Norman's Orchids / Orchids.com

[DeaC]

Not the first time I've heard of problems from him so buyer beware.

[Bayard]

To be fair, I’ve ordered from them many times and not had a problem. Since Cattleyas are my thing, I know to get them out of the sphagnum ASAP. Once repotted and acclimated to my conditions, they do well.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by Bayard

To be fair, I’ve ordered from them many times and not had a problem. Since Cattleyas are my thing, I know to get them out of the sphagnum ASAP. Once repotted and acclimated to my conditions, they do well.

I've heard other stories too of people getting very nice things from him, so I know he has some nice plants. The thing is, when you order from a website and buy plants that you cannot inspect first, you have to be able to trust that you will get good value for the money you spend. You have to have a level of trust in the vendor, and based on the reviews, both negative and positive, I don't think I can trust him to consistently give me good value for my money, so I choose not to shop with him. Another vendor I feel I cannot trust to give me good value for my money is Seattle Orchids. I've received a few nice things from them, but I've received some disappointing things from them too, and they are dismissive of customers' concerns, so that's another one I don't trust enough to shop with anymore. If I'm ever in Seattle or wherever Norman's Orchids is, I would certainly visit their greenhouses, because I know they have nice things there, but I feel like I can't trust them to send me a good plant that I cannot see before I buy. I would only buy in person with these nurseries so that I could inspect first hand what it was I was buying before I paid, but i won't be buying plants sight unseen over the internet with either of them.

[LCasas]

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. I did want to mention that I've ordered from them twice, mainly angraecums, dendrobiums and phals, and both time have received large healthy plants with great roots.

[aliceinwl]

I’ve ordered from them a couple of times and have been happy. But, I’d read enough negative reviews that I limited my purchases to “small ticket” items. Sorry to hear about your experience :-( I think there are other threads on here with people having a similar mix of experiences.

[Fairorchids]

Our local OS ordered from Norman for our auction in 2018. Two plants came in with incorrect labels, and it took about 8 messages to get that straightened out.

Personally I will not buy from that organization, as he is known in the industry as 're-naming' Norman. I have seen photographic proof, that he renames material purchased in Taiwan (unfortunately I did not save a copy).

[Angel Orchids]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

This is a very common type of story regarding this vendor.

Avoid in the future

After a number of bad experiences with Norman's, I stopped dealing with them several years ago. Recently I found a number of the plants I had received from them are virused.
BUYER BEWARE!

[Jmbaum]

Okay, so kind of wished i had read this prior, but i have an order coming in later today. SO will be so interested to see. I did call in a couple of times to check on how to request a very selection of Phal. schilleriana from San Ramon island, and to choose a plant with the strongest banding of the population. I was assured that it would be highlighted for selection. I grabbed a few other plants that were of interest. I'll post what comes in today.

Upon checking, I'm sure they know since you have to agree not to bring customer service complains to the private facebook group it seems.

[Jmbaum]

UPDATE

Photos:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lbums1694.html

I'm happy with what was delivered today. These plants don't demonstrate the pinnacle of greenhouse cultivation practices, I'd like to have seem more healthy root tips, have to consider what the last year has been like for running a greenhouse and maintaining operations. The process was streamlined and quick, decent, but not careful packing. My two impulse choices came with blooms (one very much on the way out).

Upon depotting it is evident that they are not removing old sphagnum bark ect. when they size up the pots. The center of each is filled with a wet dead root mass, leaving each to live solely on new roots alone. this in conjunction with the tight plastic pot it is really suffocating. SO, it will be a process to get the roots all cleaned up, but they'll be okay under new care.

Hopefully they can steer the hobby side of the business to a more carful practice that addresses the concerns presented.

Originally Posted by Jmbaum

Okay, so kind of wished i had read this prior, but i have an order coming in later today. SO will be so interested to see. I did call in a couple of times to check on how to request a very selection of Phal. schilleriana from San Ramon island, and to choose a plant with the strongest banding of the population. I was assured that it would be highlighted for selection. I grabbed a few other plants that were of interest. I'll post what comes in today.

Upon checking, I'm sure they know since you have to agree not to bring customer service complains to the private facebook group it seems.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Jmbaum

UPDATE

Photos:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lbums1694.html

I'm happy with what was delivered today. These plants don't demonstrate the pinnacle of greenhouse cultivation practices, I'd like to have seem more healthy root tips, have to consider what the last year has been like for running a greenhouse and maintaining operations. The process was streamlined and quick, decent, but not careful packing. My two impulse choices came with blooms (one very much on the way out).

Upon depotting it is evident that they are not removing old sphagnum bark ect. when they size up the pots. The center of each is filled with a wet dead root mass, leaving each to live solely on new roots alone. this in conjunction with the tight plastic pot it is really suffocating. SO, it will be a process to get the roots all cleaned up, but they'll be okay under new care.

Hopefully they can steer the hobby side of the business to a more carful practice that addresses the concerns presented.

I think you're cutting them too much slack. The past year has done very little to affect their greenhouse operations.

Treat the plant with KelpMax and it'll bounce back much more quickly.