Ever get surprised by how much some orchids will sell for?

[pavel]

This past weekend I drove across the state to attend the summer picnic for my old OS. Since I moved, I only see them once a year at best so though it does mean a long time sitting on my bum in the car, I do it anyway. It's still nice to see them and they always make me feel welcome.

Typically at OS meetings -- and always at the picnic -- there is an auction. Plants are contributed by members and all the proceeds go to funding the society. Well this time around I took some plants (both orchids and non-orchids) along myself. Plants in bloom generally go for more $ than those not in bloom. No big surprise there, I'm sure. And there were one or two auction plants in bloom that members contributed that sold well. What surprised me was that the highest seller was the cymbidium I had brought along (it went for $27). True it was a big plant -- 20 or so pbs in a 12-14 inch pot (yes the pot was packed) with new growths in progress. However, not only was it an out of bloom NoID, but I wasn't even able to say what color the flowers would be. (It was a plant the wife of a friend of my dad's owned. She received it in bloom but that had been so many years ago she couldn't remember what they had looked like. ) Seemed like a lot of money to spend for what could turn out to be a "dog". Ah well, hopefully it will be a beauty and the $ was for the society. Just surprised the daylights out of me.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I usually am the auctioneer for my society's annual orchid auction. It always amazes me how much some people pay for orchids (especially if someone who 'knows' orchids shows a little interest in a plant). I think the idea of an auction gets people excited and they will spend more money than they would if they were shopping in a store or online.

Cheers,
BD

[Halloamey]

I have attended a few art auctions, and let me tell you that in auctions people go crazy, it becomes a point of prestige !! Who is buying what is very important in such social events.

[orchidlady]

Yes, auctions and the psychology involved is pretty interesting. I have attended many auctions over the years and it is amazing what people will spend, but it can also be amazing what people won't spend on. I have gotten some amazing deals on antiques.

Susan

[jeffrey6115]

At our OS annual auction a couple years ago we had many plants donated from the Merritt Huntington estate. Talk about some prices bid!! Even on regular plants they can go quite high. A friend and I were going after the same plant and she wanted it so she started the bidding at $100.00. I left her have it.

[cakedaddy]

Well...I will tell you that I have heard the words "where my two hundred fifty dolla?" too many times since I looked for a plant online to replace one that I killed. It was a gift to my partner back when I knew next to nothing about orchids. The only thing I could think about was that the number one killer of them was overwatering. This was a gift phrag. GO ME! The only one I can find to replace it is 250 dollars. DAMN.

[pavel]

A friend and I were going after the same plant and she wanted it so she started the bidding at $100.00. I left her have it.

I don't think I've ever seen a plant I wanted THAT badly! Hope she didn't have buyer's remorse afterwards.

I think sometimes, too, that folks at an auction get so caught up in the excitment of bidding that they get carried away and wind up bidding more than they otherwise would have.

[jeffrey6115]

I don't think I've ever seen a plant I wanted THAT badly! Hope she didn't have buyer's remorse afterwards.

She didn't really regret it since it helped the orchid society. She was a bit upset when a few weeks later I got the same plant for free from the same member that donated hers.

[pavel]

She was a bit upset when a few weeks later I got the same plant for free from the same member that donated hers.

OUCH! Oh that would hurt! I'd be kicking myself over and over and .......

[Brutal_Dreamer]

OUCH! Oh that would hurt! I'd be kicking myself over and over and .......

She didn't really regret it since it helped the orchid society. She was a bit upset when a few weeks later I got the same plant for free from the same member that donated hers.

Patience really does help when growing orchids!


Cheers,
BD