Aquiring good orchids cheaply.

[Cantando]

This is probably an art all its own, but what is the cheapest way (other than propagating your own) to aquire good healthy orchid plants? Ebay? Some internet hobbyist/dealer out there?

[jerrymeola]

I understand your question but the answer is much more complicated.

A large specimen plant for $50-100 is often a bargain (it is not econmonical for a grower to take 5 years to grow a specium for under $200), and one of those bagged orchids at Home Depot or WalMart are grossly overpriced at
$6-8.95 (because the lack of care really damages plants at this size and good growers sell them for 7-10 anyway.)

One well cared for plant from a grower, who knows his plants and can advise you about its care, is a bargain because it will thrive and give you pleasure.

Buying several small plants for less money, is OK if you can give it the 2-3 years to grow into a collection without becoming frustrated. Small plants are almost always under $10 so do not try to find one for a dollar less and miss buying from the better grower. Shop around for the seller, not especially for the plants, until you find a seller you like.

Avoid buying the rescue plants at the big box stores. They are very damaged and not worth even the $2-10 that they may charge.

I will give an example. I bought 5 two foot high Dendrobiums for $1.00 each to see what it would be like. I bought 5 since I knew the other 12 on the table were not worth $1.00. Of the five one died, the other four lost all its leaves and while it grew one new growth and flowered it was still ugly with 4 bare canes and one good one. They did not sell at $5.00 in flower.

So what is a bargain the $5.00 one in flower after a year of my time to re-flower that no one liked - or the $20 ones next to it that all the customers did like enough to buy.

[Ellen]

Well said, Jerry. I would like to add that price is not always a good indication of quality when it comes to orchids. The box stores around here are way overpriced even for the "good" orchids, and by the time they've sat around in the store for a few weeks the people who "take care" of them have ruined the plants. Worse yet are some of the "florist" type mail order vendors who charge outrageous prices for hybrid phals and dens and (so reports from those who have bought there say) provide no customer service. I have bought flasks, compots, plugs, small plants and blooming size plants from a variety of vendors. For me it was a trial and error process, learning which vendors sold healthy plants that grew well in my conditions. I now have a few staple vendors that I get most of my plants from, but the ones you have the best luck with might be different. My preference is generally to buy plants small and grow them to blooming size, but I have the facilities to do so. One way to assure that the plants you get are healthy and what you expect is to go to local shows where orchid vendors have booths. That way you can see the plants, select the ones you want, and talk to the growers about their culture.

[Aniko]

Good question - great answers from professionals.

What is the answer for a hobbyist-beginner, who can ruin in short time the healthiest plant and struggles for years to grow up a seedling which probable will never bloom...?

Just I wanted to point out the importance of knowledge and experience which make things more clear - never simple!- and
help to choose the best & cheapest, different to everyone .

Aniko.

[Pensacola Eric]

All great comments above. The one statement that I agree with the most is "For me it was a trial and error process, learning which vendors sold healthy plants that grew well in my conditions." by Ellen. To do this I recommend buying only one or a couple plants from some different vendors (either internet store or eBay) and see what you get and how well they grow in your conditions. Me personally, I've had better luck on eBay than internet growers. You need to be patient though because a bunch of orchids go higher priced than they should. Another comment about eBay is don't buy an orchid unless there is an actual picture of the plant. Some people say blooming size or near blooming size and it's actually a medium sized seedling. If you are looking for ones in bloom, I try to buy ones in bud rather than in bloom because you typically will get more enjoyment out of them. Also winter isn't a good time to get orchids in the mail (unless you live in a warm climate and the orchids are not travelling through cold climates). Packing is really important. I have received a few that pack really well and some not so well. Also those heat packs aren't the best and have done more damage than good for me.

Orchid shows have been a very good place for me to buy orchids. Unfortunately there are not many in close proximity to me. Seems like I get better deals at orchid shows for the plants that are not in bud/bloom but of course you need to know what you are looking for. Also it doesn't hurt to ask for a discount if you buy several from one grower. And as everyone has said above, don't be tempted by the Walmarts, Home Depots, Lowes, etc. They don't take proper care for their orchids and you wind up spending a lot of time and usually getting little enjoyment. Good luck and be patient.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I have a couple of good sources for small but rapidly growing plants. Exotic Orchids of Maui, and a recent company I purchsed from, Lowes Orchids, both with some species. Carmela is very good for Catt clones.

[mayres]

If you are really serious about starting to collect orchids I would heartily recommend you consider attending a local orchid society in your area. If it is anything like the one I am in, you will be repaid many times over in free plants and discount plants during the year for the cost of your yearly membership. You will also get to meet a lot of great people and learn which orchids do well in your area and how to care for them! I don't know if you live close enough to any of them to attend - but there are societies that meet monthly at Wincester, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Norfolk, Hampton & Roanoke. Good luck - mike

[Lucinda Brown]

I have purchased more online then anywhere else,due to the fact you can't find much around here.Heavenly Orchids,Nia's Orchids,Waldor Orchids,Orchids Alive,Machiela's Orchids are all great Ebay stores I've purchased many great,healthy plants from.Aloha,Santa Barbara Estates-for cymbidiums,Yamamoto-nobile Denrobiums,Clown Alley,all internet sites that are wonderful and all above give great customer service,also. Watch out for Royal Orchid club though,I've had some great,some very sick plants from him.There's more,but my brain is tired,that's all I can think of right now.Be careful,though,you may spend too much!

[arleneg]

I second Mike on joining an orchid society if there's one nearby. Last November, I joined my county's orchid society. Since then, I've acquired free orchids from a donation from a nursery and won orchids from raffles. Membership fee is $15 per year! Plus, as a member, you can learn from other members who have been growing orchids for years.

The following growers that have online "nurseries" have quality orchids (and I've ordered from them and will again ):

Aloha Orchids
Exotic Orchids of Maui
Andy's Orchids
Tropical Orchid Farm

I've heard good things about the following growers:

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate
Norman's Orchids

[Fabolusus]

Do a little research and see if there are any nurseries in your area that specialize in orchids. I recently went to Parkside Orchid Nursery and was astounded by the wide variety of healthy and inexpensive orchids! Everything is grown on site by people who live, eat and sleep orchids all day long.

[kmarch]

I believe the "cheapest" way to buy orchids is to:
1) Figure out what your growing conditions are (light, temperature, how often you can water, etc., etc) and select orchids that do well in those conditions. Ask questions when you are buying your orchids. Sellers are usually happy to answer questions. Knowing what conditions you have to offerr and selecting orchids that like those conditions will prevent many orchid deaths.
2) Learn about orchid culture. Get a couple of really good books on orchid culture. One of the best I have seen is Ortho's All About Orchids. See if there is a local orchid society near you. Again ask lots of questions. Read the other threads on this forum on how to select orchids. Doing this will help to ensure the orchids you do buy will thrive and grow.
2) Buy healthy, quality plants from reputable sellers. Weak plants might be only a few dollars but they will need recovery time and are more likely to die. I'd rather spend $50 on one big healthy plant, take good care of it and watch it bloom than spend $1 each on 50 weak plants most of which will die. Go for quality over quantity.

Happy Growing!

-Kevin

[jerrymeola]

One caution on buying on the trial and error system.

Growing conditions vary for many of the bigger suppliers. My very best supplier of Oncidium alliance also grows Cattleya and way too many of their cats in bud lose the buds immediately or too soon. The cool growing temperatures at their nursery make for excellent Oncidium alliance but my own cats grown in high heat and high sun do much better.

Trial and error is for a reputable seller but some of their plants may not be the best for you. That is two sets of trial and error.