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Bad purchase at orchid festival

8 years ago

This morning at 10 am I was at a local orchid festival and made a bad purchase.I'm in my encyclia phase at the moment and saw these pretty flowers and went for it.It was the olny one going for $20.00.I noticed some of the leaves were bent so the vendor took off $2.00.When I got home and examined my purchases I realized how ratty the orchid looked,like it had been through WWII and has dark green moss all over the bark and pseudo bulbs.Of course when I walked around the festival
I saw healthier versions of the same orchid.

I'd like to know should I repot it or just clean it up a bit until the flowers fall off?The only good thing I could say about this orchid is it's well established with 7 Pseudo bulbs and a new one coming up.

As usual your advice is appreciated, thanks.

Allymarie

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Comments (9)

allymarie
Original Author
8 years ago
This orchid is Epi Floribundum x Enc Cordigera.The flowers.
lauraeli_
8 years ago
That is quite the extensive plant collection you have back there! Im jealous. On a related note, dont you just hate when your camera ignores the subject, and takes a picture of the background?
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allymarie
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Lauraeli, I have my potting bench on my back patio and there is where I put my plants when I buy them.I have lots of tropical plants on the side of patio, needs some cleaning and organizing.
shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
8 years ago
If I like the plant and flower and it is likely to survive then that is OK. If you can figure out an orchid over a year, chances are you will have it for a very long time. So I am more concerned about what it will be rather than what I have for the moment.

Enjoy the flower. Looks beautiful.

As time goes on I continue to get better at buying plants. My best teacher has been my mistakes...First time mistake is a lesson, same mistake is not aloud.
allymarie
Original Author
8 years ago
That's a good way of looking at it, it does have potential. Next time I'll check the orchid from leaf tip to roots.I'll enjoy the flowers and clean it up some.Thanks!

Allymarie
lauraeli_
8 years ago
I would love to have outdoor space
lauraeli_
8 years ago
I think it is absolutely lovely to find a bargain plant :-) It is the only kind I buy. If you know plants, it is easy to nurse them back to health. I have always said, if a plant is grown for its beauty, then what good is it if it is not beautiful? And so, every once in a while, i leave a sick plant to its fate. But the more experience I have with growing, the more I recognize the joy one can receive by growing something beautiful from something small.

If a plant has a will to live, then I have a stronger will to make it thrive.

Dont sweat the broken leaves, or the previous neglect. You know it is going somewhere amazing, because you are going to get it there :-)
shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
8 years ago
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0217461122670.html link to vertical gardening...
allymarie
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the encouragement, it's a diamond in the rough.Check out Marshalls,TJ Max or Ross for plant stands.If you find tall ones you can put lots of plants on them inside or out on balcony.

Allymarie

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