Peloric orchids
 

Hi, I am very new to all this, but loving all the information and the language surrounding these wonderful plants.

I saw a gorgeous, fragrant 'peloric' orchid for sale on Ebay. It is really rather expensive and I wonder if orchid lovers are rather purist and would stay away from mutations or embrace them as wonders?

Your answers might either cost me or save me £35.00!

Many thanks,

Helen

if you like it, get it although I did have a look and if it is the seller I think, his are a bit overpriced although he has got some phals for £25

The thing you have to be very careful with is the small print.

How big is the plant?
Are you getting a seedling or a fully grown plant?
It does not say. You might say ah but he has added a picture.
A picture means nothing.

If you look closer you will notice that he is selling the exact same phal for £5 more too, also no description to its size with the same pictures.

A seller does not just sell two identical plants for different prices. If a seller has a more expensive and a cheaper one the more expensive one will always be at least one year older than the cheaper one.

Then you have to ask yourself is saving 10% on the plant worth getting one that needs to grow a year longer? Most of the time it is worth spending that little extra and getting a bigger plant for it. Growing that little bit yourself costs time, effort and money.

So I would not get the £35 one I would always pick the slightly more expensive one for £40 because it will be at least a year older.

But that is then a lot for a phal, with postage on top.

Considering they can be bought for under £10 in supermarkets (ok so they are not peloric).

I think it should be entirely your decision.

I have gotten good bargains on ebay. Sometimes you see right rubbish. This seller has too little information for my liking so I would never buy from him. He needs to add more detail to his listing.

I know it's effort but if he wanted my custom I expect to know what I am buying, not just the name and trust it arrives in good condition..

Most of the time the picture is not the picture of the plant they are selling but a demonstration or a flower they used online.

Imgaine buying 40 varieties from a nursery and you wanted to sell them but none were in flower. You'd need to use some pictures from somewhere to show what the flowers will look like but who knows what the actual plant will look like. Most likley nothing like the pictures to start with! So that should also be a big big factor. If you pay that much it better be the best orchid you have ever bought.

Thank you very much. That is very sound advice.

I have had it on my watch list for a while but, as you say, there are two examples of the same type. Something seemed fishy and so I have not committed to a purchase. I think I will leave it. It is such a lot of money for something that may be a disappointment.

:)

I'm sure you know about spiceotics?

Shop | Essex United Kingdom | Spicesotic Plants

The plants they sell do look like their pictures, overall their prices and plants are good.

Oh, I have had lovely plants from Spiceotics and great communication. This is a different seller. Their ratings are 100% positive so I don't doubt they will be good plants. I am just unsure that I should spend so much. Are Peloric plants less hardy or unreliable in terms of care? Anyway, I have to stop for a while.

But thank you.