Bagged orchids at lowe's

[mimigirl]

I was looking at the little orchids in bags at lowes. They have several different varieties and price ranges. What i want to know is how do i tell how much more time is needed before i can expect blooming. They dont give any indication on the packages. Has anyone had experience with these?

[PaphMadMan]

It will vary quite a bit depending on the kind of orchid and the current size. Without more information I don't think anyone can give you a meaningful answer.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Generally these bagged orchids come at two price levels. The ones that are under $10 US have a few years of growing ahead of them. The ones priced over $10 (closer to $15) may bloom within less than a year, or could take another couple of years.

These plants are usually pretty healthy if you get them soon after they arrive at stores. Usually a nice selection of species and hybrids. I have a few of them.

What species or hybrids are you thinking about buying?

[mimigirl]

Thanks to both of you for input. I hate to buy one without knowing more specifics. If i know it will take a couple of years, fine. But if i dont know and it doesnt bloom i m afraid i will give up on it. I didnt have any particular type in mind. I was just looking and before i would buy i have to google to check on growing specifics. I am better off, as a newbie, to purchase at shows and internet with growers that are willing to provide lots of info.

[reliablefool]

I'm so jealous...I never see bag babies here in the SF bay area, but maybe that's a good thing. Heh. If there were cheap bag babies here I'd go even more over budget than I already do.

[Atzau]

Yeah, none of those here either.... Only have phals in the big box stores and supermarkets...

[Joseia]

As noted above, the cheaper bag babies are probably about two years from blooming. I think mine will probably bloom in the next 6 months or so and I bought them in Spring 2013. The $15 plants are much closer - I bought a bagged B. nodosa that bloomed two months later. I went nuts buying them when I first got hooked, but only have 4 of them left. If you can buy these very soon after they arrive at the store, you are probably ok. I bought many unhealthy bag babies that I should have returned immediately. I did learn a lot from them at a very low cost. But you really have too examine them closely, which can be hard with that mesh bag. I wish the Lowes staff were a little more knowledgeable about orchid care, but that's probably too much to expect from a hardware store.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by reliablefool

I'm so jealous...I never see bag babies here in the SF bay area, but maybe that's a good thing. Heh. If there were cheap bag babies here I'd go even more over budget than I already do.

Why would one buy "bag babies" at almost the same price as a plant in a pot? It appears to me to be a cost cutting attempt by some growers to reduce shipping costs. When someone is in a area like the SF Bay Area with multiple orchid nurseries still in business and multiple society Orchid Shows having sales, why not go where there is more value, more knowledge and plants which may survive longer than 6 months to a year?

[reliablefool]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Why would one buy "bag babies" at almost the same price as a plant in a pot? It appears to me to be a cost cutting attempt by some growers to reduce shipping costs. When someone is in a area like the SF Bay Area with multiple orchid nurseries still in business and multiple society Orchid Shows having sales, why not go where there is more value, more knowledge and plants which may survive longer than 6 months to a year?

The admittance fee to society shows is a turnoff. I understand it's necessary but sometimes I just want to browse. Heh. I do still attend many of the shows and cannot wait for POE (don't get to the nurseries much because so many seem to be appointment only), but the bag babies provide a free browsing opportunity without any hassle.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Why would one buy "bag babies" at almost the same price as a plant in a pot? It appears to me to be a cost cutting attempt by some growers to reduce shipping costs. When someone is in a area like the SF Bay Area with multiple orchid nurseries still in business and multiple society Orchid Shows having sales, why not go where there is more value, more knowledge and plants which may survive longer than 6 months to a year?

Lots of questions and comments to answer.

1. I'm not sure why you think these bagged plants don't come in pots. They do. They also have a bag that surrounds the plant, and the pot.

2. I'm glad the grower (typically the Sun Bulb Co. for the plants that I buy this way locally) is saving something on shipping and handling on these plants. That saves money for me.

3. Not sure why you think these plants only survive 6 months to a year? I have several that are a few years old, are healthy, and which bloom reliably. Others were purchased as small plants that are not yet blooming size. None have died, all were bought in good health, and are still in good health. Examples of plants I have purchased as bagged plants, and which bloomed within 1 year:
Brassavola Little Stars
Cattleya Llory Ann 'Paradise' (bloomed twice within 1 year)
Epicattleya Charlie Brown
Enyclia cordigera
Vanda Pakchong Blue
Oncidium ampliatum

A plant I bought as a smaller plant 3 years ago that is blooming for me now is Potinara Elizabeth Palmer 'Sun Bulb'. It's first bloom for me opened this morning.

4. Regarding shows and vendors in the SF area, I am glad folks in the SF area can go to those places and patronize those sellers. However, the OP lives in New Orleans. Not everyone lives conveniently near orchid shows or vendors. Why not buy decent quality plants from a convenient source, like Mimigirl has suggested?

5. Regarding price, sometimes the price of the bagged orchids is significantly lower than the cost for the same plant from a traditional orchid nursery (TON), especially after shipping is added. I patronize the TONs when I can, but I can sometimes buy more mature and healthy plants as bagged orchids. I use the TONs when I want to buy something quite specific that I am not likely to find in a local store. Plants from the TONs are not necessarily healthier, or better deals, than the bagged plants.

So, these bagged plants can be quite a good value. Best to purchase them soon after they arrive in the stores. Newly-arrived plants are healthy, but plants that have been in the stores for 2 months or more are often not in good shape.