Lowe's Clearing Out Orchids

[AngelinaMaria]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Lol, my fiance says I have to get rid of some before I'm allowed to have more..*pout* I only have 7, it's not like that's too many. Hmph. Besides, they're pretty and they clean the air...amirite?! <_<

My boyfriend says the same thing! I have 9 now...he says they are takin over the house. Lol. They're not. :-)

[birdybrain]

I asked a couple members of our local orchid society and they said the larger bagged orchids from BetterGro are already blooming size. You may have to wait for the next bloom cycle, but it should be less than a year. I've even seen some already spiking or blooming in the bag & read reports on OB of others finding that (didn't OrchidBoy just post about that?), so it's not too uncommon. The trick is to get those baggie orchids when they first come into the store.

Over the last year I've observed the larger bagged orchids seem to come in different "sets", though I couldn't find any info online to confirm this.
all cattleyas
cattleyas with brassovola nodosa, Schomburkia, encyclica, & Maxillaria tenuifolia
Cattleyas and other orchids, including psychopsis & den lindleyi (sorry don't remember the others)

Four of my local lowes got in the second set above a few weeks ago. There may be other sets or it may be more random than I realize, because I've only been really paying attention for the last several months. But last month I went to 4 different stores hoping they'd have different varieties & they had all gotten in the exact same set.

I was told that two members of the local orchid society have won awards for the BetterGro Baggie orchids, including an OB member, Melissa (shadytrake). She gave me a warning about checking the overall size that the orchid will grow to before buying though. Apparently many of the Schomburkias they sell can grow to over 8 feet eventually including both plant and spike. Even a lot of the cattleyas get bigger than I want since I'm currently still a windowsill grower.

If you're willing to be patient for blooms, these seem like a really good deal. I've bought 2 so far and prices online for a similar size is definitely more money, plus there's shipping on top of that. The den lindleyi I got about 6 weeks ago has a new 6" tall growth now and the maxillaria tenuifolia from 3 weeks ago is growing spectacularly. Along with checking the eventual size, I always try to look up the care info, because I find the info BetterGro gives is a bit too vague.

[Corsetière]

Originally Posted by birdybrain

Apparently many of the Schomburkias they sell can grow to over 8 feet eventually including both plant and spike.

This. Is. My. DREAM!

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 AM ----------

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Lol, my fiance says I have to get rid of some before I'm allowed to have more..*pout* I only have 7, it's not like that's too many. Hmph. Besides, they're pretty and they clean the air...amirite?! <_<

Mine actually seemed to multiply over night. One of the noID phals I bought last night actually turned out to be two separate plants crammed into one pot! It was in the pot so tight that I couldn't pull it out at the store.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Corsetière

Mine actually seemed to multiply over night. One of the noID phals I bought last night actually turned out to be two separate plants crammed into one pot! It was in the pot so tight that I couldn't pull it out at the store.

I did actually end up getting rid of two of them. After 3 months of dunking in KLN once a month or so, and having to water by soaking the whole plant bc they had no roots, and refused to grow roots, I gave up. They didn't die, they just wouldn't grow roots. Or grow anything. At all.

I figured those spaces could be filled with some nicer ones.

Besides, fiance is trying to do an aeroponics setup to see if orchids can be grown that way and I refuse to let him have any of mine. He keeps asking, so the condition is that he has to buy me a better, nicer, bigger replacement plant if he takes them. HAH!

[Corsetière]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Besides, fiance is trying to do an aeroponics setup to see if orchids can be grown that way and I refuse to let him have any of mine. He keeps asking, so the condition is that he has to buy me a better, nicer, bigger replacement plant if he takes them. HAH!

Excellent plan.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Corsetière

Excellent plan.

I thought so! I already have a few kinds picked out that he can get me.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

My Maxillaria tenufolia has about 8 cocoanut smelling flowers, and was a Lowe's Baggie a year or so ago. It lives on my backporch and gets morning sun. You are right, they do send these plants divisions at the best time for that particular plant. and it is essential to get them as soon as possible after arrival. I have bought old sale ones ($2) and soaked them in warm lightly fertilized water and then potted up the next day, and even these older ones made it.

[FSUOrchids]

I have yet to see a Maxillaria at a Lowe's in my area before. At that price I would be willing to try and grow one if I could find it.

[Ordphien]

I have yet to see anything but standard cattleya and a few phals at my Lowe's.
I'd love to find a nodosa locally

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Myrle Diefendorf]

All we seem to get in blooming plants are Phals. The baggies are the place to look for different orchids. Maxillarias came in in April and are still lingering in the bags. I think it's is seasonal and they send what will divide at the time.