Saving Un-sold Orchids from the Big Boxes - Orchid Board

zxyqu · #1 07-19-2009, 06:42 PM

I have a strange question for this board. I've recently gotten much more interested in orchids thanks to some saving of my Mom's old ones. Having seen some nice orchids in Home Depot, Lowes, etc, I was wondering what they did with those that dont sell. A friend of mine who's son works there part-time said he thinks they just trash them...

. But I'm still hoping that they send them back to their respective whole-sellers who rescue them back for next time. Does anyone know for sure? If this is true, I'm going to start an Atlanta Coalition of Orchid Saviors, or maybe something that'll have a better acronym.

Zoi2 · #2 07-19-2009, 06:49 PM

Some of the individual stores cut the price for the non blooming ones, others send them back to the growers and some just trash them. In my area, there is one Lowe's that will cut the price to clear them out. The HD's and other Lowe's will not.
Joann

Ranchnanny · #3 07-19-2009, 09:47 PM

I can't resist an orchid that is marked down. Just bought one Friday at Lowe's $10. Our local Fred Meyer store sells their orchids that have finished blooming for $5.

Most of my rescues are doing well.

Sheridan

Ray · #4 07-20-2009, 10:07 AM

The suppliers of mass-marketed plants don't have the inclination to revive the mistreated plants, so mostly don't take returns from the big box stores.

boytjie · #5 07-20-2009, 10:31 AM

I'd check with the particular store's manager. They each seem to make their own rules. We have one Lowes here that just trashes them, and another a few miles away that will sell them for under ten bucks if you ask nicely. Last fall I got my mom a huge white NOID Phal for 99 cents.

BikerDoc5968 · #6 07-20-2009, 10:50 AM

Some stores, like Meijer's, get their orchids and other "house plants" on consignment, i.e., they NEVER lower the price. No sale, no discount and it gets returned to the wholeseller. As was mentioned above, many big box stores make up their own rules for their specific store and even those change from time to time. You just have to be in the right spot at the right time and use a little sweet talk with the manager of the garden center.

sunny · #7 07-20-2009, 01:52 PM

i have had an amazing lack of success with lowe's orchids. i have been growing for 20 years.

i think they are dead long before lowe's get them. once the blooms are gone, when you go to repot them, the roots have root rot. someone is watering them too much. here, the lowe's people know what they are doing so it must happen earlier.

before you take anything from lowe's etc., pull back all that moss that is crammed in there. look for good, green roots or do not take it home.

a good place to adopt orchids is from wedding planners. they throw them out or give them to people.

carol

zxyqu · #8 07-20-2009, 03:19 PM

Well just spoke to the gardening department at Home Depot, and they confirmed my fears... They trash them. I'm going to head down after work and see if I can do a work around. I wouldn't mind saving a few orchids that are gonna be tossed, especially if I can get them all but free. I'll let everyone know how it goes

sunny · #9 07-20-2009, 03:55 PM

good luck, but make sure they are healthy. you could bring a disease into your orchid room.

carol

zxyqu · #10 07-20-2009, 04:26 PM

Sunny, that is a really good point I didn't think of. Hmm, now I feel a little less sure of this, I dont want to kill my revived (finally) phals. Anyone have some recommendations/thoughts on this.