green pea (i'm new)

[punk]

Hi!
my name is Tim and i am brand new to the world of orchids. i have always admired them from a distance but have decided to get a little closer. I have done a bit of research but its always a good idea to ask around. right now i only have one single orchid; but shortly i am hoping to increase my holdings by ten fold ( they sell orchids at a few of my local supermarkets; so i asked them what they did with them once the flowers fell off. to my surprise they all get thrown away. so i asked if i could have them. The Von's floral department is unwilling to "give" them to me. i was told that they would need permission from their supervisor to sell them to me at a discounted price; if not they go into the [locked] dumpster. so my fingers are crossed there. At Albertsons i was told "yeah, just come and check with me every one and a while and anything thats bound for the trash, you can have." so I'm going to go back and check this Friday(the orchids looked pretty healthy). ). so i would really like some helpful tips. thanks!

oh yeah, that picture is of my goat (pygmy) Isabel and my dog (APBT) Fred. Of all the joys in life I'd have to say the best ones are my animals and plants.

[articuno75]

Hi Tim and welcome. I love the picture of your pets! How adorable! You would not believe how many of us are orchid rescuers here on the forum. There is plenty of information here and lots of members who are glad to help ensure your plants thrive. Nice to meet you!

P.S. If you could please update your location in your profile so that members will be able to assist you this would be most helpful. Different growing areas = different advice.

[kmarch]

Welcome! Lots of enthusiastic orchid folks here who grow lots of different kinds. If you have not, go to the culture sheet section of this forum or the American Orchid Society and download the various culture sheets there. Different kinds of orchids require different care so these culture sheets will be useful to you.

Ask lots of questions!

[patticake]

Hi Tim! Welcome on board. I started out like you with noids (no I-D tags). I still love them. I wanted to make sure that I could grow them in my northern environment before I invested in more expensive plants. Now I've gotten some really nice plants. I'll warn you, it's addicting! Good luck with your new chids!

[Tobi]

Hi and welcome to the forum Tim. Love the avatar of Isabel and Fred!!

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum punk.

[tizzycat]

Punk, Hi and welcome. I really hope they let you have the orchids rather than dump them. I really hate that idea - although I do know that the philosophy of a very well known department store here in the UK is that you should throw orchids away once they have flowered, then return to buy another one.

A friend recently arrived with a very healthy looking orchid, with spike that had finished flowering, and said she was just checking , as another friend had told her "it's one of those orchids that doesn't flower again; you have to chuck it and start again".

I can't believe that anyone would ditch a plant with such healthy growth.

Sorry for going on.

BTW love your avatar, hope we'll be seeing some more picture from you.

[arleneg]

Hi & welcome to the forum, Tim!

I wonder why Von's floral dept. wont' give them to you. Those orchids are being dumped, not put on a sale table.

[Rocinante]

Hi Tim and welcome! I'm curious to know (if you can tell me) what is the name of the one orchid you currently own. Be careful though, I've found they're like eating potato chips!

[kellyincville]

Welcome Tim!

[PhalPal]

Welcome to the forum Tim!! I live pretty close to you in Placentia. (OC) This is a great place to learn and ask questions; don't be shy!

Trader Joe's is a good source for orchids too. They have two prices: $7.99 and $12.99. Santa Barbara has a big orchid show coming up that you might enjoy as a newbie, just to walk around to see what is out there in the world of orchids. If you want more info just ask!

[Vivienne]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

Santa Barbara... big orchid show .... just to walk around to see

This sentence is not in my vernacular. LOL

[Kindrea]

Originally Posted by arleneg

Hi & welcome to the forum, Tim!

I wonder why Von's floral dept. wont' give them to you. Those orchids are being dumped, not put on a sale table.

I'm probably going to sound like a big jerk by saying this, but here goes

The unvarnished truth is that these shops obey to the economic theory that once you have one good, the second one has limited marginal use. In this case, the (potential) customer leaving with say 12 pots of thrown away orchids, will probably not buy another plant.

Anything they give away takes away from potential sales. It's not a pretty logic, but little things add up and you can imagine how many sales they'd lose if they gave away stuff they were going to throw away. In some instances, stores donate to charity in order not to spoil their own market, but that mostly works for food.

[PhalPal]

I don't think you sound like a jerk at all Kindrea. It is the law of supply and demand, and stores are in the businees of making money. I think it's just that as orchid growers we place a 'living thing' value to our plants and hate to see them so rudely discarded.

[Halcyon]

Welcome to the forum, Punk. I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here.

I've heard that some growers say on their plants that they can be thrown away when they've finished blooming. Orchid fanatics feel anguished when they hear this, but what do we do with our poinsettias and other seasonal flowers?

I do hope you do manage to obtain -"save" - those orchids, but how many have you got space for..?!