Ecuagenera Order?

[The Orchidomaniac]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Something to look forward to... if you want to get some ideas as to what you can actually get away with, if you don't have it already look for "A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and Their Culture" by Mary Gerritsen. It addresses the specific micro-climates of the SF Bay area with massive amounts of information (and gorgeous photos). The SF orchid society website has been redone and doesn't show a "sales" area, but they definitely have it, you can send an email and no doubt get it if you're interested.

I have the book. It is really nice. That is how I became interested in growing Laelinae outside!

[Keysguy]

OK maniac, you've made me do it!

Just ordered
Aerangis hyaloides
Angraecum eburneum subsp. superbum
Encyclia dichroma
Phragmipedium besseae var guarumales

[The Orchidomaniac]

Nice selection!
I doubt you could get the plants anywhere other than Ecuagenera, especially the phragmipedium. I just realized they sell flasks too... time for another shopping spree!!

[katsucats]

So, I guess there's no such thing as perfect. After 24 plants, 2-3 stem rots, I finally got a CymMV from Ecuagenera. They sent me their return policy, which means I must initiate return within 3 days, and pay shipping back. Mind you, shipping was $40, and the Epidendium hugomedinae was $25. I told them I was disappointed in the response, and this definitely put a hamper on my enthusiasm. I'd probably still purchase from them due to the size-value, but now it's clear that each order is a risk, where if anything goes wrong, the vendor refuses to stand behind it.

The sales guy, Anahi Carchi, who responded to me, makes it clear that they don't care at all whether there are viruses in their operation. There is no comment on my photo of positive ELISA tests.

[katsucats]

I originally wrote a post about Ecuagenera deleting negative reviews and not recognizing Agdia tests. I had an Epidendrum hugomedinae test positive for CymMV. A couple days after sending my photos, someone sent me an email to refund 80% of the cost of the plant in question. Before that, two people gave me the standard "we'll consider your suggestions" type of thing. So I'm updating my post to reflect that. This is the first virus I got from Ecuagenera after nearly two dozen plants, so it may still be worth purchasing from them, but their response was a bit iffy.

[Keysguy]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

OK maniac, you've made me do it!

Just ordered
Aerangis hyaloides
Angraecum eburneum subsp. superbum
Encyclia dichroma
Phragmipedium besseae var guarumales

And here they are.
I was really nervous when I saw they had shipped the other day and we are due for a 4 day 90+ degree heatwave. When I opened that box today is was cooking on the inside but very humid. They look fine. Gave them all a good soak after unpacking and then potted them up.

Once again, I am not dissppointed by Ecuagenera.
BTW- the packing scheme on that little haloides was ingenious. Roots wrapped in paper with a bent paperclip taped on. The clip was inserted through the sidewall midway down the inside of the plastic cup then taped thus holding the plant suspended in the cup with a taped on cover. Brilliant!

I know some of you love to test orchids and that's great but honestly....... for what I'm paying for these plants , I just don't care. Now, if I'm purchasing a thousand dollar plant for breeding purposes, then I care. That obviously is not the case. I buy them to grow and enjoy. I bet if you tested seedling tomato plants in a roadside nursery you'd find plenty of virus and they still produce edible fruit. The world is full of them as we know all too well and most are relatively harmless.

Anyway:
1) haloides
2) eburneum (huge division)
3) dichroma (nice division)
4) besseae var. guarumales (huge division)

[Jmbaum]

Hi just got my first order in from Ecuagenera, came exactly when they said it would. The box was practically flattened unfortunately. About the condition of the plants, is this about average? Anything you recommend to treat them, haven’t dealt with plants in this kind of shipping conditions before. Some seem to have some rot and/or dehydration.

Images in album:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lbums1699.html

[katsucats]

Originally Posted by Jmbaum

Hi just got my first order in from Ecuagenera, came exactly when they said it would. The box was practically flattened unfortunately. About the condition of the plants, is this about average?

I've never received a flattened box from them, although I have received several plants that came down with bulb rot not long after. Most plants end up okay, it depends on the genus. I bought a Cyrtochilum edwardii twice and both times I'm having an uphill battle with some kind of stem rot. The Oncidium, Stanhopea, Dendrobium, Maxillaria and Lycaste are flawless. Epidendrum and Encyclia are struggling. But this is just anecdotal.

[Keysguy]

Yikes!
You need to send them those pictures. Especially the ones with the plants that look like they've been dissected.

Get them unwrapped and soaking in water (or even better Kelp Max if you have some) for several hours.
Mostly, the ones that are just desiccated looking should come back fine.
I'd ask for replacements or refunds for the ones that got all smashed up.
I've had several shipments from Ecuagenera and never seen anything like that.

[Jeff214]

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