Ifrazier those seem expensive to me. Here in the states we have large home development stores called Home Depot and Lowes. Not sure if they are in Brazil but a mature Phalenopsis in bloom sells for $15.00-$20.00USD. I just bought another two Phalenopsis yesterday at a Lowes and flower colors are very unusual not just the typical solid pink or white. Other species also sold for the same amount or less if not blooming size.

Scott

Scott

Hi ifraser. I haven't kept track of prices (denial is our friend), but it's a bummer if they've doubled since 2003.

For the plants you mention, there's a range of prices among reliable US commercial growers.

"A fairly standard Phalaenopsis mericlone = US$15 approx"

For me, it would be terrific to get a kinda regular, unawarded BS Phal mericlone for $15. $25-$40 is more usual.

"A cattleya hybrid = US$20." Don't grow.

"A more unusual specie (ie Dend.lawesii) = US40."

For Den. lawesii -

1. US $12, BS? Carter & Holmes. http://www.carterandholmes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=8606%2F20&Category_Code=1220-Dendrobiums

2. US $18, BS? SLO; haven't ordered from them. http://sloorchids.com/oscommerce/catalog/dendrobium-lawesii-p-189.html

3. US $12, BS? Clown Alley; haven't ordered from them. http://www.clownalleyorchids.com/Dendrobium.htm

4. US $20, BS, J&L Orchids. Extra good grower, from my experience. http://www.jlorchids.com/catalog/all_others1.html

5. US $40, BS, Parkside Orchids. Extra good grower, in my experience. http://www.parksideorchids.com/dendrobiums.htm

"Vanda/Paph hybrid =U$$ 60*" Don't grow Vandas.

Paph hybrids -

1. US $15 - $22.50, BS? Botanica Ltd.; haven't ordered from them. http://www.botanicaltd.com/hybrid.HTM

2. US $25 - $85, almost all BS. $85 is for their Paph Fumi's Delight 'Brennan's Orchids' AM/AOS. Most are closer to $30. Brennan's; haven't ordered from them.
http://store.brennansorchids.com/servlet/Categories?category=Orchids%3APaphiopedilum

3. US $20 - $25, BS? Deerwood Orchids; haven't ordered from them.
http://www.deerwoodorchids.com/index.php?page=sel

4. US $10 - $30, various sizes. Most are $12.50, $15.00, & $17.50. Hausermann's. Species, primaries, and hybrids. http://www.orchidsbyhausermann.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PAPH

5. US $25 - $65, in bud. Natt's; haven't ordered from them. http://www.nattsorchids.com/Paphiopedilum.html

6. US $35 - $45, BS. Parkside. Extra good grower, from my experience.http://www.parksideorchids.com/paph_brachy&parvis.htm

Maybe you can save a few dollars w/ these vendors? WC8

Scott, in the Minneapolis area, Home Depot & Costco have Phals for $15 - $20, too.

Run of the mill phalies are 4 for $20 in the local plant nursery, god knows how they manage to do it. Considering the cost of runnung a business it is dirt cheap,

Sambac, a few months ago, an orchid acquaintance toured some of the Taiwan orchid factory farms, the source of those big box $15-$20 Phals. He'd seen pictures, but being there was even more astounding and depressing.

One time I didn't resist a peloric Baldan's Kaleidoscope at Home Depot. After awhile, the leaves looked like they might be virused, and I pitched it. No apparent harm done to the other orchids, but never again.

(If the plant had been from a reputable grower, I probably would have kept it, but my prejudices against big box store orchids kicked in.)

Maybe some of these $4(!) - $20 customers will get into orchids and buy from good US growers.

WC8

Here is a link that might be useful: Taiwan orchid production

It's getting harder and harder to find phals that aren't of the Asian lineage. The Tying Shin, SOGO, OX and Taida stuff is showing up more and more at the standard dealers. Some really nice looking phals, but at what price/cost to a collection?

That said I do have a couple of the Tying Shin phals and they went for quite a bit more than $5 ;-)

Bob

Amen. Mine are Dtps Sogo Melinda 'Caribbean Sunset' (Dtps. Autumn Leaves x Phal. Sogo Lit-Angel) bought 2005, and Leopard Prince 'Sogo Diamond' (Sun Prince x P. Ho's French Fantasia), 2010.

Dunno if Tsu Chaing Balm (An Tai Jade x Stone Dance), 2012, or Dtps Tzu Chiang Key 'Chin Yo' (P. Yungho Gelb Canary x Dtps. Sogo Manager), 2010 are in the same category, but no apparent problems with any of the four.

A couple of the OX have caught my eye.

Maybe these are from different growers than those who supply the big box store Phals?

Whitecat8, thanks for the link. I grow mostly paphs. and the norm is around $35 per plant or higher for plants of better parents. Maudie paphs. about $25 or so. I've paid a lot more for many paphs. as I'm looking for quality. Small seedling from Marriott Orchids go for $25 to $50 each with some going for over $100 each. The other paph. vendor I use a lot is Orchid Inn, and Sam also sells seedling from $25 and on up from there. When Orchid Inn says blooming size to me it is one to two years from blooming.

Orchid prices have gone way up here in Michigan- but so has the cost of heat so I am not surprised. I can still get a Phal at the grocery store for $20 and it might even have a name on it. The ones at the big box stores are a bit cheaper, but will not have names on them. Vandas at our last show started around $40 and went up to about $60 depending on size and quality. I can get small cattleya hybrids at a show for $15-$25 but they may or may be show-able (I do like to participate in the shows) and they may not really be blooming sized. Paphs and Phrags that are 2-3 years from blooming are under $20 but blooming sized nice ones start at $40. I did score a great species Bulbo at the Michigan Orchid Society show for $15. So I guess it depends on what size and quality you are looking for.