The orchid business is an interesting one. I purchase my orchids from two major growers/hybridizers in Hawaii. I recently contacted one of those growers and gave him a list of ten plants that I had purchased before but had not been able to purchase again. They simply have not been listed on the website again . I explained that I would like to re-purchase these ten varieties and to let me know when any of them would be available again. I got an email saying basically that he would probably never have them again. He went on to explain that the reputable growers always limited the number of plants of a variety they grew so as never to "flood the market" with a variety. In other words, they attempt to keep the prices stable, particularly for hard-to-find and/or popular varieties. I think he has told the truth (at least when it comes to his being honest about not having varieties again), since several of my "most-wanted" plants were purchased five years ago and none of them have come up for sale again.
