street side orchid sellers
 

A lot of days, especially around any holidays, I see people selling orchids along the street for $5. Does anyone know where these orchids come from and how they sell them so cheep. I have never bought any as I figure you get what you pay for.

Well I can't tell you because they don't do that up here in Michigan, and I assume much of anywhere in the colder climates. That's interesting though I would imagine they have connections to a wholesale grower much as they would sell roses. Perhaps you might ask them...?

I wonder if these had "fallen off a truck" ?
They should be OK to buy provided the roots are OK - just lift the entire plant out the pot and check. I have heard of people buying at flea-markets and trunk/boot sales, this is just another method. $5 is really cheap..

They are probably just hobbyists clearing out their shade houses to make room. Or perhaps they have a lot of those particular orchids and just want them gone for a quick proffit

I guess I'll have to stop one day and check them out. Before Valentines Day, Mother's Day and Easter I see them all over selling "roses" but it sure looks like mostly phals. During the rest of the year I see them randomly about. I'm sure I'll see some before Christmas.

They are probably buying the seconds from the big growers that are getting rid of them. Everybody wins.

they sell bonsai on the corners around my home but no orchids . I think orchids are a hard sell if they arent blooming. In fact I know they are.

but ya they might have helped some grower clear his stock for new arrivals . or could have just dug them out of the trash and outted em in fresh pots. I dont know I never seen anyone sell an orchid on the street. Maybe we just arent cultured enough down south to get to where we have orchids on the street. Sheeez orchids are barely in the stores. Get more that tropical crap that are sold as houseplants that are no more a houseplant than a bengal tiger :hello

Our big growers in homestead sell their blooming seconds to small street vendors for cheap. Not to be confused with discarding orchids that have finished blooming.

I stopped at a road side orchid seller and picked up a very pretty Den for $5. The good looking Phals were $10. There were some out bloomed Phals for $5. I noticed some of the Dens looked like they cut a cane with flowers off a plant that had more than one and stuck it in a pot. The guy selling them wasn't too friendly so I didn't ask where the orchids came from. I am very happy with my new orchid.

That's very like one of my rescue hard canes. I ended up with multiples of the pink ones, but one thing I learned was that in a group, they are stunning. So, when I repot them, all the pinks are going into one big, shallow pot and that should give a spectacular display.