The Orchid Garden

Bare root orchids

Question:

I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

Richard, It all depends on the medium and the situation. As each person’s growing conditions are different from the next, the choice of medium is usually best judged by the new owner, so bare-root is appropriate. There have been times that I’ve divided a large specimen – requiring unpotting – and sold divisions bare-root so I didn’t have to pot them all up.  Not only does it save me time and effort, but it permits the new owner to use whatever medium he or she feels is appropriate for their conditions, without having to disturb the plant yet another time. Similarly, I’ve also had large importations come in, and they’re always bare-root, and as a way to get the plants cleared out as quickly as possible, offered them as-is at a deep discount. Looking at it from another angle, I grow plants primarily in sphagnum or ceramic media.  Both are easy to remove (OK the moss CAN be removed with only a bit of effort), and the ceramics are quite heavy for shipping purposes, so cost can be a significant factor. — Ray Barkalow –<– First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

I prefer bare root because 1) I get to check the root system first hand before shipping, 2) the customer gets to see the quality of the root system right up front and to ascertain the absence of livestock 3) I feel there is less chance of damage in shipping without the weight of the medium and the pots, especially since a large percentage of our mix is lightweight aggregate, 4) shipping weight and cost is reduced, 5) I think it is best for the recipient to use a medium they are comfortable with and 6) it is actually much easier for us to prepare and pack bareroot than in pot. However, the caveats are we ship only Paphs and Phrags, and they just don’t care about root disturbance at all, and can be unpotted and shipped even in bud or flower without usually losing a beat, and this doesn’t apply to fresh Paph divisions, they are well restablished in pot for several months before being shipped this way as division does disturb some Paphs. Bob http://ladyslipper.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

It is the OLD tradition. The thought process used to say:       No media, no bugs. – We know it is not necessarily true.       Saves shipping weight. – Plastic pots changed this.       Saves you time. – Your going to unpot and inspect anyway.                       – Your going to repot in your favorite media.       Saves them pots. – Good clay pots are expensive – not –       Saves time. – They divide the plant and do not have to repot. I am sure you can come up with several more rationals to do it. Today most Orchidists ship in the pot. They know we do not have staff to inspect the plants the second they arrive. We may not get to inspecting roots and repotting in our favorite mix for a day or two, or three. Sue E – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

If they are imported they must be shipped bareroot in order to make it through customs. No bugs can be housed in the potting medium. K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

I received a computer virus alert this morning regarding the SULFNBK.EXE virus.  I just want everyone to read Semantic’s discussion before deleting the file from your computer.  In other words, see http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/sulfnbk.exe.warning.html prior to deleting this file.   This file contains information for your computer to use in dealing with long file names.  If absent, you may have a problem with your computer in this regard. If you already deleted the file, you can probably locate and restore an original copy via the old way — DOS.  Drop to DOS and type next to the prompt Extract precopy1.cab -e sulfnbk.exe c:windowscommand . . . Pam

Response:

I prefer buying orchids in bare root form. It allows me to better inspect the plant for pests or problems, and allows room to imagine how I would like to present that plant either Mounted, Potted or in a Basket. As Ray Mentioned, many times the reason it is being offered as a bare root is because it is a division and has not been potted up yet, so the owner is saving time by selling it as-is. Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Richard, It all depends on the medium and the situation. As each person’s growing conditions are different from the next, the choice of medium is usually best judged by the new owner, so bare-root is appropriate. There have been times that I’ve divided a large specimen – requiring unpotting – and sold divisions bare-root so I didn’t have to pot them all up.  Not only does it save me time and effort, but it permits the new owner to use whatever medium he or she feels is appropriate for their conditions, without having to disturb the plant yet another time. Similarly, I’ve also had large importations come in, and they’re always bare-root, and as a way to get the plants cleared out as quickly as possible, offered them as-is at a deep discount. Looking at it from another angle, I grow plants primarily in sphagnum or ceramic media.  Both are easy to remove (OK the moss CAN be removed with only a bit of effort), and the ceramics are quite heavy for shipping purposes, so cost can be a significant factor. — Ray Barkalow –<– First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

Thanks to all for your input on bare root orchids…we only have a dozen or so in our home, so the experience of others is most appreciated. — Regards, Richard

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am curious about bare root orchids that are offered for sale (mail order). Why not sell them in a pot….perhaps shipping would be less expensive by selling bare root, but to clean the potting medium off of the roots must take time(which should mean paying more for the orchid). — Thanks Richard

Response:

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