Purchased from Orchids.com - Need Advice - Orchid Board

MrsH530 · #1 07-03-2014, 11:07 AM

Good morning Orchid Board!

I just received my first purchase from Orchids.com and I'm not super happy. Can anyone tell me if this is worth calling and telling them about?

It came potted in moss, which wasn't super surprising. I noticed on the packing slip it recommended not to repot for 30 days, and if I did before those 30 days it would severely damage my plant. However, any time that I get a plant in moss, I prefer to open it up and have a look at the roots. I'm glad I did. The roots were in poor shape. Most were mushy and no longer viable. I cut off the mushy roots and what I have left is 3 moderate roots, with 1 new being pushed out now.

Should I call them and tell them that the plant is in bad shape? I was hoping for a plant that would bloom in the not too distant future, but looking at the roots, its hard to say how long it will be before it blooms.

I've currently got it soaking bare root in some of Ray's magic seaweed. After a nice long soak, I'll pot it back up.

Thanks for your advice!

Vanda lover · #2 07-03-2014, 11:12 AM

I would complain about it. That plant definitely has bad roots.

NYCorchidman · #3 07-03-2014, 11:21 AM

Based on what I read, they will not react very kindly.
They are known to be rude.

but, if you show them pictures, maybe they will ask that you return (probably with you paying for the shipping) the plant and send you a replace, which is not guaranteed to be better.

Wish you luck and please let us know what happens.

Now, my own story with this vendor, with all the bad things I read about them, I did order from them. I know I feel guilty, but there was this one plant that I really wanted but no one else had it in the US. also, I wanted to try megathrive and they had it.
So I placed an order. I got this particular plant (expensive but would have worth the money if it was good), one more plant that is common ( but was offered cheap, so I got it) , and megathrive.

Well, the shipping took forever literally!
the plants were not healthy looking either.

I really don't want to buy anything from them ever again. lol

I mean, if you are an asshole, at least product should be awesome to keep the complain and anger down somewhat, but sh*#$%^ service AND sh#$%^ product, I don't think so!

MrsH530 · #4 07-03-2014, 12:03 PM

Well, we'll see what happens. I emailed them with pictures this morning. I'm glad I didn't wait the 30 days, because then they would have been able to blame the rotten roots on me. Oh well, I think I can recover the plant. Live and learn..

NYCorchidman · #5 07-03-2014, 12:39 PM

Oh, yeah!

That horrible instruction in the paper work that comes with the plant, I was literally shocked to read it!
It says do not repot your plant for the first 30 days as doing so will severely damage the plant.
I was like, WHF???!!!

Hiester · #6 07-03-2014, 01:08 PM

Just off the top, it sounds like their "thirty day repot "rule" " is a convenient, and gnarly, way of by-passing the thirty day mail order rule. And with a living plant, of course, thirty days is long enough in most people's minds to say the new grower did something wrong, though they may have given the best possible care.

Sneaky...

MrsH530 · #7 07-03-2014, 01:36 PM

Yes, I agree. It seems like they are trying to be sneaky. Perhaps in a year or so I'll get the roots strong enough to push a spike for me. I had purchased this plant as a "Great job! You did it!" reward for myself. I think it would have been better if I had purchased from a grower I'd ordered from before.

Unfortunately, anyone who doesn't have experience would never know not to listen to their 30 day rule, and 30 days in moss (if you don't know how to care for a plant in it), could be a kiss of death.

NYCorchidman · #8 07-03-2014, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiester

Just off the top, it sounds like their "thirty day repot "rule" " is a convenient, and gnarly, way of by-passing the thirty day mail order rule. And with a living plant, of course, thirty days is long enough in most people's minds to say the new grower did something wrong, though they may have given the best possible care.

Sneaky...

Exactly!

I mean, how stupid do they assume people are??

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsH530

Yes, I agree. It seems like they are trying to be sneaky. Perhaps in a year or so I'll get the roots strong enough to push a spike for me. I had purchased this plant as a "Great job! You did it!" reward for myself. I think it would have been better if I had purchased from a grower I'd ordered from before.

Unfortunately, anyone who doesn't have experience would never know not to listen to their 30 day rule, and 30 days in moss (if you don't know how to care for a plant in it), could be a kiss of death.

I feel like starting a thread with a title that says "Everyone ordering from Orchids.com, repot your plant upon arrival"

MrsH530 · #9 07-03-2014, 02:36 PM

LOL! Yes, perhaps you should!

Orchid Whisperer · #10 07-03-2014, 02:50 PM

I have heard of countless problems regarding this vendor (experience of others; not my first-hand experience).

Yes, nice pictures etc. on the website, but high prices. Far more important IMO are the accounts I have read regarding the condition that plants arrive in, and the poor customer service. I agree about the 30-day no-repot advice - hogwash! I have never ordered from them, & never will.