Seller Recommendations
 

Hi all! Glad to be back after a long while... :waving

So I simply would like to get recommendations on your favorite sources for Orchids. I mean both online vendors, and brick and mortar nurseries in my area, Orange County CA, perhaps LA, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino Counties as well.

Well for the more distant ones if they are really worth the trip! And recommendations for online sellers are the most welcome. Thanks in advance!

Welcome back.

There's a Vendor Review forum here with a lot of information. Click Forums in the left yellow menu.

Definitely look at the vendor reviews for the online sellers. In southern California, not a lot in Orange County - land too expensive, But watch for open houses at Andy's Orchids and Sunset Valley Orchids. (Both also sell online, but it's so much fun to browse the nurseries!) Going north, Cal Orchid will be having Open House next weekend in Santa Barbara. (Santa Barbara Orchid Estate is only selling online lately, alas)

What types of orchids are you looking for?

Thank you for this! I found a forum called Vendor Feedback. It's very useful. A question though... in the forum it states that it's not the same as the Vendor Review forum, which is elsewhere. And I cannot find the Vendor Review anywhere! :roll:
How am I missing it?

It actually is the Vendor Feedback forum... which has vendor reviews. Sorry about the confusion

Thank you so much for the recommendations. As for what kind of orchids I'm looking for, for the most part I like to browse, and I know what I like when I see it. Orchids that I am specifically looking for at any given time, might be because I could only find seeds or flasks (not prepared to try those), or not at all, like the Ghost Orchid (I realize that may be for the best as I am not yet expert). Or else I am searching for a less expensive stage of a pricey one that I like.

So a few I am looking for, for which I could only find seeds, could be gradually from amongst these... (sorry I don't know their real or scientific names)

Dove Orchid, Swaddled Baby Orchid, Black Dracula Orchid, Tiger Shall, Ballerina Dancer Orchid, Naked Man Orchid, amongst others.

A main issue is this. I hope to have a balance when I buy. I don't wish to spend a lot on a pricey plant because it's about to bloom, but on the other hand, at this point I do not want to wait a couple few years for bloom. I would try flasks in the future when I have experience...

Again, thanks for the recommendations. And I would appreciate any further guidance. :waving

I know some of these...Dove Orchid is Peristeria alata. There are several Draculas that are black or nearly so... Drac. roezlii, Drac vampira, or the primary hybrid that is a cross of the two Drac. Raven, the "Naked Man" is Orchis italica or some related species. These all take very different conditions. (For instance, Draculas come from high elevations in the Andes and are epiphytes growing in the trees of cloud forest. Orchis is a genus that grows in the countries around the Mediterranean, hot dry summers and cool wet winters, grows from a tuber in the ground. You could not find more opposite ones!) The "Ghost Orchid" Dendrophylax lindenii needs warmth, and 80-95% humidity. That one you either need a temperature-and humidity-controlled chamber, or live in the swamps of the Everglades. You need do some research... nobody has the conditions for all orchids, An easy orchid is one for which you have the conditions without going to a lot of trouble and expense, a difficult one is the opposite. And so that is different for each person.

Reiterating, orchids come from many different climates, and different ones require different care. Don't get something based on the photo. Be sure you can provide the conditions it needs to thrive.

HiOrcDen, if you want to browse and get a sense of what is possible, the San Diego County Orchid Show is March 18-20, the weekend after next. If you are anywhere in southern California, well worth the trip.

Thank you for this, and what a great memory you have! :) I actually was aware that the Ghost Orchid, Dendrophylax as you've stated, is very sensitive and has very specific requirements. I see what you mean about difficult vs. easy being relative.

Though in general I guess I did not give it enough thought. With Bonsai, my zone allows me to accommodate just about any tree or shrub one way or another. Thank you for the realization this doesn't necessarily apply with Orchids. Luckily I've only bought a few somewhat pricey Orchids from nearby nurseries, and have read their requirements. Bought a few at a great value, but I will have to be sure I can keep them here.

---------- Post added at 01:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 AM ----------

Thank you for letting me know about this! I should be able to make it. I'm very much looking forward to it. And I will have to read more on your website. It looks awesome! I would love to learn about Orchids which will grow outside here. I only have experience with Phalaenopsis.

---------- Post added at 01:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 AM ----------

Thank you. Again, I appreciate the heads up. I'll be sure to take this into consideration for my future shopping! :)

Regarding the Ghost Orchid, D Lindenii, would it not be possible to create ideal conditions in a vivarium? I know that with reptiles and other exotics we are able to control every relevant detail, whether temperature or humidity range, heat and light source, even allow good airflow with humidity retained with frequent misters. All kinds of tricks haha. Would this not be possible with such a ‘finicky’ Orchid?

Possible... not easy and no guarantee of success. There are so many factors that can affect whether an orchid like this makes it or not. Think of them all??? And also note that it grows slooowwwwly. And blooms occasionally, most of the time is just a few scraggly roots. Hardly a good place to start in your orchid growing career...

And there are so many orchids that are EASY in your (our) climate. For me, a big attraction about orchids is that there is a a lifetime of learning that they inspire. The species come from every elevation from sea level to above treeline, from every continent except Antarctica, from latitudes from Tierra del Fuego (I saw one there!) to Newfoundland (the state flower of Minnesota is an orchid, Cypripedium reginae, a "lady slipper" ...) and everything in between. Obviously they don't all grow under the same conditions. I have found that there are lots of orchids from around the equator, from elevations from about 1200 mm to 2300 m, that do fine outside for me.

Some years ago there were a couple members here who did attempt to grow ghost orchids. They were experienced growers, and it was not an easy plant for them. Yes, terrariums can be used to replicate ideal conditions, but attaining and maintaining the ideal conditions was a bit challenging.


Here are 2 one of the threads from back then, from one person who was successful with lots of information that gives an idea about how difficult it can be to grow. Apparently different conditions are needed for growing and blooming. Dendrophylax Lindenii (ghost orchid) in bloom
2014 Ghost Orchid blooming

Are you already an experienced high-humidity terrarium grower? If not perhaps start to learn that skill with easier plants.

There are hybrids between lindenii and other species that are said to be easier to grow. They're available every now and then.