I'm making an attempt to review more vendors since I have gotten a lot of plants and had a lot of good experiences.
Today, I am repotting two plants that I ordered from NWO on 3/22 and received this Monday (4/3). Mind you, they were shipped out last week, so they weren't in transit that long. This was my second order. My first was a Neo. falcata Awa Hari Beni ... somehow I missed that pine needle types don't like to bloom. So when mine spiked then blasted I said "I want a Neo that blooms, gosh darnit!"
What I ordered:
Neo. falcata 'Shoujou'
猩々 (3 growth)
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Den. moniliforme Kaguyahime
First, let me say that Kristen is an incredibly nice person to speak to. I had reason to call her, but it went to voicemail. I left a VM and started writing an email as well. She called me back before I could finish the email.
So first, the Neo... all I can say is wow! It's a three growth plant, for sure, but also has two new growths started. I think the roots look phenomenal! I'm only repotting this one because it fell out of its pot during shipping and won't go back in properly.
The little Den is just adorable and tiny. I know Neos get a lot of love, but Den. moniliforme is one of my favorite species and the variegation on this cultivar is just beautiful. I have another variegated cultivar of moniliforme that looks pretty plain Jane compaired to this one. My "big" green one is another story.
Now, the roots aren't as good as the Neo and it has a fair number of papery ones, but, you can see lots of new roots starting to grow and three new canes well on their way. I'm not concerned in the least. My other two types readily throw roots and have established themselves very quickly upon repotting.
My final thoughts and comments.
First, NWO consists of people, and people make mistakes. I received a shipment last Thursday (3/30), however, it was someone else's order, for probably a lot more money than I had spent. That person received my order. I contacted Kristen at NWO right away and, as mentioned above, she returned my voicemail promptly and was extremely apologetic and immediately began working to remedy the situation.
In the end, the person that received my orchids shipped them to me (NWO paid for the label) and I shipped that person's order back to NWO. Kristen offered to let me to keep the Sedirea japonica in that order, which had two spikes and is extremely healthy, as an apology and thanks.
Some people might be put off by this mishap, but I am not. We are all human and the kind folks at NWO are no different. Mistakes happen and I have sure made my fair share. What matters more to me is HOW a vendor remedies errors and mishaps. New World Orchids did it quickly and kept me in the loop every step of the way. I felt like I mattered as a customer to NWO and to Kristen.
I love the plants sent and I love how I was treated. I will buy from them again, and probably in the not to distant future - I need more Den. moniliformes!
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A note on the Neo. falcata 'Shoujou' - I have seen three different spellings, but I am using the one listed on the tag that came with the plant. NWO's website spells it 'Shoyjoy' (a possible typo) and Orchid's Limited spells it 'Shojo.' The Japanese writing is correct, however, and is consistent across the board.