Newbie looking for a good source pf pahps
 

Hi- I am a fairly new to orchids. So far I have a collection of about 10. Now that I have been doting over my orchids I have decided I really like paphiopedilums and cymbidiums. So far I have one paph to my name and its doing very well, but I am having trouble finding a good source of paphs. You dont find paphs in the local retailers here in southern Oregon where most of my orchids have come from with a couple exceptions. Can someone recommend some paphiopedilum suppliers that have good plants, lots of variety at reasonable prices?

Paul

Are you looking for something local? Or mail/Internet order? Do you know more specifically what ones you are looking for? And what "reasonable prices" means to you?

Where in So Oregon?

To answer both Jeremy and Terri. I am looking for online sources of paphs as they are not available here in Grants Pass, Oregon. I am most interested in the multi florals and reasonable prices to me are $35 or less. Perhaps i am being unrealistic but i can't bring myself to pay $50-$100 for an orchid. I have done a fair amount of browsing and it appears my choices with such criteria is limited.

Carter & Holmes had some multis that were cheap enough but they were in 2-3" pots so it would be a long while until you saw any flowers. You might want to check their site.

Bill

I bought a Maudea paph in bud from Orchids.com for $35 and it is blooming nicely now. Sounds like if I can get them for that in bud that's about as good as I can expect???

I'm afraid you're going to have trouble finding paphs in that price range. Since it's difficult to mericlone paphs most of them are grown from seed which takes a long time. So paphs are almost always more expensive than other orchids. Piping Rock is where I've bought several but they're quite expensive.

We bring you the finest Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, and other orchids available.: Piping Rock Orchids

If you want to get quite a few plants and don't mind spending a couple or few hundred TOTAL, you can order from Lehua Orchids in Hawaii. Check out their website, the prices are all there, and some examples. It's a good way to start a collection, if you are serious about it (though I'm not sure what you really want) and can spend that much, in total.

I highly suggest this multi-floral:
91101 Paphiopedilum Mamie Wilson | Lehua Orchids | Paphiopedilum, Masdevallia, Angraecum and Lycaste | Artists in Orchid Creation

Let us know how things develop for you!

yes, I did come across Lehua and they may be the best bet, though you have to order at least 15 which is a bunch, but that may the best bet for me. thank you very much. and yes, I am not sure what I want yet, still trying to figure that out.

Yes, 15 minimum order. But, the upside of it, is that some of them may only be $10, delivered, no tax, and those can be great plants to 'learn' with with. You might spend $50 on one plant somewhere else for the same experience.

A species I might suggest is the appletonianum. It grows very, very easy. Mine just keeps on growing and blooming.

If you do order there, note that the bark they come in is very coarse. You will want to take that into consideration with your care and watering, if you aren't used to it (or re-pot into your own media).

Thank you Tucker85. nice website that you sent.

Howdy neighbor! I'm in Jacksonville. :waving

Hillsview Gardens specializes in Paphs and they are located in the Portland area (Mulino to be specific). We used to have an awesome Paph/Phrag grower in Eugene and one on the coast, but sadly both have gone out of business.

Hillsview Gradens - About Us

It looks like they mostly specialize in complexes, but they have a few other things listed on their website as well. I'd email them and see if they have any mutis. Shipping is $15 for orders under $100, and they use FedEx. There is no minimum order.

If you don't care about ordering from the other side of the country then there is Piping Rock that Tucker already mentioned. Windy Hill has a pretty nice list of multis. Windy Hill Gardens Paphiopedilum List Woodstream has been one of my favorites. Especially for species. Woodstream Orchids Hope this helps.

thanks for the great suggestions. Yes, the price at Lehua is great to learn on, would hate to kill a $75 plant :o)

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 PM ----------

Howdy, yes we are neighbors. Do you belong to the Rogue Valley Orchid Society. I just found out about them. I am new to southern Oregon. Moved here in September from Alaska which I miss greatly, but am adjusting to warmer winter and more people :o) Certainly better down here for orchids Thanks for the website links, appreciate it!!
Paul

Yes I am a member. Was VP last year and the year before. The society is undergoing some changes this year. We have not been able to put on our annual spring show for the last two years due to a lack of vendors. Since that was the main focus of the society we've just sort of been drifting along. We will no longer be meeting monthly at Anna Maria Creekside in Medford. We will now meet every other month at a member's home. The society will be focused on simply socializing and exchanging plants. If you are interested I can PM you the details.

I'm sure this is a huge change from AK! I hate to say it but we have all been whining about how abnormally cold it's been this winter. :lol: Brace yourself for summer. 100+ degrees.

yes, I got an email from your president and a description of the changes in the RV orchid society. I am on the email list. Will try to show up, though I am not much of a schmoozer :o) Do you go to the orchid show in Portland in April? I am thinking about going to that in April.

Yes, when we had 5 inches of snow and 10 degree temps before Christmas here in Grants Pass I could not understand what all the fuss and worry was about. It took 2 feet of snow or -35F temps to shut down things in Anchorage, if then and you are correct I will be whining when it hits not 100, but 85F. I don't like hot!! Thats about when I will be making my trek back up to Alaska for a month or so to escape the heat and to go on a moose hunt. I told my wife I will be a "sunbird" not a snow bird. :o)

I have not been to the Portland show. I have heard from more than one person that it really isn't worth the drive.

