Orchidaceae, Inc. September Sale, 3 phals for $50

[greenbean]

I couldn't resist this offer. I've been drooling over their website for at least 2 years now. The high prices held me back though. I couldn't quite push myself to pay $27 for an orchid when I could go to Fred Meyers and get a pretty decent one for $15 or less. I know, $27 really isn't that bad, but I'm a poor college student who probably shouldn't even have spent the $50 for three! (Except I got a $50 check from my grandparents for my b-day just a day or two before I learned about the sale. That MUST be fate )

What I got: Phal. philippinensis, Dtps. I-Hsin Ice Coke 'KH7155', and Dtps. Rong Guan Mary

Cost: regular total: $64 plus shipping plus tax, and it would have been bare-root unless I wanted to pay extra.

Sale total: $54.15, and that includes in-pot shipping and tax!

If I had ordered 3 of their orchids listed at $27, I could have gotten $81 worth of phals for that same cost! But an OB friend sent me one of the plants I was going to order, so I ordered a different, cheaper one (philipinensis seedling).

Why Orchidaceae, Inc. is worth checking out: amazingly healthy plants. The philippinensis was listed as being 2-3 inches across. I was sent a 5 inch plant. The Rong Guan Mary was listed as 6-8 inches, I was sent a plant 12 inches across! The I-Hsin Ice Coke was listed as 8-10 inches, mine is 14 inches across! Both of the hybrids have extremely robust 2-3 inch spikes forming as well. The leaves are pristine and firm and the roots are sooo happy!

Hurry and take advantage of their offer before the end of September! Look for Phals that you can't find cheaper elsewhere! (remember to take shipping into account, too)

Here's the link to their site. If you want to take advantage of the special, look at the phals they have either on their website or on their full plant list, write down the numbers of the plants you want, then go to the "Specials" page and buy the phal special. When you get to the page with the "comments" section, list the catalog numbers of the plants you want.

http://www.orchidaceae.com/

[Grandma M]

They look great. Great selection.

I agree with you, Orchidaceae has wonderful plants and service. I ordered 2 Vandas from them a couple of months ago. The plants were very large, well grown, and the best Vanda plants I have ever ordered. They were a little pricey but well worth the little extra cost.

Marilyn

[mollycart1]

Hey, Evan. Can I say "I told you so."? The owner, Mark has his own formula on how much he can feed the plants. He gave me once before, but it was too much numbers and formula. It lost me....

According to him, Walla Walla receives 300+ days of sunny weather. He knows what he is doing. They really are healthy plant.

Marilyn, Mark gave me one of his Vanda Robert's Delight at the end of the show in spring. They are so heavy. So what did you get?

[Grandma M]

Naoki

I bought Robert's Delight 'Big Blue' , Robert's Delight 'Red Black' and Pachara Delight 'Somsri'. I wish I had room for more. I would surely order a couple more from his fantastic list if I knew where to put them.

Was your Robert's Delight in blooom?

Marilyn

[mollycart1]

Not yet. However, it is a very LARGE plant. I got 'Big Blue' from him.

[brewmyster]

I ordered from them and they just arrived. Supper plants with lots of roots and great color. 2 are in spike. One of the plants has one of the largest leaves that is broken. Looks like it got broken while packing up for shipment. I dont have camera to post pixs right now. Wife has camera with her taking pixs of new granddaughter.

Mark

[greenbean]

Originally Posted by mollycart1

Hey, Evan. Can I say "I told you so."?

Yes, ok! OK! You DID tell me so, and you were RIGHT! Still, I wouldn't have ordered more than maybe one plant at a time without this current special.

Naoki and Marilyn, do you grow your Vandas under lights, or do you use natural light. Naoki, I know you mentioned growing Paphs under lights, so you probably have the Vanda under lights too? I know Portland is just as miserable (sometimes worse, when the gorge sends storms your way) as where I live in the winter, since I'm only about an hour north. I've heard that Michigan is pretty dark too.

Funny you should mention light, Naoki. I'm in Pullman, majoring in horticulture at WSU, only a few hours away from Walla Walla. I can't stand the cold over here in the winter, but I LOVE how bright it is. Last year, the advisor of the WSU Hort. Club was complaining that the plants for their sales hadn't grown as much that winter because it was unusually dark. My jaw hit the floor! West of the Cascades is so much darker in the winter! I thought Pullman winters were practically blinding!

Mark, sorry to hear about the broken leaf. Sometimes that happens during shipping. Frankly I doubt everyone in the mailing system really heads the "Fragile", "Live Plants", etc. signs that are all over orchid boxes.

But congrats on the new granddaughter!!

[mollycart1]

Originally Posted by greenbean

Naoki and Marilyn, do you grow your Vandas under lights, or do you use natural light. Naoki, I know you mentioned growing Paphs under lights, so you probably have the Vanda under lights too? I know Portland is just as miserable (sometimes worse, when the gorge sends storms your way) as where I live in the winter, since I'm only about an hour north. I've heard that Michigan is pretty dark too.

Evan, this is how I grow my Vandas. Actually, I learned it from the Marilyn's setup when she posted the pictures.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-expanded.html

[greenbean]

Thanks Naoki. That's an interesting setup.

Hehehe! Just thinking of how my parents would freak if I tried to set that up in our house makes me laugh! We don't have a basement or any other convenient place out of the way for something like that.

Although we do have 5 acres, and my parents have wanted a greenhouse for a long time. I keep asking them why they haven't up and got one already!!!

Either that or the sunroom they've been talking about lately! (which would actually be better for me because my parents wouldn't want a greenhouse kept warm enough for orchids in the winter.)

Of course, by the time they get around to either one, I'll be done with college and moved out, so I guess it doesn't matter anyways!