Probably my last order with Ecuagenera

[katsucats]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

The fact that I occasionally get a plant that is huge and healthy makes it hard for me to resist rolling the dice.

This is probably true. I have gotten some large and healthy plants from them that probably would have costed 10 times their prices if I bought them domestically. Even taking into account the other costs, it was still worth it. However, at least for me, it's easy to conflate the price of a plant with it's "true price", which would include all the sick and virused plants that I had to toss. With Ecuagenera, the true price to apparent price ratio is high. It still might be a good deal, but it ends up not being nearly as good of a deal as the initial impression.

[Jeff214]

Ah... it's been pretty hit or miss for me. I just ordered one plant this time, a little pricey. We'll see if I end up crying and "paying" for my education haha...

Their plants were very nice when I had it shipped to an orchid show. I has the same plant shipped directly and it was a sad rotten mess.

[Keysguy]

OK you guys, I'll give you my little secret to getting great plants from offshore...............

Pre-order to take delivery at a show. You don't like it? You don't take it. As easy as that. In fairness, I'm sure that because I contract vendors for shows for 2 societies doesn't hurt my probability of scoring top shelf either.

[Jeff214]

Well.. I'm not sure why the plant was wet and wrapped in paper/sphag... but it seems to have rotted the new growth. I thought it may be ok and potted it up. Now the older p-bulbs are turning brown and mushy too.

I contacted Ecuagenera about it. They told me it's my responsibility and that I'd have to pay shipping to return/exchange it.

[Clawhammer]

I'd follow up in a day or two with another picture and a strong demand for a refund. They have always refunded me when something like this happened.

They may have changed their refund policy considering all the other changes and expansion. My outstanding order has a 7 week lead time when it used to be 1-2 weeks.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

Unbeknownst to me I found this thread before I made my purchase. I'll be updating my orders aswell

[estación seca]

I agree Catts ship better dry and bare-root. The Cattleya alliance plants I received from them this week were bare root inside paper bags. Even so a few had a sprinkling of cold spots on leaves. The Oncidiums and others were in almost dry moss in little plastic baggies tied at the neck. A large Phrag was fairly wrinkled, though it revived some after a overnight soak in warm Kelpak/Inocucor/fertilizer/sugar water.

But it is winter. Even though you and I live in the southern part of the US, things can get cold in transit. Delivery services don't keep packages in climate-controlled spaces most of the time. Delivery trucks are not heated. Ecuagenera does offer 2-day delivery at an extra charge. I've sprung for 2-day when it's winter and it's relatively cold. I don't order in summer any longer unless it's hot-growing plants, and I get 2-day delivery.

[Jeff214]

Of course, due to the weather I did anticipate some potential cold damage. And I did see some minor damage in orchids I recently received from another vendor. Even if it were more damaged, it is within expectations of ordering in winter.

With Ecuagenera... It's difficult for me to understand why they would send a cattleya in wet sphag in the winter... the paper wrapping around the plant was still wet. The side that was on the wet paper was already turning black when I received it. The mushiness is spreading from that side. The dry side is perfectly fine. I'd conclude that their wet packaging method was likely a significant factor in making things worse.

Anyway, I will keep trying. I've had mostly positive experience with them. Not sure why they are being difficult this time around.

[Clawhammer]

I have received email requests to review my items on the last two orders before Ecuagenera even confirmed the order. It is taking them two weeks to even acknowledge an order right now.

Clearly going through some growing pains and they are not being very transparent. I am currently still waiting for an 18 plant order to ship that I placed on Nov 27th.

My advice, don't be like me. Don't order from these guys right now.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

Reporting in with the Ecuagenera import.
I was fearing for the worse, but actually I think everything is looking good so far. The Stanhopea though I was expecting it would be smaller, I really have no room for it. But look at it, I can see it shooting out new root.

I was expecting the shipment to come tommorow not today so I am a bit stuck on what to do.
I suppose I'll start with cleaning them up and cutting dead root first then rehydrate them in rain water.