Dilemma- 2 vendors, same plant (Purple Martin) help!

[Cookiemonster]

Greetings everyone,
Im looking to buy a Dtps Purple Martin.
Its being sold by orchids.com and bigleaforchids.
I've had a eh experience with orchids.com *1 plant came well the other was a mess*. I've never ordered from big leaf.
The orchids.com plant is in spike/bloom, the one on big leaf seems really small- young... I fear I'll destroy it....

I'll share links, I'd appreciate input! Thanks

ORCHIDS.COM : SHOP : PHALAENOPSIS : SEARCH RESULTS

Dtps. Purple Martin 'KS' - Big Leaf Orchids

which would you pick and why?
Thanks

[whygreenberg]

I'm sure someone else will come along with experience buying from both.

I've never purchased from Big Leaf, but I can tell you that I'd probably not purchase from Orchids.com again. Maybe if they had something I desperately wanted and I couldn't find it elsewhere. Received a Phrag. from them with SEVERE root rot, fungus gnats due to the root rot problem, as well as either mealybug or soft scale (never could figure out which, but it didn't matter...was finally able to rid it of all critters). So, my Orchids.com experience wasn't a good one.

Plus, while it may be a little while till you see blooms if you go with Big Leaf, you never can be sure if you get a plant in-bud or -spike that it won't blast from the change in environment.

[cowboy51278]

yeah, i purchased one plant from orchids.com. may it RIP. it was dead within a week. couldn't get any satisfaction from them except for a girl in they're customer service dept that got very VERY NASTY. im pretty laid back about everything and there was no reason for that. if you do order from big leaf let us know how it goes. they have a few ive had my eye on but haven't placed the order yet. i know some people who have used them with great success.

[caseydoll]

Hi Cookiemonster! I don't personally have any experience with either vendor but i know I've heard a lot of iffy comments about orchids.com (including the other 2 posts ) I have heard great things about Bigleaf, hopefully others will post that have received orchids from them. I am currently wanting the exact orchid you are looking at. I'm just not sure i should order right now cuz i've been going a little orchid crazy lately. But I am planning to buy from bigleaf when I get one.

p.s. If my memory is correct I think Gwen (gmdiaz) ordered your orchid from bigleaf. If she doesn't respond to this post maybe you can pm her? Let us know what you decide to do and post when you get it!

[cb977]

Three words for you...

GO WITH BIGLEAF!!!

A number of folks have had not-so-nice experiences with orchids.com (that's not to say everybody has had problems)

BUUT

Big Leaf Orchids is known for having top-quality orchids and Peter is a very knowledgeable and helpful guy. You can't go wrong making this decision

[caseydoll]

Ok, my memory isn't all that great! Quiltergal (Terri) ordered your orchid in question. Sorry for that!!! I just found the post while looking at Bigleaf threads.

[gmdiaz]

Yep, I bought the Dtps. Purple Marin KS. . .LOVE it.

Go with Big Leaf!

I've bought a few plants from them, all gorgeous, well packed and in awesome condition.

PLUS he sends a freebie seedling with your order. . .super nice!

The only thing to keep in mind is that these will be seedlings. . .so only a few leaves. You have to wait quite a while for blooms on some. Well, worth it, in my opinion to start with such good plants!

[Cookiemonster]

oh seedlings :S.... I bought two seedling plants in september, they were dead by december... I dont know I dont think I have the kind of experience yet to grow something so young. Im so new (since august), and struggling with mature plants I've killed 3- it would be advisable to wait... yes?

I mean now I understand the basics about potting medium, watering times, diseases, fungus, rot ect...
Mine all died with infestations that destroyed the root systems....

I was also interested in this one, if its also a seedling then I'll just wait...

Phal. Yin's Green Jewel 'L' - Big Leaf Orchids

[Dorothy]

Cookie - I think the bonus orchid will be a seedling .. in reading BigLeaf's description of the Purple Martin, it states "Size : Near Mature to Mature plant in 2.25 inch pot to flower within a year"
Yin's Green Jewel is awesome! and they say "Size : Mature size to flower within a year, planted in 3 inch pot"
You can always email or call them for phal size before ordering

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by Cookiemonster

oh seedlings :S.... I bought two seedling plants in september, they were dead by december... I dont know I dont think I have the kind of experience yet to grow something so young. Im so new (since august), and struggling with mature plants I've killed 3- it would be advisable to wait... yes?

I mean now I understand the basics about potting medium, watering times, diseases, fungus, rot ect...
Mine all died with infestations that destroyed the root systems....

I was also interested in this one, if its also a seedling then I'll just wait...

Phal. Yin's Green Jewel 'L' - Big Leaf Orchids

I think I misspoke, I would clarify to say that the ones I received were NBS (near blooming size). The leaf span (for both leaves) was about five inches.

Mine have not been difficult to take care of, not delicate in the least.

Check each listing for the current size of the plant for sale. I am sure it's different for each one.

The bonus plant that I received was aprox .the same size and age as the other two I bought.

And if you have any questions about how to care for them, problems you'd like to avoid in the future or about the sizes available etc. ask Peter. . .he's very, very knowlegable and great to deal with.

Hope that helps!