Online Storefront Orders vs. Group Sales and Auctions

[SaraJean]

I never really saw that as an issue. I’m not really in it for awards, more just the joy of growing something I like. Kind of like the difference between buying a regular German Shepherd puppy vs a pick of the litter and/or trained GSD from a specialists. Now, that doesn’t mean I will keep a dog of a flower in my collection (limited space and all that). However, if I am looking for particular traits like extra full flowers or excellent color, I will definitely try to get one of the reserved or marked orchids by reaching out to the vendor and plan on dropping extra cash on it. Or if it’s a cross that I am particularly interested in- I’ll pick up a couple of seedlings, bloom them, and trade or sell the ones I don’t want at a society meeting. There is also the first come first serve thing. Healthiest, biggest, and best will get sent out first.

What I DO have a problem with is when a vendor sells their “premium” “reserve” orchids on their “private” page… and then the when you order that same cross or species for sale through their website (even paying extra for a premium one) you get an unhealthy load of garbage with no roots, busted up leaves, and bugs. That is definitely not cool or good practice.

Also what Ray said. I have a division of a Paph that looked awful the first time I bloomed it. Only reason I kept it was because I had seen the mother plant’s flowers with my own eyes

[mopwr]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

What I DO have a problem with is when a vendor sells their “premium” “reserve” orchids on their “private” page… and then the when you order that same cross or species for sale through their website (even paying extra for a premium one) you get an unhealthy load of garbage with no roots, busted up leaves, and bugs. That is definitely not cool or good practice.

Yes, and there's also this, and I 100% agree with Ray that care and conditions can have a big impact.

I want to be clear, that I understand their efforts are valuable and they should sell the plants for what the market commands. I wanted a premium plant, and I selected the most expensive option listed on the website. If there had been a "previously bloomed, choice / select color" option, I would have probably anted up for that too, but I wasn't presented with anything like that.

I've been out of the hobby for a lot of years and before didn't have to.deal with a lot of the pitfalls of ordering online that I'm now wrangling with, and didn't expect to discover that going to their website put me at a disadvantage of sorts in that regard.

To what Ray said, not to toot my own horn, but I've grown this plant very well, it's doubled or tripled it's root system (clear pot, so I can see) and it's grown two perfect new leaves in addition to the spike it now has all in my care in just a few months, so soon enough I'll know if it was worth the time or if I'll be selling it to make room to get what I was hoping for to begin with. My primary concern is that I was hoping for a nice indigo purple blue (you know that color - we call it blue, but...), but I may end up with Fuscia at this point.

As far as a vendor I've dealt with that I feel handles this fairly and is very clear and up front (who also carries quality plants just in general), Big Leaf Orchids does a better job. He prices unbloomed plants the same, and he prices plants in flower based on the quality of the plant / flower, he does it all on the same website and it's first come first serve. He does have a Facebook group, but mostly to announce when things may be coming in stock, or to ask about preferences / gauge demand for something.

[Leafmite]

If they have already bloomed, are you shown the one you are getting in bloom? Does the vendor hold the orchid for a few blooming cycles or sell after the first bloom? From experience, I have been disappointed many times with the first and even second bloom of young Cattleyas and then, with the orchid being stronger, the flowers have gotten much better. So, if you are disappointed with the first bloom cycle, wait for two more before making a decision on the orchid.

I have been buying unbloomed seedlings from Sunset Valley Orchids that have 'potential'. I am just hoping that whatever the blooms are, they will be something I personally enjoy. If not...there is always the orchid society sale table.

[mopwr]

UPDATE: Well, after a good few months, the violacea I ordered bloomed today and I definitely could not have guessed the results.

Going into this, I said...

Originally Posted by mopwr

I was hoping for a nice indigo purple blue...

Attached is what I got.

The flower, and the plant are very nice, but I was definitely not expecting an Alba. What are the odds of crossing two Indigos and coming out with an Alba? With a seedling population, I fully expected some variability, but this is beyond my normal expectation of variability, but I guess anything is possible.

The irony is that I wanted an Alba, eventually, so that much is good, the downside is I had passed on some really nice looking Indigos because I said to myself "I already have one of those, and it's about to bloom."

Oh well, at least now I know what I'm looking for next.