Orchids.com

[MarinaDC]

Even the newest green cattleya hybrid was not worth all the hassle. It took 2 people and 2 sets of cutters to get this plant out of the pot, 2 hours of dislodging moss, and an hour of running water to just get all the yuck off the roots. It is drying up now.

[MrHappyRotter]

Yeah, sorry about that. Are there any good roots?

I do my best to warn folks to stay away from that business. Every thread about them is heavy with people like you and I who've been burned by their questionable plants and terrible customer service. Goes to show you how far you get with a good domain and a flashy website, but I really hate that people still get taken advantage of by this company.

[fooferdoggie]

I got a vanda from them before I knew better really beat up leaves and rotten roots. took a year to recover now it blooms often every two months or so.

[MarinaDC]

Eh, on the grand scale of things it is not that bad. I just hate wasting time like that. It seems that this plant has never been repotted ever since it made its way from Asia. Slopy and careless, turn a buck quick.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I've never heard a good review of this company.
AVOID

[rbarata]

Well, going through situations like that is what makes you learn and become an expert. If they remember that probably they'll ask you to pay for the lesson.

[MarinaDC]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Well, going through situations like that is what makes you learn and become an expert. If they remember that probably they'll ask you to pay for the lesson.

That’s the spirit!

Drying completed

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by MarinaDC

Eh, on the grand scale of things it is not that bad. I just hate wasting time like that. It seems that this plant has never been repotted ever since it made its way from Asia. Slopy and careless, turn a buck quick.

I agree
I haven't checked lately, but I wonder if the USDA has added Cattleya/hybrids to it's list of orchids from Taiwan that can be shipped in pot (in sphagnum). They did this for phalaenopsis & cymbidiums from pre-cleared nurseries...so it would stand to reason they might have done it for catts too...it's "great" for the receiving grower as plants can immediately be benched for sale with minimal stress due to root loss or bare rooting; but can be crappy for the reasons that you've shown.

[MarinaDC]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

I agree
I haven't checked lately, but I wonder if the USDA has added Cattleya/hybrids to it's list of orchids from Taiwan that can be shipped in pot (in sphagnum). They did this for phalaenopsis & cymbidiums from pre-cleared nurseries...so it would stand to reason they might have done it for catts too...it's "great" for the receiving grower as plants can immediately be benched for sale with minimal stress due to root loss or bare rooting; but can be crappy for the reasons that you've shown.

They would benefit from learning about growing conditions at the nursery that they purchase from. Asian growing conditions are very different from CA. As a result, what once was a nice plant with robust roots becomes a stressed one with decaying roots, mostly due to overwatering.
It would also be nice if the workers at Norman’s did not do stupid things, like clipping cattleya leaf to the stake (you can see the stake in the background; the leaf was clipped over the side). The mark is fading after a week, but it was repulsive