A Beautiful Haul : a Nursery Review

The first of a couple recent hauls I've ordered. I know, I know.. I should be saving for my shadehouse.... but 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️. Just a few new cattleya, catasetums and phals :D

Anyway, I haven't reviewed previously, but I'm keen to share with you all when I have really good experiences - and also really bad experiences. I believe reviews and public image keep businesses accountable and striving to do better.

[suemcdowell]

You got some very nice looking orchids! I'd be thrilled with a haul like this. About your new catasetum. I would keep the ones finishing their growth cycle alone until they start new growth after dormancy. The ones with new growth I woul just place in a large pot now with new moss around the old moss. I'd also put a little dolomite Lyme around the top to help prevent rot. Don't keep them soggy until the leaves grow out. Enjoy!😃

[lujika]

Sue is amazing and has a very nice personality. I met her once when they were in Brisbane for a show at the racecourse a few years ago. They have very healthy plants for great prices and their postage is very reasonable too. Good luck with the catasetums. I haven’t been too lucky with them, they are spider mite magnets for me.

[Twigarati]

Great quality 🤩 what fun to receive such beautiful orchids 😃.. regarding the catesetums ... I would ‘pot on’ for this year ... just to be on the safe side regarding fresh media for the new roots. Remember what Stephen said regarding how to recognize a catesetum is about to go into dormancy... look at the base of the growth... if it still has green in the bract then it’s not quite there yet, but if it’s going a straw yellow, then that’s a signal to reduce watering / fertilizing ... I couldn’t tell on your’s how the base looks ... looking forward to living vicariously throughout your coming hauls and repots 🤩

[angemoss]

I recommend repotting / up-potting your Catasetums. Those pots will be too small to give enough space to this year's root growth. If you are worried about it, you can leave the old moss alone (if it looks good) and just add fresh moss around it into a bigger pot. I repotted my Catasetums this year from a 2.5 inch pot into a 4 inch pot. Within a month, I realized that the bigger pot was not enough space for the crazy amount of roots, so I up-potted them into a 5 inch pot. They are much happier. Don't be jealous - but I live in San Diego CA, so I bought my Catasetums physically at Fred Clark's nursery in Vista Ca. It is an awesome place and Fred is an awesome grower. Good luck on your new acquisitions. Don't be ashamed of being passionate for orchids. : )

[peterpho]

I completely understand the impact of being on call- during my residency it was brutal the number of oncall hours I had to be present and ready to go. No question I tended to buy stuff because I needed “self care”. I’m really glad those days are far behind me! Your haul is amazing no doubt! Btw I’m completely okay with treating oneself whenever necessary!!😛

[heartorchids]

Yes, please make a video on the catasetums. Also repotting videos for the others 😁 Frankie is the sweetest, love seeing him in your vids 🌸🌸

[darcylyon]

Have you ever ordered from red fox? I looked at their site and looks like they have some divine orchids

[michaelmccarthy]

I would go ahead and repot the first three Catasetums, just take care around the new roots (leave some of the old moss if you have to rather than break a root), but they would definitely benefit from a larger pot and new media. If I'm growing them in pure sphagnum, I repot every year - unless the plant doesn't go dormant, which sometimes happens in our type of climate.
"Do you guys ever get tired of me showing Frankie"
NEVER! Sometimes I wish I could reach through the screen and just squeeze him.

[judym]

I don’t know anything about Catasetums but Michael Pye has a YouTube channel and he has hundreds of Catasetums.
He is on the Sunshine Coast. May be worth reaching out to him.🙂

[soumyajyoti]

Repot them next season please please please :) They look like they are already established, the sphagnum looks alright. Watch Rick L Orchids Video on Catsetums repotting, he has the best of explanation why you should repot them in the middle of winter in fresh moss even before the new growth starts.

I do to An don’t have your excuse I’m addicted no doubt lol 😂 glad I’m not the only one.