There are heat packs that some shippers use to prevent freezing, but I've never heard of them using cold packs. I always track my orders so I know when to stay home. Unless it's overnight, our FedEx and Ups deliveries are always afternoon, and my porch gets that western sun then too.

I'm fortunate. The few orders I have shipped to me I have sent to the shop. Even if I'm not there, somebody is and the place is air conditioned

Personally, I have never found heat packs to be even close to practical or useful. I get things with the cold packs though. Frozen foods (Alaskan salmon for example) always have these cold packs. Cold packs for plants, no, I have never seen them used for that. Plants wouldn't want a cold pack sitting on their vegetation, nor heat packs for that matter.

Regarding the heat packs, I remember receiving an Orchid shipment from Hoosier Orchids/Indianapolis for Christmas. They used heat packs, but those were never resting on any plants, there was enough buffer in-between. It worked very well.

Right, and unlike cold packs which really would be much too cold for the plants, heat packs can be those small things like the hand-warmers we used to use when we went skiing. They were never too hot, but gave off even warmth for around 8 hours each.

I had no such luck with them. I simply use lots of the right kind of insulation. But I also don't ship when the temperature is even close to freezing. That means I don't ship to the northern tier of states during January and February. I pretty much shut myself down then.

GigiPlumeria said:I'm really impressed with this Vanda, third bloom in less than a year

Wow! I just now realized that this is my fourth bloom since I purchased this last year The blooms are smaller and lighter This time of the year.

It's a beauty!

totally!

That's a great Vanda you have there, Gigi.

Jim

all! I'm quite pleased with my Vanda's especially this little one.

I love any plant that holds it's blooms so long!

Me too!

Gigi!
I got my Pachara Delight for my birthday last year, and it is now blooming again for the sixth time! In one year!
I'm totally blown away! It seems to be in bloom constantly!

I wish all my orchids bloomed as often as this one!

That's great Tara! I have 2 of these. The first one I got got a black rot and almost killed it. I had to cut it off from the main plant (no root) and I read somewhere that it could generate root and may survive. I babied it for over a year now, soaking with water and super thrive everyday. In some days I would soak it overnight. It is now coming back with healthy roots. I'm hoping next year it will bloom for me.

Amazing, Gigi! I have no doubt that it will thrive in your care!
I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever run into the same difficulty. (God forbid)

that has to be some kind of record! what's your feeding routine?

Thanks Lindsey! Actually, my feeding has been kind of sporadic. I do occasionally spray some weak fert., but mostly I just soak them at least once, maybe twice a month, in a 5 gal. bucket filled with a half, to a three quarter strength fertilizer solution. I let them each soak for about 30-45 minutes each time. That's probably not the right way to do it, but it seems to be working for me. They do seem to be happy!

I'll say! They are very, very happy.