Orchid purchasing poll!

[eaglssong]

Not yet... I am "new obsessed"... Got my first one from my husband less than a month ago for my birthday. So far I only went to ASO and as walking there I wanted to have a time-freeze machine...

Visiting the AOS is what got me going. I want to turn the Florida room into their greenhouse!! It was just mind boggling.

[margo]

OOPS I have a typo...Sorry AOS... We only had about two hours to spent there but I am going back soon with a camera!!!

[eaglssong]

Margo, you now have five posts. Could you please go into your control panel and activate your PMs?

Thanks

[margo]

I was reading all about orchids these past few days but nothing for PM. Working on it. Or if you can send me PM and tell me how to do it?

[eaglssong]

I can't send you any because yours aren't activated. Go into your control panel and check your settings. I'm not sure if you will be getting them automatically or if an admin has to okay it first, but if you haven't activated them in your controls, they just won't go.

Sorry gang. Didn't mean to hijack this thread.

[Ron-NY]

Besides buying at shows and online vendors, I also do quite a bit of trading divisions. I occasionally also find a few things on e-bay. Come to think of it, over the last few years most of my new and most interesting acquisitions came from trading.

This is a funny story. Last year I found a Bulbophyllum on e-bay. The seller noted he was changing direction with his collection. I put a bid in on the one he was selling and also contacted him. The majority of things he was going to sell were species that I either wanted or already had. We worked out a trade for the rest of his material. I received some species I wanted and a few things I had that I can use as future trade fodder. He received species that he was looking for.

I never know where I am going to find a trade. There are a few hobbyists that I trade annually with but there are times I solicit a trade by finding what I am looking for, in someones collection, by a google search and then contacting the grower and arrange a trade. I have also posted in the "wanted" section of orchid forums looking for a specific trade.

Trading is a fun and inexpensive way to increase one's collection.

[eaglssong]

Besides buying at shows and online vendors, I also do quite a bit of trading divisions. I occasionally also find a few things on e-bay. Come to think of it, over the last few years most of my new and most interesting acquisitions came from trading.

This is a funny story. Last year I found a Bulbophyllum on e-bay. The seller noted he was changing direction with his collection. I put a bid in on the one he was selling and also contacted him. The majority of things he was going to sell were species that I either wanted or already had. We worked out a trade for the rest of his material. I received some species I wanted and a few things I had that I can use as future trade fodder. He received species that he was looking for.

I never know where I am going to find a trade. There are a few hobbyists that I trade annually with but there are times I solicit a trade by finding what I am looking for, in someones collection, by a google search and then contacting the grower and arrange a trade. I have also posted in the "wanted" section of orchid forums looking for a specific trade.

Trading is a fun and inexpensive way to increase one's collection.

Sounds very practical, but how can you bear to part with any of them?

[Ron-NY]

Sounds very practical, but how can you bear to part with any of them?

My collection is now fairly large, about 500 plants. I propagate back bulbs, divide large plants and rid my collection of things no longer of interest. Some things I sell and use the money to purchase supplies or other chids and some things I use for trading fodder. There have been times that I have purchased compots of a special cross and don't need 12 of them, so I grow them on a bit and then either sell the extra or use them for a special trade. I have even purchased multiples of an interesting cross while at a show, if the price is right, with the thought that I can use them for trading.

[SheilaJ]

Mostly online, but I also get a batch every year at the local orchid society show. I finally joined the local orchid society, so I hope to pick up some trades there eventually.

I refuse to buy from the big box stores any more, after discovering I only have about a 50% survival rate with those (which incidentally, is about the same survival rate I get from any indoor or outdoor plant from a big box place). Now I spend a little more and buy from a quality grower or nursery.

[Shannara]

I refuse to buy from the big box stores any more, after discovering I only have about a 50% survival rate with those (which incidentally, is about the same survival rate I get from any indoor or outdoor plant from a big box place). Now I spend a little more and buy from a quality grower or nursery.

I went by a big box store today looking for a lighting fixture...I had to stop and see what they had in the "orchid" area. I saw a huge display of those baggie orchids and they were all dying! Half of them were piled on the floor in a heap. I freaked out and wanted to save some but they wouldn't even give a 1/2 off discount to a dried up brown dying orchid!?! There were two I thought I could save but I wasn't about to pay 14 bucks a pop for orchids that are sick. I simply don't understand how they can stand by and let them die.

Sighs...

Shann~