Justaddice orchids,anyone ever bought any?

[BobInBonita]

Off topic opinion on the question from Camille about why orchids are overpotted in sphag:

The orchids start with healthy roots systems. The grower has to give the store a credit for orchids that don't sell due to the stores failure to water, so the grower overpots in tight sphag. The return rate from the average drug store or grocery where it is never watered drops. The Home Depot / Lowes with a garden center but little knowledge water them daily while they're watering the annuals and vegetable seedlings. If you get the orchid within days of arrival, they're fine - after that the roots go quickly, but the plant still looks healthy. The average person takes the orchid home and wonders why they're so hard to grow becasue they always die. They go out and buy another disposable orchid.

The moral of the story - if there's a pile of loose sphag next to the orchid you're thinking about buying, someone else wanted it but looked at the roots and rejected it. If there's no pile of loose sphag - make one before you take it home.

Back to topic: JustAddIce: cute name but don't do it

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I could not agree more Bob. And one thing else. Do you notice the orchids in the stores are in these clear pretty bags only open at the top. And how do you think the store people water them? They just pour the water in the top of the bag. Ugh. Poor orchids.
Becky

[BobInBonita]

Becky - you'll get me started... there should be a rant about bad store practices. The decorative planters they sell orchids in is another. No drainage whatsoever, or drainage holes on the side so they look like an orchid pot, but an inch or so of "undrained" area at the bottom... and then the clear like glass plastic pots without drainage so you can watch your roots rot.... and then the clerks you suggest to that they not water the orchids until they're dry who say "sure, but I seldom work in garden".... have to stop and go check my blood pressure now.

[JerseyGirlBecky]

Oh Bob, you are funny. Yes, we should do that. You made me smile on this dreary cold, cold day in N.J.. Boy I love this orchid board and all the people on it.
Becky

[flhiker]

I know many people who are against using the Ice method but have never done it. I on the other hand like to live with a toe outside the box. So after killing my fair share of Phals I gave the Ice method a try and with good results. I no longer use it because I realized I was just over watering them to start with, so now I just water my Phals once a week. It does work (at least for me) but not necessary. I have not seen ANY damage to the roots by the ice. My pets and I like a cold drink, who's to say your plants doesn't like it as well. At one point I even made a tray with fertilizer mixed in. My not be conventional but it's easy and it works.

[RJSquirrel]

killed a few of them...they put the plants in tightly wadded sphag hoping they get killed when you buy them and drowned em if they arent dead already...why would they want you to grow them so easily?..If you kill em you go back and buy another one. But they put them in sphag bec they dont have to water them so often and when shipped they last longer without being watered..


a just add ice phal is the only 1 I have ever got to rebloom. by the way..I didnt add ice..in fact didnt do anything just left it in the bathroom window and the re bloom is what started all this orchid stuff for me. so gee thanks just add ice your plant lived rebloomed and I suffer endlessly now

[Daethen]

I'm with you, RJ. That is pretty much my story. MIL bought one and it lived and rebloomed. I bought a second one for her and almost drowned it. So I went looking for info on how to save it and here I am a year later with nearly 100 plants!!

[gjanick]

Originally Posted by BobInBonita

Off topic opinion on the question from Camille about why orchids are overpotted in sphag:

The orchids start with healthy roots systems. The grower has to give the store a credit for orchids that don't sell due to the stores failure to water, so the grower overpots in tight sphag. The return rate from the average drug store or grocery where it is never watered drops. The Home Depot / Lowes with a garden center but little knowledge water them daily while they're watering the annuals and vegetable seedlings. If you get the orchid within days of arrival, they're fine - after that the roots go quickly, but the plant still looks healthy. The average person takes the orchid home and wonders why they're so hard to grow becasue they always die. They go out and buy another disposable orchid.

The moral of the story - if there's a pile of loose sphag next to the orchid you're thinking about buying, someone else wanted it but looked at the roots and rejected it. If there's no pile of loose sphag - make one before you take it home.

Back to topic: JustAddIce: cute name but don't do it

I know that your thread is 3 years old. Yesterday, I purchased a phal from Shopko (a midwest Kmart like chain). The tag does not state 'justaddice' on it but does give the 3 ice cube instructions. This phal stands 36" tall, has 5 large blooms and 5 buds on one spike, 8 beautiful large leaves, new growth, and a large green root system above and below! The orchid was on sale for $13 from $23 and included a ceramic vase. This is simply the nicest and healthiest orchid that I own! People shold not condemn these phals of justaddice just because Walmart sells them. Other companies could easily take a lesson from them as far as quality is concerned. Greg.

[RosieC]

The over potting in sphag you quote is not specific to 'justaddice' orchids, it's just something that often happens on mass market orchids (not always but often).

I've read a lot of things that say the orchids sold by the company 'justaddice' are actually good quality orchids when you buy then. It just the advice to water with ice which for many people doesn't work (though to be fair, for some it has done).

[Leafmite]

I bought a justaddice orchid (mini-phal) just recently because I liked the pink and white flowers. It had a clear, slotted liner that just fits the roots and the roots are really healthy. What a surprise! It was grown in Oberlin, Ohio. So, now, after getting rid of all my noID's (except that vanda), all the phals but for an equestris, and most of the non-fragrant orchids, I have succumbed to a big box store, noID, non-fragrant, justaddice phal.