Odd experience - Carter/Holmes

[coirchoir]

Also C&H themselves admitted that there may have been something lacking in their instructions on trimming...
no one is "condemning" C&H but just asking for proper clarification.
Thank you for your kind perspective.

[Gin]

I would not trim all the roots, none if healthy, just bad ones .
I think it would be a shock to the plant , shipped , different growing conditions , care ect. cut roots .. my answer is no way !

[Jerry Delaney]

I am sorry if my reply was too vague, Coir. When I said that all of the roots are trimmed, I was referring to healthy roots. All rotted, desiccated, etc roots are completely removed. Most of the trimmed roots will branch on many genera. I would like to think that all of us here on the "Board" offer our opinions based upon our experience. However, that doesn't make any of us, including me, right or wrong, it just makes us "opinionated". I have ordered dug ups from C&H for over 20 years and have never had a problem with them or C&H's advice concerning trimming the roots. I will, however, agree with you on one point. If they agreed to replace your plants then they should do so. Not because of their advice but because they should be as good as their word. Good luck and good growing, Coir.

[coirchoir]

Gin - I completely agree - on an intuitive level itself that makes much more sense - I wish I had the confidence to think like that before I chopped off all the roots!
Anyway now I think this will be the making of a new non-invasive orchid-growing philosophy in me, as far as I'm concerned - will use the knife only to chop off diseased/worn out leaves, scales, bulb, roots, or to divide/propagate; though even dividing probably really necessary only to feed our acquisitive sense of "increasing" our "collection" - in nature orchids don't go about dividing themselves; maybe I should merely transfer overgrown orchids into larger and larger pots, huh?

[coirchoir]

And Jerry, thanks for all the input, and good wishes!
Cheers

[Gin]

got a wash tub ?
In the beginning I did the same thing listened to directions but from an old book (no internet at the time ) ended up planting a Catt. in garden dirt , when it said sun guess it did not mean full hot sun and to make matters worse they were almost rootless divisions Hang in there .. Hope you get the replacements Gin

[coirchoir]

Thanks Gin - will keep y'all posted!

[coirchoir]

Well, today I got my surprise package!!!
Within a day of my last message I got an email form C&H, remembering their promise and asking if they could send some replacements out! WHat do you think I said???
Well they've been MOST generous AND they seem to have a comprehensive revised set of instructions, which I am yet to review. They potted all the new plants with some freebie bare roots thrown in which I will pot after they get a little acclimated.
So all's well that end's well and I plan to be a loyal C&H customer!!
Gin, looks like I might need that wash tub after all !!

[Duane McDowell]

Glad to hear it! I've always been impressed by C & H. Best wishes with the nw ones.

[Gin]

Good to hear you got the replacements .. I have bought a lot from them and always been happy with what I got .