Order from ROC arrived - your opinion?

[Leafmite]

Dave's Garden has a review section for vendors. I check there before ordering.
Sorry about your disappointment, though.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Many thanks
It is definitely salvageable piece for sure, as Vanda, it should shoot some roots soon, I will treat it in Hydroton with seaweed and hope it will jump start it even If I will loose the bottom part, which I hope won't happen, the plant is not so big.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Got the answer, as I expected after all your feedbacks. Not even mentioning 80% dead roots, that was the main complain, Miriam from their company wrote me that it is normal for Aeridas to loose bottom leaves and I should just trim them and wait for new roots to grow. Such a great advise, right? Maybe it would be really better to send paying customer healthy plant instead, than to send him sick one and than give TIPS how to bring it back to healthy normal life. But as I said, did not even expect any other answer. They at least promised to send me Dendro ID, but do not count on that as well. It will be just surprise once it will be blooming:-)))

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------

And honestly, from my cca 20 online orchid orders in last 2 months I must say that to get only ONE bad is pretty good score to me! So, Cheers to that:-))))))

[naoki]

Tommy, I don't know about Vanda well, but it doesn't look too bad for an international import. Because the nurseries are afraid of getting rejected at the phytosanitary inspection, most international imports have heavily trimmed roots. It generally takes longer for my plants to recover from international imports than domestic order, and I have to pay much more attention at the acclimation stage. For example, I have some Paph, which finally started to grow after 1 year from the time of import. So you have a lower risk in general with domestic, acclimated plants. On the other hand, you can get more interesting plants via international order. For example, I'm not so keen on those "selected" species for AOS criteria, and it is difficult to get natural looking plants in the US (Phal. bellina is one extreme example).

Since you are in Miami, you can provide pretty nice condition for Vanda, and I hope it will recover soon.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks Naoki
and I do agree, international orders are interesting, and plants much cheaper. To be totally honest, when I was looking at that side, I did see company from Florida. I also at that time wanted to order plants more from Florida growers - acclimatized more to my Miami conditions. I did not know what so ever that they have actually plants shipped from Malaysia, and as they wrote me today, Miami is only their hub for re packing them and shipping to customers. Having said this, if I would know this plant is coming from Malaysia, than I would never order from this page, I could have Aeriadas for not even $10 from Thailand seller! Well, as I said, LESSON LEARNED, never ever again with this company. You are though right about the plant, it will make it for sure and with some extra care and seaweed it should do great outside here. I guess, for me, it was just a big BUMMER day today. I received this order, not happy about it, I also received my habenaria medusae, very healthy plant but much smaller than expected today, so my ORCHID DAY just didn't go smooth today I guess. And I have never had this experience before:-) Never mind, it is Thursday already, new day, and my miniatures from Tropical Orchid Farm are arriving, so I will be adding to my vase vivarium and mini terrarium, looking forward to the new day:-) Next week more mini's from Andy:-) So life is still good:-) But people should know:-)

[naoki]

Sorry for your bad day. The bright side is that your plants arrived safely! I'm always worried about the plants getting cooked or frozen during the transit. It sounds like you'll be busy with lots of new arrivals next week! Have fun!

[RJSquirrel]

ROC has a long list and history here of complainants w/unresolved issues.
Those plants will come back but they will take some time and lots of water. Just a tough way to get started right out of the box. Vandas can look pretty rough anyway and no telling how long those were dry and shut down. The leaves dont look too bad. Vandas pop out roots pretty fast but the hard part will be is getting the leaves to rehydrate in the heat. You can water those all day long every time the roots dry up. In fact if you pack some sphag around the roots and put them in a small wood or net basket that will help shore them up a lot. They arent the best looking plants Ive seen but they arent dead.
I wouldnt throw em away

You need to take a sunday drive to clermont and visit smiley. Her vandas will knock yer socks off. She such a nice lady too. If you give her a call they will let you come visit the greenhouse.
Welcome to Smiley Orchids We grow with passion and share with resonable prices

[RosieC]

So sorry to you've had a bad experience. As others have said we've had several threads along those lines about Royal Orchid Club

I've moved your thread to the 'vendor feedback' area. I've also done a search of that area and found these threads about Royal Orchid Club.

Royal Orchid Club
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ighlight=Royal
Bill Vanvliet Royal Orchids
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ighlight=Royal
Royal Orchid Club
Royal Orchid Club?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by naoki

Sorry for your bad day. The bright side is that your plants arrived safely! I'm always worried about the plants getting cooked or frozen during the transit. It sounds like you'll be busy with lots of new arrivals next week! Have fun!

Many thanks, and you are right, so far I was very lucky, all my online orders arrived in absolutely great condition, no complains,even when plants were with spikes, they made it safe also. I have now miniatures on the way this week and next week and than my last order for this year (as I promised myself! no more this year), which should have some 20 new orchids:-) So still days that I can look forward to receive some new packages!

---------- Post added at 12:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 PM ----------

many many thanks Rosie
you know what, it is truly funny to me, usually I do so much research about everything (it is big part of my daily job to research and search online actually), but I do not know what had happen to me that night. I was looking for this specific Aeridas plant, and I must admit, even it said middle size (not blooming), it was good price. I also try to buy from Florida growers, and when checking contacts I saw that they have address here in Miami, so though, ok great, lets do it. There was also that special buy 3 get one free. All in all, without reading more and doing some research, I just placed the order. The bright side is that 2 other ordered plants look pretty decent, free plant is very small but it is free, so what to hack, and my Aeridas will for sure make it. And i will NEVER EVER order from them again, plus I am glad others may have been at least notified about them and won't have to go through the same issues. Their BBB rating of big "F" says it all!!!:-)

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:16 PM ----------

RJ
I would never throw any plant away:-) Till it is REALLY looking extremely unhappy (that means totally dead:-))) All the plants will make it, so no worries, just big disappointment with the seller, so I wanted to went and share for others. I work most of the time from home, so I have truly time the whole day to take care of all my balcony babies, and I did place the Aeridas into the Hydroton pebbles at the end, since this will keep it moist constantly till the new roots will grow and I can mount it later:-) NOW - THANKS SO SO MUCH for that link, wow wow wow, just seeing the pictures, I would go absolutely crazy!! But as I wrote, I have still many orchids on the way, and since I mostly buy orchids only in the summer months, I am totally beyond my spending limit for this year (3 months, close to $2500:-) So I will for sure take my friend from the Keys, that is crazy nuts about all Vandas, and we will go there together one weekend! But it must be when I can buy more plants, I know I would not resist if going now! Once more, many thanks!!!!

---------- Post added at 12:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------

RJ - I just went through her page and pics, and I must say, I can not go there:-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
TILL I HAVE saved another $1000 in my pocket and some more space somewhere. She has so so so many things I want, and grown here in Florida, which I love the most!
Oh well, it is 4 hours drive, and we plan to visit Orlando in winter, so it will be on the list TO DO THINGS when there:-) Once more, many thanks!

[Island Girl]

Sorry about your experience, I've read many things about this company... But.. You have an order from TOF! That will make your day. I know it! I love them, they have beautiful plants, and wonderful customer service! So, even if you had a bad day today, when u get that order from TOF (Tropical Orchid Farm, for those who don't know ), you will be very very happy!