We came from here:
The thread "Orchid Shows and similar and What did we buy in 2016" in Orchids forum


Seems like a great deal for the knowledgeable orchid enthusiast - Just thought I'd share......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orchid...




Edited to add link

The one I might be interested in from that website is Rhy. gigantea 'Alba' but $35 plus shipping for that tiny plant they are showing is no deal in my book.

Jim

Jim, you need a quick trip down here this weekend! I just got back from Tropiflora's sale and the door was open at Plantio but I resisted going in. I was too hot and my head was throbbing by the time I got my hunk of cork and an armful of Tillandsias.

I still came home with two nice big bare-root starts from Rafael (c/w old tags ) though. Schom. crispa X Schom. undulata alba otro rosa sounds like it has potential to be interesting. Plus I got a Pot. Graf's Gold Lake. There were some stunning plants in bloom for $25 to $35 but I hate to risk buying pricey orchids in bloom at this time of year. Contented myself with these cheap divisions $15 for the Schom and $9 for the Pot.

Gorgeous red tillandsias on sale for $3 each, some in bloom and with pups - I may go back tomorrow and buy some more. Plus a variegated one and one that looks like a piece of Italian sculpture that I spent a LOT for. But these are plants that survive for me.

I got the same unsolicited ad from Ebay. This shop is selling crafts and garden art mostly. The orchids are a little side line, meaning they are getting them from someplace else and probably have no idea what they are doing. I avoid buying plants from Ebay sellers unless they are a nursery. And I avoid good deals on Ebay.

Daisy

On that eBay deal for the Tolumnias, I sure wouldn't go for it at this time of year. Very risky shipping anything in hot weather, let alone a whole box of little plants!

I've never seen much in the way of deals for orchids on eBay, to tell the truth. Mostly they show a beautiful picture of a big blooming plant and then when you dig deeper you discover that what you get is a start in a 2 1/2 inch pot that won't bloom for at least 2 years, *and probably die on me before that). Life's too short to grow tiny starts.

Big lusty bare-root divisions are a different story, and do very well for me here. Here's my new Schomburgkia division with a great big new growth on it:

This one would do well for me keeping it bare root or perhaps just placing it bare root into a good size claypot, after the roots are really soaked well and bend easily. Flood daily....
Schoms rock! This one looks promising!

Thanks yous all for your posts.

I live in Maryland, so not much in the way of orchids here.
Not until I get to the sparse growers and show in this
area next spring...

Realizing that E-bay is not the place to look, at orchids....

Live and learn, and thanks for your input.....

Donna, I used to live in rural NC and if I wanted something other than a Phal. I mail ordered from Hawaii. I used H & R and Kawamoto usually. I would order 10-15 plants at a time and they generally gave me a very good shipping cost because of the volume.. Blooming size plants averaged 15-25 dollars each after the shipping was calculated. Both used 2 day UPS and I usually got 3 shipments a year.. ( I did not order from December through March.. Unless I saw a good weather window!). Both do a great job of packing the plants.. Even those in bud or bloom arrived fine... If you can find an orchid show though.. That's the best!

Donna, I use Kawamoto as well. Always a great experience. They offer free shipping so don't get too discouraged if the prices seem high. They ship ridiculously fast. Also, once you get your plant from them, you can email them with questions or concerns. They are always willing to help. Kawamoto has a website but they also sell on Amazon and eBay.

I also like Odom's orchids website. They are not on eBay or Amazon. They have a great variety and also always willing to help after a purchase.

If there is something on eBay that you like, maybe send us the link to see if one of us have had experiences with the seller.

I have bought off of eBay and it has been 50/50 for me. I try to avoid it unless I know the seller. I always look at the feedback first. Peterlin on eBay has been great.

I agree about eBay, Jen. We never buy anything unless the seller has a 100% positive feedback. If not, you know there's at least somebody has not had a good purchase.

Just got back from Lowe's and although they had some beautiful blooming blue and purple Vandas they all looked very dehydrated to me. It was absolutely pouring rain while we were there, and all those poor dry Vandas were hanging under cover. I suggested to the nursery lady that they move them out into the rain for a while. But I sure am not paying $30 for a Vanda that's been dried out for who knows how long.

Btw, Jen they did have some yellow Spathoglottis there today as well as some purple ones just coming into bloom. They looked really nice and were only $7 for a gallon size. Very nice plants, the purple one in my picture looks more magenta but that's just my camera adding too much red.

I got the yellow spath!! Looking to plant them this week. I will post a picture

Thanks for the great info and resources....

from my orchid club meeting sales table..something completely different ( for me!)
Phrag Umbriel ( Grand 4N P & R x sargentanum 'Red Glare' ) with a big spike.

Ohhhhh!

If it's unhappy on my Cattleya bench...I'll send it to you..where I know it will be looked after!

Oh, I am sure it will be happy with you!

we can only hope !

This will be interesting. Keep us posted.

How did the meeting go?

Jim

Lindsey, your photo of the phrag reminds me of a tulip.

Jim, Raleigh's presentation went well.. There were ( I think 11guests) so lots of interest in his presentation... 2 new members from it!
Alice... It is a cool plant.. In spike.. I hope I can keep it alive for a second bloom!