Where to get inexpensive $15-20 orchids

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by silken

Our orchid society places pre-orders from places like Ecuagenera, Ching Hua, Ten Shin and other dealers whenever there is an Orchid show that we can attend. The one we regularly attend is in Edmondon, Alberta in late Feb. (500km away) and I am just going thru the lists and trying to practice some restraint!!

And how are the prices?
Personally, if the price range exceeds my wallet capacity, no point of driving.
That was the original question - affordable orchids.

[silken]

Originally Posted by rlilia

And how are the prices?
Personally, if the price range exceeds my wallet capacity, no point of driving.
That was the original question - affordable orchids.

That's why I mentioned these ones. You can download their price lists from their websites but basically Ching Hua has bloom size plants for 8 to 10 dollars for a lot of them. They add a buck or two for shipping and handling but I don't think I have ever paid more than $15.00 for a plant from them. They charge a little more for the ones on their vendor tables at these shows so its best to pre-order and you get more choice that way too. There is a Paph I want from them that is $75.00 so I guess I will pass but Paphs take more import permits etc. Ecuagenera and Ten Shin have many in the 20 dollar range and larger ones for more if you want them. Clouds here in Canada has small to large seedlings for from $10.00 to $15.00.

An orchid show is always fun to go to anyways and a great chance to see many different orchids in bloom and get some hard to find ones.

I would also suggest to the original poster that if there is an orchid society near you, to consider becoming a member. Ours has a sale table where member's sell divisions of their plants or ones they no longer want and we have raffles for some as well.

I'll also add that it is very impractical to consider getting your own shipment into Canada because you need to pay for the import permits such as CITES and Phytosanitary papers and I know one of those is around $85.00 if not more. And then hire a broker or go thru the thrill of clearing them thru Customs yourself. So that negates the inexpensive prices right there. That is the beauty of attending an orchid show or being in a society that orders from one. There are many vendors from places like Ecuador and Taiwan to pre-order and buy at the show from which you could never hope to buy from as an individual. They are doing all the paper work and paying the shipping on hundreds or thousands of plants and you get the benefit of that by only paying a small mark-up on their prices.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by silken

That's why I mentioned these ones. You can download their price lists from their websites but basically Ching Hua has bloom size plants for 8 to 10 dollars for a lot of them. They add a buck or two for shipping and handling but I don't think I have ever paid more than $15.00 for a plant from them. They charge a little more for the ones on their vendor tables at these shows so its best to pre-order and you get more choice that way too. There is a Paph I want from them that is $75.00 so I guess I will pass but Paphs take more import permits etc. Ecuagenera and Ten Shin have many in the 20 dollar range and larger ones for more if you want them. Clouds here in Canada has small to large seedlings for from $10.00 to $15.00.

An orchid show is always fun to go to anyways and a great chance to see many different orchids in bloom and get some hard to find ones.

I would also suggest to the original poster that if there is an orchid society near you, to consider becoming a member. Ours has a sale table where member's sell divisions of their plants or ones they no longer want and we have raffles for some as well.

I'll also add that it is very impractical to consider getting your own shipment into Canada because you need to pay for the import permits such as CITES and Phytosanitary papers and I know one of those is around $85.00 if not more. And then hire a broker or go thru the thrill of clearing them thru Customs yourself. So that negates the inexpensive prices right there. That is the beauty of attending an orchid show or being in a society that orders from one. There are many vendors from places like Ecuador and Taiwan to pre-order and buy at the show from which you could never hope to buy from as an individual. They are doing all the paper work and paying the shipping on hundreds or thousands of plants and you get the benefit of that by only paying a small mark-up on their prices.

It would be worth to put this infor under Vendors list here, on the Forum.

Thanks!!!

Lilia