dissapointed orchid from norman orchids

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Salixx

I've had problems with Norman's too. They'd have to have something really special for me to order from them again.

There's too many fantastic vendors out there to deal with sub par ones.

glad I only had one bad one out of two. they were the only one i could find a Sansai Blue vanda. but thats the last one. since their attitude sucks too and never responding to emails. I have had much better luck on eBay. the only problem I had was a coconut orchid that was supposed to be in spike was not.

[estación seca]

I agree: The plant looks bad, they shouldn't send you a plant with all those damaged leaves, and the roots are OK though not great.

Another thing to remember is that, nowadays, when Vandas have been hybridized for over 100 years, there are very few really special named clones. There are lots of truly great blue-flowered Vanda clones. Unless you want to breed with Sansai Blue, you can get a different blue Vanda you will be equally happy with. (If you wanted to breed with Sansai Blue you would probably try to search out a known non-virused offset, rather than a meristem.)

Getting a good cultivar, that's not exactly what you want, from a vendor known to always send great plants, is better than risking buying a plant from the only vendor who has it, when that vendor has plenty of bad online reviews.

And recall there are several different kinds of plant vendors. Some create and sell new hybrids, where you never know what you will get. Motes and RF Orchids are like this with Vandas.

Some do the meristemming lab work themselves, or contract it out, and sell clones in large numbers. Carmelas Orchids is like this. They have quite a few really good blue Vanda clones on their Web site right now.

Others buy the clones from bigger companies, grow them up and resell them. Both Motes and RF Orchids do this. I think Normans does as well.

[fooferdoggie]

no expert on vandas I just heard how well the blue ones do and that one was well talked about. I was happy with the first plant I got from them and never really checked their rep out. well live and learn.
I only have one other vanda but it was local and in great shape till I Got ahold of it. it lost most of the dangly roots because I did not know to soak it I misted it several times a day. learned about soaking and vases and it is growing like crazy now. only two vandals and that all the rom I have or them and they take up more time each day then a bunch of orchids.

[estación seca]

If you treat this one like the other one, it will recover and grow just fine.

[dounoharm]

unless its something you really want, I would pack it up and send it back....they have to be less careless with their product or they wont have any business....

[Ray]

If I had a seriously special plant that had damage, I might trim it up to help keep it alive, but if that plant was for sale, it would be removed from availability.

I hope you were smart enough to pay with a credit card. As you did not get what you expected, challenge the charge. The CC company will remove the charge from your bill pending resolution, they will apply a chargeback fee to Normans and withhold paying him. That ought to make them respond better.

[Bohata]

Hausermann has Sansai Blue. Go to their online catalog, click on species and related hybrids on the list at your left, then click on Vanda Ascocenda hybrids and species. at only 5 dollars more than you spent for this one, they will send you a quality plant. RF Orchids might be a good place to look, too.

[fooferdoggie]

ok the plant is growing but I have a question. if you look at the picture it has those very thick roots at it's base. should they be green? I am asking becasue even after a 8 hour soak in the morning they are white. I have been soaking it 3 minutes every morning along with my other vanda and it and the small roots stay green till the next day. but the big ones don't. Should I soak them longer every day till they stay green?

[Bohata]

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

ok the plant is growing but I have a question. if you look at the picture it has those very thick roots at it's base. should they be green? I am asking becasue even after a 8 hour soak in the morning they are white. I have been soaking it 3 minutes every morning along with my other vanda and it and the small roots stay green till the next day. but the big ones don't. Should I soak them longer every day till they stay green?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just keep doing what you are.

[Gthumbz89]

Sorry about your order. I too have had issues with Norman's Orchids. They are good with phals, but sometimes even those are duds.

I love their selection, but man their plants are in bad shape. It is an example of a company being too big to properly maintain product quality.