When is a bargain really a bargain?

   When it comes to orchids, you have to be very careful, or your bargain could turn out to be a very short-lived experience.

   Only a few years ago, orchids could only be purchased from nurseries and other "orchid growers."
That is not true today.

   With today's mass marketing, you can now find orchids blooming in most any discount store, home centers, and even grocery stores!

   While you buy a pair of shoes, the light for the house, or even the eggs for breakfast, you can now buy that orchid you have always wanted to try.

   For example I saved a special orchid from being destroyed at our local hardware (!) store. This indeed good bargain orchid was a Bakerara Truth 'Silver Chalice' AM/AOS, a beautiful award winning Bakerara hybrid.

   The price was only $7 - a steal for an awarded orchid like this one.

   But - buyers beware!
   If you are determined to acquire your orchid from one of these sources, this article is just for you. I will give you a little advice and some tips on what to look out for when you are shopping for your "bargain" orchid.

   Orchids sold by professional growers or reputable nurseries are always clearly labeled, handled, and shipped with care.
Instructions on the care of each species or hybrid purchased are most always included with the sale.

   Growers can also answer your specific questions concerning your new plant.

   At a discount store however, you may purchase an orchid and in some cases, not even know what species or even genera you are buying.
Is it a Dendrobium, or a Oncidium, or what? Don't be surprised if the sales person doesn't have a clue about the plant other than what is on the tag... "Orchid Plant."

   Why is it so important to know what kind of orchid it is?

    Because each genus and, in some cases, species within a genus, may require very different environments to thrive. So how can you care for it if you have no idea what it is? The answer is, you can't.

Shippers often repot the orchids just before shipment to the stores. The problem with this practice is twofold.

The repotting is done at the very worst time of the plants life... while the plant is in bloom!

The shock of the repotting often causes the buds and flowers to start falling off the spike soon after they arrive in the stores (the blooms also drop due to the drastic change in environment, lack of watering, or over watering by the store employees).
Repotting is often traumatizing to well established plants, frequently damaging their root systems in the process.

This Phalaenopsis is not going to make it.
The roots are rotting and the leaves are showing signs of distress and lack of moisture due to the lack of roots that are capable of absorbing water. Notice how limp and wrinkled they are.

Secondly, the shippers often repot the plants using water retaining "shipping" mix, for example Sphagnum moss to prevent the plants from drying out during their long transit.

Inexperienced buyers see this medium and think the orchid is supposed to be growing in this "dirt" or moss. If you were to feel the plant, they would feel tight in the pots. This is due to the moss being packed very tightly in the pot and being extremely dry.

I am sure when these plants are watered, the water will not be absorbed due to the tightly packed moss.

The image shows the center of a mishandled "bargain" Phalaenopsis. Notice the main leaf is gone and you can see the damaged area in the center of the plant. This plant has crown rot developing. Unless it is properly treated very soon, the plant will die.

Finally, the shipper wraps the "ugly" pot with some "pretty paper" to make the plant appear more appealing (and sometimes concealing plant damage in the process).

After all, the shipper wouldn't do anything to harm the plant... now would they?

Customers love the pretty paper, so they do not remove it after purchasing the orchid. The paper causes the already saturated shipping medium to become water logged because there is no way for the excess water to drain away.

This Ascocentrum hybrid might be saved if the paper is removed and the plant is allowed to dry before rot and fungus sets in.
All of the flowers have wilted due to water accumulating in the "pretty paper" or have been pollinated by some kind of insect in the garden area of this store.

As you can see, your bargain orchid has been through a lot before you happen to walk by it in the store. Have you ever-watched corner flower peddlers selling roses on the street?

If so, you may observe them peeling petals off the roses every hour or so to keep them looking fresh. By day's end, the once big plump beautiful red roses are now little tiny buds - but they do look fresh...

Believe it or not, you would expect to at least get a break on the price considering the plant may not last a week, but the prices you may pay in the discount stores is often much higher than you would pay from a grower for an equivalent plant!
When shopping, remember that a bargain is not always a bargain. Orchids are not like your common houseplant and should never be considered to be in the same category.

If you want to be sure of what you are purchasing, and to have years of satisfaction from your orchid, I would strongly suggest you purchase your orchids from reputable orchid growers.

Not only do they know how to grow and ship orchids; they can also give you help in choosing the right orchid for your environment.

You may find further, related interesting and useful bits in my companion article titled
10 tips in selecting your new orchid
and in the
F.A.Q.
pages