Another Phal. rescued from Walmart's clutches

[silberhaarig]

gmdiaz,sphag and bag is used on an orchid that needs to grow new roots(usually because the old ones rotted from too much water). I have had good luck with it.
Trim off the dead and rotted roots.
Sprinkle the root area with cinnamon to control more rot.
Sprinkle the root area with growth hormone.
Pot in damp sphagnum moss.
Put a plastic bag ,with the top corners cut off to let some air into the bag and let some excess humidity escape,over the pot and plant.
Place in good light with no sun(I put mine under fluorescent lights of the old fashioned 2 bulb work lights kind) and wait. In a few weeks new roots start to show. I seldom add more water until there are good roots.

I'm sure there are variations on the method,but this works for me.

Nancy

[justatypn]

Originally Posted by ladyslipper

i still think these stores should be ashamed of themselves the way they treat their plants (esp the orchids!) - m

It's great to hear of a rescue but from the frontline being a lead supervisor at the HD, it sucks to see these plants being "abused" as some would say. If I may shed a bit of light on the background of buying orchids for "the box stores". My store in particular will not by any means accept plants that bloom without blooms. So it be, either/or, very near bloom or blooming, orchids in particular are forced into blooming at the vendors, box'd shipped by semi (refrigerated, I think not) forwarded to the stores in closed box's awaiting for vendor to send someone to sort and place on appropriate tables. With this you get a stressed orchid, shelf life 5-7 days.

I personally know which days these charmers come into my store and I take the time to open the box's for fresh air and not to mention placing under the nightly mister/sprinkler system to make sure they freshen up before customer purchase. The following is the ultimate...my store has buy-backs, no sale, sick, or just not for purchase orchids go back to vendor for refund . But if stores buy them without this clause, they keep them, if they and some most definitely are not taken care of, they go on SALE!!! and orchid hobbists buy them to nurture them back.

We are lucky at my store to have who they call the "orchid lady" (me) and a plant buyer with strong plant care. The store manager worked in garden prior to coming to our store and knows what customers want. Our rescue carts are very few and far between. I fight to keep our vendor buying contract, but one day this may go away because corporate rules

So with this, take each rescue, nurture and bring them back to their blooming/growing capabilities and enjoy.

[ladyslipper]

Originally Posted by justatypn

It's great to hear of a rescue but from the frontline being a lead supervisor at the HD, it sucks to see these plants being "abused" as some would say. If I may shed a bit of light on the background of buying orchids for "the box stores". My store in particular will not by any means accept plants that bloom without blooms. So it be, either/or, very near bloom or blooming, orchids in particular are forced into blooming at the vendors, box'd shipped by semi (refrigerated, I think not) forwarded to the stores in closed box's awaiting for vendor to send someone to sort and place on appropriate tables. With this you get a stressed orchid, shelf life 5-7 days.

I personally know which days these charmers come into my store and I take the time to open the box's for fresh air and not to mention placing under the nightly mister/sprinkler system to make sure they freshen up before customer purchase. The following is the ultimate...my store has buy-backs, no sale, sick, or just not for purchase orchids go back to vendor for refund . But if stores buy them without this clause, they keep them, if they and some most definitely are not taken care of, they go on SALE!!! and orchid hobbists buy them to nurture them back.

We are lucky at my store to have who they call the "orchid lady" (me) and a plant buyer with strong plant care. The store manager worked in garden prior to coming to our store and knows what customers want. Our rescue carts are very few and far between. I fight to keep our vendor buying contract, but one day this may go away because corporate rules

So with this, take each rescue, nurture and bring them back to their blooming/growing capabilities and enjoy.

Hi Cheryl thanks for explaining what goes on before we see the plants at HD (for example). I didn't mean to hurt anyone who works at home & garden store's feelings but I looked at these beautiful orchids some with HUGE blooms starting to whither and look so unhappy, my heart actually tightened in my chest (it was like looking at a puppy in a store window or something). The NOID I "rescued" is still blooming after maybe 3 months and I have noticed the end of the spike is budding. Its a real beauty! - regards mary

[justatypn]

Mary, no harm done, its just something that needs to be explained. It's so different when we purchase from other vendors that do not mass produce.

It hurts me deeply to see these guys come into the garden center knowing that they have been forced to do something out of there natural habitat.

It does break my heart as well and this is why I try so hard to make something good out of something so so wrong. It is totally out of my control from the ordering to the receiving, but when they come in they are under my watchful eye and trying to make them flourish and become the beauty they so deserve.

When I frequent other HD/Walmart's etc. stores I make a beeline to the orchid tables and know when they are taken care of and ones that don't give a poopie. Each store is of their own employees and we are fortunate enough to have 5 certified horticulturist and one master horticulturist on our side.

[cupcake]

Isn't it a great feeling to nurse a noid back to health? Judi

[silberhaarig]

Cupcake,it is a great feeling. The best part is that sometimes you get a gorgeous plant that you didn't really expect.

Nancy