Bagged orchids at lowe's

[Shep]

I suspect that all of the inexpensive bagged orchids are imported in one way or another, but the story doesn't end there.

Plant importers are permitted to import the plants, but they are not permitted to import potting mixes. For the end user, this may mean that the potted, more mature plants have had more growing time in the states than the smaller, bare root plants. In other words, a bare-root phal shipped in a box from the far east with 1,000 other bare-root phals is legal. One phal in a pot, shipped by itself from the far east, is illegal for import. Go figure. Of course, there is always the chance that the larger plants were also recently imported and they were recently potted in the states as well. A good look at the potting medium should help solve that mystery.

The point is, the bare-root plants are almost always imported and you may have a harder time getting them established and growing than the ones that are already in pots.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Shep, just to state this again, the bagged orchids at Lowes _____ARE_____ in pots. Examination of the roots an medium show that these plants have been grown in their pots, and medium, for some time (probably at least a year, maybe longer for the bigger plants).

I can only speak for the plants I see in in Lowes located in the southeast USA.

[AnonYMouse]

To clarify, the thread title is about Bag Babies (are they trademarked?). Some commercial grower packages young orchids and bulk sells them to HD/Lowes/garden centers. They are the orchid equivalent to tulip bulb packages sold in the autumn.

I've NEVER seen them here.

I won't presume to speak for Cym Ladye and Shep but I think they are talking about how Ecuagenera/Ten Shin/other importers sells plants at shows.

[mimigirl]

They are marked as Better gro and are in pots.

[Shep]

I should have bee more clear- I recall seeing bare-root orchids for sale in mesh bags with a handful of bark or sphag with them and that was it.

Many, many years ago (20+), my dad picked one up at Wal Mart. It was supposed to be a bright red Catt. It did fine and bloomed several times over the years. It had the brightest yellow flowers .

My guess is that the original distributor didn't expect many of them to make it to blooming size.

[snowflake311]

I agree. I got my miltonia discount and most where in sad shape and the ones I did not take were all dead in a week. Mine is doing awesome 5 new growth. I am so excited.

[Gpesci]

I have to agree totally with Orchid Whisperer on this one. I have purchased a few bagged orchids at Lowe's in the past few years and they are all very healthy. The problem is, you have to get them asap. I was employed by a Lowe's nearby a few years back. They don't care about knowledge, just about the bottom dollar. I would discuss orchid care with customers, but if they weren't buying anything, I would be called away from them by a manager. It really is a shame. I try not to buy from box stores, but sometimes I just cannot stop myself!

[mimigirl]

So we should ask lowes when the deliveries come in? There are always quite a few there so i dont think they seel quickly or new ones are ordered. I honestly dont think anyone would tell me when the present ones arrived cause they dont know.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I start checking my local store in early March, then every week or so until they arrive. The schedule seems to be a store-to-store thing. If I buy any this year, it will likely be interesting species plants, if they have any.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Here's one of my bagged orchids; Potinara Elizabeth Palmer 'Sunbulb'. This is a first bloom. It is fragrant, reminds me of roses.