| They didn't reply to my email right away so I went ahead and called them today. I spoke with Norman who told me that the black spots was mildew resulting from the heat and something about honey (he had an accent and at times, was hard to understand).
The purplish color of the foilage, he said, was a result of the cross. He also said this was normal for pelorics and picotees (the name of this one is Montclair Valentine "Picotee', a cross of Phal.Taisuco Lienhung and Happy Valentine).
I have attached pictures of the phal after I wiped it down.
Norman seemed very helpful and nice. He made a great effort to explain things and had a really good attitude. The other sales person I talked to, however, was pretty rude. He talked down to me and was really irritated that I lost reception and had to call back. Maybe he was having a bad day- who knows? But I would think that since I bought 6 orchids from them, he could have been nicer... He kept saying if I was going to be that picky, to go buy them in person and ended the call with, "Look, if you're not happy then just send them back."
That's my experience with Normans. I can't say that I would never order from them again as their selection is just enormous and they did offer to let me send the plants back. They also offered to allow me to send this plant back if the plant bloomed and did not inherit the picotee (is this correct use of the term?).
Can anyone confirm what Norman said about the phal? He did say all the other ones he had of this particular phal all looked like the one I have and I really love the blooms. But I also don't need an unhealthy phal... |