Where to buy ?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Chris17

The Tiny Jungle in Daly City comes to mind, they have a Facebook page.

Yep, and Chris is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

[AnonYMouse]

[AnonYMouse]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Photo is gone.

Fixed. Had dupes so deleted but deleted the wrong one, I guess.

[Optimist]

Estacion said it best. One thing that I have discovered in my short life as an orchid collector, is that you have to be a fanatic about "who" you buy from. I am in a tiny town where "Orchid" means Taiwanese phalenopsis from a grocery store. I get my plants on-line. I trust the on-line sources-- including eBay. There are "small growers"-- people who pick up flasks and grow them to seedling size or larger and then sell them. The problem with "Stores" is that the customer wants flowers. If you want Roths, Phrag Grandes, or other more unusual plants that go for 100 dollars, you have to get seedlings, and then put in the "sweat equity." Other than that Orchid society shows and then the orchid growers (often a long drive).

[dounoharm]

this is the way of this new century....I had the joy and pleasure of working (pretty much free) at an establishment in mill valley ca....they were on the way out when I was there, as the property value had gotten so high they just did away with the agricultural zoning....they grew roses and orchids for the cut flower trade, and also had some wonderful old species and crosses....anyway, it was a great experience!

I also had the pleasure of touring a couple of the old family houses in southern ca and florida....I don't think we have ANYTHING like that anymore....

the business of 'cut flowers' are usually the Hawaiian import orchids...cym phals and dens.....cattleyas are rare indeed!

there are few places left in the usa to buy orchids. it is an expensive hobby that requires dedication for many years....there are a few specialized orchid houses left, I found some thru as site called 'orchid mall' years ago...

piping rock, I think has the best paphs and phrags...but other species, I don't know...good luck!

[snowflake311]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

this is the way of this new century....I had the joy and pleasure of working (pretty much free) at an establishment in mill valley ca....they were on the way out when I was there, as the property value had gotten so high they just did away with the agricultural zoning....they grew roses and orchids for the cut flower trade, and also had some wonderful old species and crosses....anyway, it was a great experience!

I also had the pleasure of touring a couple of the old family houses in southern ca and florida....I don't think we have ANYTHING like that anymore....

the business of 'cut flowers' are usually the Hawaiian import orchids...cym phals and dens.....cattleyas are rare indeed!

there are few places left in the usa to buy orchids. it is an expensive hobby that requires dedication for many years....there are a few specialized orchid houses left, I found some thru as site called 'orchid mall' years ago...

piping rock, I think has the best paphs and phrags...but other species, I don't know...good luck!

Thanks everyone. I found the site. The Orchid Mall - Plant Sources

This it what I was looking for thank you.

[Cheddarbob14]

dounoharm beat me to it

We bring you the finest Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, and other orchids available.: Piping Rock Orchids

Can't speak from personal experience, but many here seem to be quite happy with there purchases from them. I have yet to rebloom the 1 noid paph that I have, once I do, that's the 1st site I'm going to, to expand.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Bohata]

Originally Posted by Cheddarbob14

dounoharm beat me to it

We bring you the finest Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, and other orchids available.: Piping Rock Orchids

Can't speak from personal experience, but many here seem to be quite happy with there purchases from them. I have yet to rebloom the 1 noid paph that I have, once I do, that's the 1st site I'm going to, to expand.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I ordered from this site for the first time this year: a Pap. bellatulum and a Paph. Mount Toro. Both are of good quality and, with a bit of tlc, should bloom next year.

[Fairorchids]

Check the AOS web site for show listings (mostly over for the season now). Then, go to the web site of the sponsoring orchid society, and see who they have invited as vendors. That will give you some idea about what plant material to expect at that show.

In response to several of the above comments:

The reason most regional nurseries have closed is not the attitude of the general consumer (they never bought orchids in the old days), but rather the heating costs. Even though oil now is trading in the high $40s per barrel, in the 1960s it was $6-8 per barrel, and just a couple of years ago it was over $100.

When you consider that it takes 3-16 years to grow an orchid seedling to blooming size, there is no way to recover the cost of doing that in temperature to cold climates.

Compounding the issue is the fact that growers in Hawaii can grow the plants to blooming size in half the time due to their natural environment being so perfect for these plants.

We can't change the past, so we have to live with what is.

• Ebay is one source, but be careful - many 'near BS' plants are tiny seedlings.
• Orchid shows are the best place to see a large variety and select plants in person.
• Orchid Societies are another source. In addition to raffles and auctions, most speakers bring plants for sale too.

[Dollythehun]

Amen.