variety. They are small species to begin with. since then I have mounted both on a large piece of cork and they have really taken off with roots and new strong growths. The other plants I have received from the seller have been healthy and hearty growers as well. Good luck getting flowers. It shouldn't be too long.

Hi Pete...I think it was Hawaii? I'll look at the tags. But if it was, either you probably have that cultivar or I don't:)
I'm not going to sweat it.. The weather has been terrible. I have them growing in my bathroom window. Seems to be a good spot for them at the moment. They are growing :) but it is still going to be many moons before I see a bloom.