Andy's Orchids--Great Cyber Monday order

[plumania]

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

HI all--

Great pix of what you got. I'll try to post mine once I get caught up from being gone this weekend for my job....

Plumania, I also ordered a Den. parishi and it's about the same size and mostly leafless since it's a deciduous species....BTW, I won a Den. loddigesii at an orchid club Christmas dinner over the weekend that's from Ecuagenera and it's about the same size as the one I rec'd from Andy's--both nice plants (and you can never have too many of them, right??)...

Catherine

Thanks Catherine. I guess time will tell how long it takes for these plants to bloom. I have loddigessi from Andy's, bought last year (was small but grew a much nicer and bigger cane this year) . No blooms yet, may be it will bloom in spring.....I hope. I will try to post pics.

From what I read on internet, canes on parishii (and others ) need to be much longer to bloom. My experience so far certainly shows that but I am a relatively newbie. Others may have better luck ,I suppose.

Or may be this is the size to be expected.I get a bit confused seeing people say they got big plants since I never got those.

[catherinecarney]

I think size of plants is a relative thing--a large mini is still going to be a lot smaller than a large compact or standard. I'm a newb at this too, so I hope more experienced members will share their knowledge with us as well....

I've done a quick Google search on this plant. IOSPE doesn't mention cane length, and the pic of it is a flower close up. However, Honolulu Orchid Socitey does have a few full plant pix, and the note with them states that the plants bloom on 2 year old canes and need a rest period to flower. So, it's quite possible that yours isn't quite old enough yet but will flower this spring after its winter rest. Growing orchids is sometimes an exercise in patience, isn't it??

Good luck with your plants!

Catherine

[katrina]

Originally Posted by plumania

I spent total $63.



Please give your opinions.

Your plants looks exceptionally healthy...IMO, there is no reason to be disappointed. I don't know what you were expecting...but I would never expect specimen sized plant for under $20.

Andy's tends to be sort of in the middle when it comes to prices and most plants are either bloom sized or near bloom sized. At least all the plants I've ever purchased.

Den parishii is variable in it's mature size. Mine is blooming sized...a young blooming sized...and it's longest cane is about 5", I think. This one doesn't have to be big to bloom but it does require very distinctive conditions or you'll never see it bloom. Reduced watering in the Winter is required. Not complete withholding of water...but definitely drier. The flowers smell amazing!

Den carronii is a very compact plant and will never get more than 5 or 6" tall including the height of the leaves...the pbulbs are small. This one also requires very distinctive conditions or not only will it not bloom...it will die. This one needs water as the spikes are developing or they dry up but too much water before the growths are mature and the growths perish. It's a balancing act of dryness but if you get it right...it can be a beautiful plant. It took me 2 tries to get it right and even after i got it right and ended up w/a ribbon on the plant...I killed the 2nd one. It's not an easy one to grow...that's for sure.

Both of these dens tend to be deciduous so being leafless is not a big deal.

I know very little about the chrysotoxum but I do believe it is also a smallish one that is variable in it's size. ?? I don't grow/haven't grown it so I'm not 100% on that though.

[catherinecarney]

Thank you Katrina! I've got my parishii in high light in the terrarium where it gets overspray from the other orchids but no water, so we'll see how it does. Can't wait for blooms.

Catherine

[Sharry]

"....but I would never expect specimen sized plant for under $20."

Good point Katrina. We get spoiled by the big box phals. But species will be different and may take a nursery much longer to grow so they will cost more for the size. I guess for species vendors it helps to develop a picture in your mind of what a plant could be.

[plumania]

Thanks Catherine. ....I have plenty of patience.

Thanks Katrina for taking time to answer and I value your answers. But, you sound a bit scornful....or may be I am oversensitive.

I think I should have specified that I bought plants on discount for the Thanksgiving holiday. Supposed to be blooming/near blooming size. They were marked down from regular price, to encourage sale.
I am complaining about $$ spent.
I can easily afford to pay even full price, if it seems worth it.
That is why I am trying to figure out if the size I have been getting is enough for blooming/near blooming size.
What exactly is 'blooming/near blooming size'? I thought it is when you can expect them to bloom in upcoming season and near blooming means 1-2 years.

Personally, I think having just one cane/bulb on a plant is risky (anything can cause break/damage threatening it's survival) for an outdoor grower like me. I had no way of knowing how many canes it has. I may not have grown orchids too long but I am quite good at growing all sorts of plants and my concern is not baseless. And I am not expecting multiple canes, just more than one and at least a nice size one.

Now parishii- I have seen plenty of blooming ones and usually canes are more than 5 inch long. I missed chance to buy one great specimen for $12 in a plant show because my friend (new grower)wanted it instead and I did not want to come in her way. Other times, I was not into dendros yet.

Carronii- yes it is a mini and I am aware of it's needs and difficulties people had. I expected better size bulbs and have seen one in person to know it should be bigger.

Chrysotoxum- has generally about 12 inch canes on blooming ones.....I read.

So I have no hope to see blooms on mine next 1-2 season.

Orchids I bought from them last year are still healthy, have grown nicely ( much bigger canes than they came with) and hopefully will bloom this year.

I have not bought from too many vendors yet but healthy, bigger plants will be a definite plus.

May be this size is the norm , just trying to understand it .
As I continue to expand my collection, I am sure I will learn who sends good size , healthy plants for reasonable $$. I have had some good experiences too.

Thanks you all for your thoughtful answers.

[nikkik]

Plumania, I completely understand where you're coming from! I have ordered from many vendors and I have been pleasantly surprised many times and disappointed many other times. I have also received some plants that are supposed to bloom within the next year and I can tell you that it's not going to happen.

I think you're entitled to your feelings and you don't need to defend them. You never said anything about wanting specimen sized plants, you merely stated you wanted blooming or near blooming size based on what the vendor's description stated. And I think we all want what we've been promised per the item description, discount or not (by the way I if a vendor chooses to have a sale the plants quality/size shouldn't be effected, unless the vendor states these factors as the reason for the sale) .

[katrina]

Originally Posted by plumania

Thanks Katrina for taking time to answer and I value your answers. But, you sound a bit scornful....or may be I am oversensitive.

Please don't read emotions into my words. That is one of the issues w/the web...you can't see or hear the person and the words can be interpreted wrong. I assure you, there were no emotions (good or otherwise) behind my words...just simple statements.

Andy's is not expensive...nor are they cheap. They carry a wide selection of species...many of which are impossible to find elsewhere.

Based on what you showed and what I know of the plants...IMO, yes, you got your money's worth. I wasn't trying to start an argument...it sounded as if you were asking for opinions of the situation...so I gave you mine. I apologize...it appears I misunderstood your comment.

Look, if you aren't happy w/what you received...perhaps you should talk to Andy or Harry about it. Maybe you misunderstood something...maybe they made a mistake...whichever it is, nothing can be done about it unless they are in the loop.

[plumania]

Thanks Katrina. I will call Andy's like you suggested.

And thanks nikkik, for understanding me correctly and the wonderful reply.


And yes, internet sometimes makes things sound different than intended plus it is not always possible to tell the whole story.

No hard feelings here.

[vjo]

A few years ago I ordered a Den. from a member here, don't remember who right off, but it was advertised as having several canes.When I got it it had 2 canes! I was very disappointed!So I know how you feel.....Jean