The big box stores in general are pretty bad in keeping things appropriate to the location. Every year, they get those god-awful little sad sticks in boxes brought in during February, when we have 2 1/2 months before it would be safe to plant them out here in Michigan. And invariably, they have cultivars like Thompson Seedless grapes that can't possibly survive here. I've also seen other gems like rabbiteye blueberries, fuzzy kiwi, etc. Mind you, as someone willing to try via "extraordinary techniques" to overwinter out of zone plants, I find it interesting, but its bad and deceptive for the novice who doesn't know the difference. As far as the enormous operations that supply plants for the big-box stores, I find it fascinating that they have such complex systems set up, yet can't manage to find enough people to unload, unpack, water, and properly care for these plants once they arrive at your local Wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowe's,, etc. I always wondered how they made ANY profit at all, given the high cost of inputs such as energy, when they are all paid essentially on commission under these pay-by-scanned-sales programs, and so much of the plant material dies in the retail outlet due to abuse, neglect, and just plain market saturation beyond all reasonable ability to sell it all. But, they must, or it wouldn't happen. I guess the good side -- some of these places, particularly Lowe's, are pretty good about marking things down dramatically to move them -- I get good bargains on things all the time. Best was a few years back at the end of season at my local Home Depot, when they got down to the "everything in small pots is $0.50, everything in medium pots is $1, and everything larger is $2" by Halloween -- I ended up getting several cartloads of nice nursery stock for next to nothing -- Buddleia, crabapples, maples, all kinds of things. Best was a grafted dwarf mounding blue spruce, original price $80, for $2.

Hort, who are these professionals? You will be hard pressed to find them. I've been trying to grow things for 37 years and still plants cark it. That is why we need an orchid forum. Sometimes you will find in posts little hints that make a difference. Anyway, it all comes down to conditions, conditions, conditions. Your Wal-Mart Dendrobium is probably a hard-cane, i've got about thirty of them and not many people grow them around these parts because they are considered "Difficult" . As for the disease, your plant is just showing what happens when conditions do not suit. I had one that grew too big, thought i would trial it outside a glasshouse and put it in a sheltered position of the front porch, sheltered position, morning sun. It declined! Moved it to my shadehouse. It declined more and then died. Your plant has declined to such a point that perhaps you should discard it and start off with a new one. These are the "weeds" of Florida, Hawaii, Queensland, Australia. They like moderate humidity, warmth, even watering, though slightly less in winter and sunlight filtered by some like shade-cloth. How can i tell you how to grow them seeing my total orchid experience is here? That is the real problem with orchid growing, you have to do some research and follow that up with some interpretation in relating what you read to your growing place(s). Even then many you try will just die.

ruby came from petsmart this time but my others have all came from walmart in the past. the first one i bought in pa had dirty water and they didn't even have enough water in the container it was about a half inch of water that was dirty that is all. that one died sadly because of the moving to pa and back to nm am staying put for now and don't plan on moving anytime soon because it is so hard on my animals ruby included. the ones at petsmart were in clean containers with nice big holes at the top so that they could breath better. i hate seeing them in really small containers. mine was so happy to get into the 2 gallon round tank that i put him in with the snail i had(he has since died and left ruby all alone) picked up a ten gallon tank at a garage sale for 5 dollars hood and all then i set it up properly for my betta and now he is very happy in the ten gallon with plastic plants and decor for him to hide in plus one corner of free space for swimming. i take him out and put him in a vase and completely clean out his tank with hot water everyother week. i rinse his plants and decor in the dirty tank water first before i empty the tank so as not harm the good bacteria that has built up to keep the tank stable. he is doing very well have had him for almost a year now. i love him to death. and yes i really do feel sorry for the fish at walmart. i wish there was some way to get the stores to start promoting the bigger the better on the tanks when someone buys a betta. i think if they promoted bigger better tank sizes for the betta when someone buys one then they would actually make more money because the bigger setups cost more than the bowls and vases and people then would have to buy gravel and food and decor and such and they would actually make more money that way. but they don't do that probably because they are lazy and don't care. if they did then at least the bettas would have a better chance of going home to a nice big proper size tank to have a better life than they do at the store.

O K. I've heard enough!!! Up against the Wall Marty your being arrested for ABUSE ! That's right and we have plenty of witnesses too so you have the right to remain silent every word you say could be used againsts you, you have the right to have an attorney and if you can't afford one then one will be appointed for you ( and we know you can afford one .) H E A D L I N E S : SAM WALTON FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR PLANT ABUSE AND NEGLECT I'N HIS GARDEN SECTION OF HIS WAL MART STORES. Witnesses are asked to sign up here by no later than January 30th with a post saying, We've saw enough of this plant blasting. Sign me up to be a witness . Lol........ All for fun and to laugh really hard this weekend. L O L... Greg