reward for a good deed?

[pikevi]

I accompanied my mother-in-law and her two friends yesterday who went shopping yesterday. Even though I am an impatient shopper I stayed with them for a few hours and on the way back dropped-in to look around in a garden centre.

I was thrilled to see that they had about half a dozen orchids on half-price sale ( end of bloom). Two of them looked like Cattleyas and I grabbed both of them. They are fairly big ( more than 40cm high) and I re-potted them today. There were three Onciduiums(?) and a Cymbidium ( not too healthy looking) on sale too. I had to reluctantly leave them

I attach a photo of the 'end of year' addition.

[fred]

well done pikevi
that just tell you you need to do more good deeds lol
I hope the new orchids do well for you

[evagentry]

good for you pikevi, patience should always be rewarded

[joan gero]

Nice work, Pikevi. I'm always jealous of geeks who come home with bargains cause I never find them. But I think I'll start deliberately cruising a few "big box" stores around here and try to hit the end-of-bloom opportunities. Do you think they cluster around one time of year (like now, deep winter)?

[patlee]

Way to go,Pikevi!

I can never pass up those clearance racks--so it won't bloom for a while--Maybe if I save my pennies I can buy a Neo?!

[pikevi]

Thanks everyone.

evagentry: I am very patient with people but NOT necessarily shopping

joan gero: I am beginning to think that we are NOT always successful when we WANT to buy the orchids that we are looking for and the success comes accidentally. All 6 were priced at $24.99 each.

patlee: I can't remember the prices I paid for all the orchids but I don't remember my Neofinetia (killed by squirrels) and the Neostylis having been particularly more expensive than the others. I hope you find some. There are so many colours as seen on the 'net. I think articuno said in another thread that there is an ebay auction going on . Good luck.

[Tobi]

I think you got a good bargain there my friend. Any names on the Catts or are they
NOIDS?

[pikevi]

Thanks Tobi. It is hard to find Cattleyas here and the prices are never below $40. I think the original price for these were $49.99. They are pretty big plants.

None of the orchids had tags. One of the two I bought had dried up flowers and I could see purple and yellow through the dried up petals/sepals.

[orchid_girl]

Good for you!!! Good deeds always get rewarded!!

[patticake]

Yay! I stopped at our neighborhood LOWES tonight. I had heard of bargains and just wondered.... They had some orchids in bad shape, but no names- I passed them up- but said a little prayer for them. My first orchids, (2 catts. seedling crosses & 1 Den.no name)-I will always love, because they made me fall in love with orchids. These 2 new catts are divisions and are named- They were packaged at $12.00 ea. No blooms, but ,their names are: 4095 BLC. CHYONG GUU CHAFFINCH 'TA-HSIN' AM/AOS-YELLOW W/RED LIP
& : BLC BLANCHE AISAKA 'YUKI' FCC/AOS -WCL white w/purple lip
There were many that looked stressed, but, these two looked healthy, and I don't care if it takes a long time for bloom- I needed to adopt them! I bought 2 new orchid pots also- I paid more for the pots than I did for the orchids. I'll post photos as soon as my son can come to help me with the technical end of things! I'm not disturbing the roots- I'll pot w/ a bark,charchoal mix around what's there- It was so cold out tonight! wind chills of 0. (F) They were going to send the plants out with me w/no bag!!! I got the "chids" bundled up, and off we went! I'll keep you posted...

[rmt135]

Well done Pikevi. All good deeds will be rewarded & in your case the reward came in pretty fast.

[pikevi]

Thanks rmt135.

That is a good price ,patticake. I am sure finding $12 BLCs a-is out of the question here in Toronto.

Keep some 'funnel' wrappers in the trunk and when it is cold use them. I have a cooler and a box full of such wrappers in the trunk ,just in case. It has come in handy many times!

If the store is close to your home you could pick them up on your way back home after finishing all other errands. I am sure they will keep it aside with 'sold' tag on them. They do it here (not sure of Lowes, though)

I see that you did not use even a little bit of sphagnum moss in your mix. How often do you water them?

[patticake]

Hi, Pikevi! I took my new catts., out with LOTS of plastic around them! My car was heated up earlier, so it went well. As far as what I will pot them up with, I have a mixture of bark, charcoal etc. It's Better-Gro special orchid mix. I haven't put in sphagnum, since I heard that cattleyas don't like sphag. or being too moist -- I haven't potted them yet-- do you suggest anything different? My other catts, I potted up with this mixture around the existing root ball without disturbing the roots. I didn't disturb the roots, because I knew that this wasn't the time for drastic measures. I think that they need time to adjust to their surroundings. I can't wait to post pictures.... Thanks for the info!