I wonder if this is going to take 2 posts....because of a recent serious illness, I've been housebound and bored, and my way of keeping myself amused has been bidding on orchids on ebay. It really is a form of gambling, isn't it? Some of the plants have been fantastic, some incredibly reasonably priced, and some both, and, until now, I've had no problems. Mind you, all of he vendors I've used have had 99% ratings or above, and I try to write a note with each purchase reminding the seller that we are having cold weather here and offering to pay for extra heat packs. To be honest, I might occasionally forget to write the note, but I would never, never, never refuse heat packs or a delay in shipping because of weather!
First problem - I received a package a few days ago containing 6 orchid plants. I had been waiting excitedly for it, as there were some interesting looking varieties among them. I found the box on the front step in 20 degree F weather and I figure it had been there for 2 hours. There was nothing on the box indicating that it contained live plants (well, live when they left Florida, anyway), no warnings about protecting from heat or cold. Or anything. Inside the box, the plants were wrapped in 1 layer of that shiny full color newsprint stuff (like the ads for stores that come with newspapers) each and there were a couple of handfuls of polystyrene packing peanuts loose in the box. There was no heat pack. I do NOT blame the postman, as he is very good and has taken packages back to the post office when I didn't get to the door in time!
Unfortunately, there is another issue, I will write about that now. Thanks in advance.
Lore
So, there is more.
I unpacked the plants and some seemed to be very loose in their pots and had poor tone, which may have been from the cold? I decided to repot them, and was not happy with the compost that I found. It was quite damp and there was white stuff on it, I've tried to photograph it. The potting mixture consisted of pieces of bark, which had most of the whit stuff, some small round balls that look like terra cotta beads except without holes, and pieces of polystyrene. I have taken some pictures of the potting medium and root system of one plant. I shook off as much of the compost as I could and felt that it had an ugly, moldy odor. I burnt it in the wood stove. I dislike polystyrene in all situations and picked it off, the plants are now all potted in Orchiata compost. I've watered a couple of times since then, but they still look droopy. Can they be saved?
I have not yet led feedback for the seller, although I know that I have to. I'm so tired of criticism, all the time. Ken, I'm sure you have heard from your brother about Press-Ganey scores, the bane of our existence. I'm trying to think of a way to leave feedback that is not destructive criticism, as it may just have been the weather. Any advice about the feedback, or about salvaging the orchids? Thank you in advance,
Lorelisa
