Ctsm.'Dinner Plate x 'Jumbo Green Gold' - Orchid Board

malteseproverb · #1 02-13-2019, 01:32 PM

I bought this last spring not in spike and was surprised it bloomed at all this winter since it randomly put out a small growth mid-way through the growing period and abandoned the much better sized growth it had been developing prior. However, I'm confused as to why it's not green!! The photo attached to the listing I bought it from showed an extremely light green bordering on white. It was beautiful. And instead it's purple... I'm so sad!
Wondering if I should complain to the seller. I have a limited amount of space, and I don't need another dark purple orchid.

fishmom · #2 02-13-2019, 02:22 PM

If it was a seedling, there might be considerable variation between plants. However, I would send a picture to the vendor and question the identity of the plant. Who knows, you might get another and have one to give away. I believe this was actually supposed to be Ctsm pileatum 'Dinner Plate' x Ctsm pileatum 'Jumbe Green Gold", and none of the pileatums are purple on the Sunset Valley Orchids website (Fred Clarke's).

Mechanica071 · #3 02-13-2019, 09:55 PM

Well, if you're interested in selling it send me a PM and I'll absolutely buy it off you, I'm just getting back into Catasetum type orchids and this one's gorgeous to me

isurus79 · #4 02-13-2019, 10:36 PM

Its nice, but I don't think its pileatum.

malteseproverb · #5 02-14-2019, 01:49 PM

Mechanica, I may take you up on that offer, but I am waiting to hear back from the seller as I still would prefer another shot at a green Catasetum or something similar. It's a bummer to pay so much and take care of it all summer and then have it turn out as something else... I will let you know if it's still available though! I definitely can't keep it.

Subrosa · #6 02-14-2019, 04:42 PM

It's nice. If you're interested in a trade for a solid green Fdk Enter Light lmk.

malteseproverb · #7 04-03-2019, 03:34 PM

Mechanica, I'm sorry it's been a while, but would you still be interested in buying my plant? It's not out of dormancy yet so it might be the perfect time to ship it.

Paul · #8 04-03-2019, 10:52 PM

Did you ever hear from the seller?

malteseproverb · #9 04-04-2019, 09:54 AM

Yes I did, and he said he had no idea what the plant was and hadn't ever seen one of its kind among his plants before. He gave me a refund, which was very nice of him, but he didn't have more of this kind to exchange. Now I'm not sure what to do with it. I still don't want it. Anyone still interested? I don't want to care for it all summer again.

Sadly enough, ANOTHER plant I bought last year has turned out to be a different plant than the one I was led to believe when I bought it, though from a different seller. Exactly a year ago, I bought what I was told was a Vanda Mimi Palmer for over $50, not in bloom, at the local orchid show. I spent all year watering it once or twice a day, it sent out a spike a month ago as I waited with bated breath, and yesterday I returned from vacation to find... a totally normal NOID purple vanda you can buy anywhere. I don't even like vandas!!! No offense to anyone who does but I'm not a fan of your average vanda and would never have shelled out 50 buckaroos for one. Mimi Palmers are supposed to be very fragrant too... ugh I'm so disappointed. I've been orchid cuckolded! TWICE!!

Now I have to figure out what I can do about this one too. Don't know if I can recoup my cost from it but the orchid show is this weekend, and I might see if the seller has an answer for me when I go. But in the end I'm honestly just sad. I was so excited for both of these when they were in spike, and I just wanted them to be the plant I had my eye on. It sounds dramatic but maybe my fellow Orchid Board members will understand my sadness!

Paul · #10 04-04-2019, 12:15 PM

Well there were a couple folks who were interested in your orchid, based on earlier posts. Try pm'ing them. You could also post it in the classifieds for sale or trade.

Your disappointment is understandable. Might not even be the sellers fault, quite honestly. Many sellers will buy plants from Thailand or other areas to sell at shows. They are trusting that their overseas suppliers are labeling the plants correctly. If that same seller is at the upcoming show, I would most certainly say something to them. (Would even bring the plant with me and, if it is not in bloom, bring a photo of the flowers.) Hopefully they will refund your money. If the vendor is not there, then look their name up online. If you don't recall the name, but think you would recognize it if you saw it, ask the society if they have a list of last year's vendors.