| Q I
am a beginning orchid grower at that exciting stage where I am eagerly
sourcing new plants and trying to estab lish a varied-quality collection.
How can I be sure that an orchid vendor found on line is a reputable plant
source? I’ve found one with plants that appeal to me and they are
reasonably priced, but I have been unable to get any background
information on this company. Can you assist me or refer me to someone who
can? A We receive lots of questions like this, especially around Christmastime. If you belong to an area orchid society, ask around among your fellow members and often they will have purchased plants from the source that interests you. Check more than one customer, as frequently you will find a wide range of customer satisfaction with certain nurseries and that is, at best, a sign of inconsistency in their orchid product. If you come up empty-handed, address your question to the Orchid Forum at the AOS Web site (www. orchidweb.org) as it is likely at least some of the forum participants will have purchased plants from the nursery in question. You can always request an off-line response if they have been particularly disappointed with the orchids they received. One may also check the Orchid Grower Rating/Evaluation System (OGRES) at www.proinnovation.com/ogres/. This Web site allows one to view customer feed back for a number of nurseries and add one’s own feedback, too. —Andy Easton |
Reprinted, with permission, from "Orchids" - The Magazine of the American Orchid Society, Dec., 2001.