Advice on what to buy...

[murphy48]

I know I'm getting in waaaay over my head but seeing specimen sized paphs makes me drool. I found a place that sells some very large Paphs and I got a list of what is available. I'd like some advice on what I should get or if I'm crazy for even thinking about doing this. Here is what they have:

15+++ growths Deena Nicol for $85, St Swithin 9+ growths for $70 and 15 growths for $85, Susan Booth 9+growths for $70 and 15 growths for $85, Primechild 9 growths for $70, Lady Isabel 15 growths for $150.

I'm really leaning towards the St Swithin.

Am I crazy? It's not like I'm a grad student who his broke or anything!

[Ross]

You don't really have to spend big bucks for a specimen sized plant, but they really are nice when they get that size. Smaller 4-5 growth sized plants will also get bigger one day. Having said that, I recommend looking at pics of the blooms and picking something you like. If undecided (I think this is your question) then why not find smaller plants and get 2-3 different ones?

[Paul]

To add on to Ross's comments, I think difficulty of growing vs what your experiences w/ paphs up til now should be considered as well. As I understand it, some types are more difficult or are slower growers than others. If you have thus far been highly successful, then you might feel more confident about tackling a challenging plant.

[Lisa]

St Swithin may be slow to grow and bloom but from what I have seen they really do hold a high price... beautiful flower and used in lots of crosses. If I had my choice that's the one I would invest in. I have a smaller one that should give me some blooms next year. Enjoy your buy!

[unhappykat]

Very nice options to choose from. If i had to choose i would probably go for either a St. Swithin or Susan booth which are very similar in appearances to one another. The Susan booth tends to grow faster and stay much more compact than a St. Swithin does which is helpful if you have a limited space or are impatient about having multiple spikes come from your plant yearly.

[murphy48]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I'm terribly impatient which is why I was looking at these. I know my smaller ones will get large in a few years but I'm not sure I can wait that long

Thanks

[quiltergal]

If I was going to toss down $80-100, I would buy more smaller plants as Ross suggested. There's something very satisfying about blooming out a seedling or NBS plant yourself.

[Bolero]

I would love a St Swithin.

[murphy48]

I do have the seedlings covered as well, I got the paph seedling collection from Oak Hills Gardens a few months back. 10 wonderful seedlings that seem to all be growing like weeds.

Is the consensus that this isn't really a good deal? A 15 growth St. Swithin for 85.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

[unhappykat]

I wouldnt necessarily say that obtaining one of these specimen plants at such low costs is not worth it but i would ask for parentages in the breeding of each one before makin any purchases. Look for plants with their own cultivarial names and preferably awarded individuals with AM/AOS or FCC/AOS since they are more likely to produce superior quality flowers. I would be a bit cautions at obtaining 15 growth st swithins and susan booths for only 85 dollars as a specimen because they may have bloomed out to be rejects or even worse such large plants may have never bloomed and may prove very reluctant to flower for you even as larger specimens. But if you are willing to risk a reluctant bloomer or a hideous freak of a flower then i would say 15 growths on a St. Swithin for only 85 is a wonderful deal....keep in mind most of those cultivars sell as seedlings for 25-75 dollars easily so I would be weary of such large ones at such reasonable prices.