The snow doesn't bother me much. We moved from NE California where it wasn't unusual to get 18-24 inches overnight. In fact the day we moved it was -34F and we had just gotten 10" of new snow on a packed base. It's the fog day after day that just does me in.

If you do decide to go to the next meeting I think it would be worth your while. Just seeing Phil's place is pretty amazing. He built a very modern house in Ashland up in the hills. It has an amazing view off the deck, and he has a greenhouse built into the second floor. It's all very wiz bang!

So the Portland show is much adoo about not very much??? They bill it as a big deal on their web page but web pages are often misleading. That said we might still use it as an excuse to see friends in Portland

I will put the RVOS meeting on my calendar

I was going to say Hillsview as well, which is located in Oregon, although further up north compared to where you are, still the closest one to visit and pick out what you like! ;) or mail order.

Orchidzone in California and Marriot Orchids in NC are among the best sources, but their stocks can be quite pricy. great paphs though!

Hawaii has some good sources as well.
Jeremy mentioned lehua and they have great price.
Hilo Orchid farms also have fabulous paphs, but I don't think they only do wholesale.

Piping Rock orchids in NY is also good. I just got quite a few healthy paphs from them this past week at a local show. I'm so excited!!!!

NYC OrchidMan- thanks for the recommendations. Yes, I may take a drive up to Hillsview Gardens during the Oregon Orchid Society show in Portland. I have discovered Seattle Orchid as well and they sell paphs, but not oodles of them, but the prices are good. Its all money one way or another:biggrin:

How's your weather back there. Sounds like the east coast has been getting hammered this winter. I moved to Oregon from Alaska, so winter here is a snap. I have never been to NYC, hope I can make it some day.

Thanks. Take care.

Paul

Wow~ quite the change going from Alaska to Oregon, which is much milder, right?

Winter can be brutal in NYC, but it has been different each year in the past few years. sometimes mild, sometimes not so mild, but in general, very cold by January, which is right now. lol
I'm glad we enjoyed rather mild weather last week during the show in NJ. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken my plants out of my apartment. lol

By the way, I hope you enjoy the show in your area and also your visit to Hillsview garden.

I believe Seattle orchid sells on eBay, and they seem to have nice plants with good price.

Try Googling these places, they're all excellent:
-Seattle Orchid
-Mid-Pacific Orchids
-Orchid Inn
-Fox Valley Orchids
-Leo's Orchids (schordje.com)

Orchid Boy. Ok thank you for the info.

And

If your orchid society puts together a group order occasionally, Kalapana Wholesale has some ready to bloom beauties too. They don't offer much on their retail side (paphs, that is). Some of theirs were awarded locally (Shreveport LA) in the past 18 months.

Here is their January Whsle Price list. Paphs are at the bottom of the list.
Orchid Availability - Kalapana Tropicals Orchids

Maudiae types and complex sorts. Few others too from time to time.

Hope this helps
Rex

Newsletter Editor
Central East Texas Orchid Society
Tyler, Texas

rex- thank you. I will give them a look at

Jeremyinsf,
Is the appletonianum a good choice as a first paph? I have a small orchid collection....of mixed genera...and want to add an easy paph to the mix. I am a mostly a windowsill grower in Florida.
Thanks,
Kathy

appletonianum is one of the "easier" species to grow, so you should be fine with it.

Indeed it is Kathy. I have two of them and they both grow like weeds, they keep blooming and going on and on. I'm very happy with them and think they make an excellent starter plant.

Are you ordering from Lehua? I can make other plant suggestions from there, if you would like.

Yes....I've ordered from Graham before. I have a couple of Masdevallia's from his collectors bench....and Wow he has lovely paph's!! I thought I'd start off with one....but will probably add more in the future so suggestions are very welcome!! I also ordered a sesquipedale from him...to put in a hanging basket under a great tree I have in the backyard....I have been very pleased with the quality of the plants I've gotten from him so far :)
Thanks,
Kathy

Mamie Wilson and Enlightened Wings are two of my other favorites from him, that are easy to grow.

Have an order put together
 

I am taking the Master Gardener with my wife here in Oregon. I have announced at one of our classes that I was looking for some partners to go in cahoots with me for an order to Lehua Orchids in Hawaii and got plenty of takers. I am putting in an order of 16 tomorrow of which I will be taking 5 pahps and one masdevallia. Thanks for all the tips folks. I will likley be back for culture suggestions after I get them.

Paul:biggrin:

What's the five?! Exciting and fun!

Jeremyinsf,
Thanks for the recommendations!! I will definitely have to try those....I got the appletonianum yesterday, and it's a very nice plant. Not in bud at the moment but I'm excited about it anyway :)
I love the mottled foliage of paph's...They look great even when not in flower!!
I really like Graham's coloratums also.....and may try one of those along with those you suggested when I place an order in the future......now I'm just trying to figure out how to make more space on my windowsill to have more ;)
Thanks,
Kathy

I think superbiens and appletonianum have the most beautiful foliage of all barbarta section. :)

Water and feed it... will probably bloom before you know it! I got one from him last June and it has either had a flower on it or growing on since... on the 3rd right now! Good luck and have fun.