I have been seeing the 2 plants in one pot much more often recently, I think
it's a new commercial vendors/retailers scheme to attract the mass market
even more, to make buyers think "two plants for the price of one, what a
bargain." At some point I saw Dendrobiums potted in one pot with Phals --
which to me was a complete turn-off, since I can grow Phals, but don't have
enough light for Dends. The last time I visited my local plant nursery
nearby, they had lots of two Phals potted together, both in spike. I know
that this is not something that the old-time respectable orchid vendor would
do (since two plants together increases the risk of disease transfer from
plant to plant, and causes them to compete for resources), but the new hype
commercial mass market vendors are doing it.


Oh, I don't know if it actually offends me. As long as the plants are
compatible and properly labelled. Two phals in one pot sounds like a
great idea, if they are the same clone. They probably grow better that
way (for the same reason we grow seedlings in compots).

For the mass market, it sounds like a darn good marketing strategy.
Wish I had thought of it. People pay good premiums for planters with a
mix of annuals that they can just put on their doorstep. Don't see any
reason that a properly designed mix of orchids in one pot would be a bad
thing. Remember, most of these people are throwing the plants away
after the flowers fall. With a good mix of plants in various stages of
bloom, they actually get more for their money.

I don't think it is something that a boutique grower (orchid
specialist) could get away with. Different market.

Rob

--
Rob's Rules: http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit