SB Orchid Estate

[Kevinator]

Our family recently decided to visit Santa Barbara, so I suggested that we stop by the Orchid Estate there. It is a little bit isolated but I still highly recommend the place. The service was very good (one lady kept running back and forth to help me pick out a Stan. tigrina) and their selection is HUGE. They grow all of their warm-growing orchids (including Vandas) outside all year around even when the temperature drops near freezing, but they still get VERY good results. Another surprising thing is that they keep all of the pleurothallids (besides the masdevallias) with their warm-growing Stanhopeas and Gongoras, and yet, it works! I ended up getting a Stan. tigrina with six spikes, and two Restrepias. Here's a few pics from the estate.



I do have to say though, its on the pricey side of orchid stores, but it's well worth checking out.

[bethmarie]

Thanks for sharing your pictures. Awesome!

[Leafmite]

I must agree that it looks like a wonderful place to visit!

[WhiteRabbit]

[RosieC]

[Fairorchids]

Being in NJ I can't visit them at will, but I have purchased off their web site a couple of times, and never been disappointed with the plants.

My last order was 6 months ago, for six different clones of Den kingianum. Plants were healthy and large (except for know miniature varieties, DUH), and to my surprise were grown in pebbles in platic pots. Plants are now in clay pots with spaghnum/bark mix, and doing fine under my growing conditions.