repotting
 

Hello RGO!
I have a Maxillaria tenuifolia I just repotted into osmunda from it's
original bark substrate. I have read that Maxillaria in general do not
like root disturbance. I waited until I saw new growth before
repotting.
Do any of you have experience with this plant and repotting? Will it
just sulk for a while, or can it have a more drastic reaction?
[My reasoning went like this - "Put Lockhartia into osmunda - went well
.... Maxillaria too? Let's find out!"]
I also have a question about mail ordering, or rather shipping orchids
through the mail. The couple vendors I've brought from used the USPS
and now use FedEx. Browsing online, it seems a common carrier. I
never had a problem with USPS on the receiving end. I would like to
sell some of my orchids, but don't know if I should use USPS or FedEx.
Any comments? I'm only talking a few small plants and only the
domestic US area.
Thanks in advance!
Bob Campoli - BTW I noticed a single spike from one of the mounted
divisions of Pths. sp. cf. groybii! Ya Hoo!

repotting
 

Bob,

I moved that max into S/H and it never missed a beat - OK, maybe a stall
while it got established, but it bloomed the next season, and better than
ever.

As to shipping, you will find over the years, folks going back and forth
between carriers, as their salesman for each gets more aggressive with the
pricing. That certainly applies to the big shippers more than the rest of
us.

When I first opened the business, I used the USPS Priority Mail Service. I
spoke to the local Postmaster and his early-morning floor manager, and they
let me drive around to the loading dock and simply dump the packages then go
get on SEPTA for the ride to work. If it was cold, they'd take the plant
packages indoors right away. When my "real job" was transferred from
downtown Philly to Exton, I discovered a FedEx terminal in the same office
complex, so gave 'em a call. As it turns out, that was a really good move,
as they have offered me a rate book that generally beats the USPS, plus a
discount that grows with my business.

I have spoken to both UPS and DHL, but neither offers the pricing, and as I
pass on the shipping cost with no additions, I just figured that the less I
can charge, the better for business.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"bobc" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello RGO!
I have a Maxillaria tenuifolia I just repotted into osmunda from it's
original bark substrate. I have read that Maxillaria in general do not
like root disturbance. I waited until I saw new growth before
repotting.
Do any of you have experience with this plant and repotting? Will it
just sulk for a while, or can it have a more drastic reaction?
[My reasoning went like this - "Put Lockhartia into osmunda - went well
... Maxillaria too? Let's find out!"]
I also have a question about mail ordering, or rather shipping orchids
through the mail. The couple vendors I've brought from used the USPS
and now use FedEx. Browsing online, it seems a common carrier. I
never had a problem with USPS on the receiving end. I would like to
sell some of my orchids, but don't know if I should use USPS or FedEx.
Any comments? I'm only talking a few small plants and only the
domestic US area.
Thanks in advance!
Bob Campoli - BTW I noticed a single spike from one of the mounted
divisions of Pths. sp. cf. groybii! Ya Hoo!

repotting
 

On shipping: Besides what Ray said, I think it depends on the local service
in your area. Priority Mail works very well for us (problem rate about a
half a percent based on number of packages); FedEx also works fine, but is
on average more expensive at my volume level. I may try UPS again, but some
years ago there was a bad driver on this route -- s/he would show up after
hours and, finding us closed, just throw the boxes over the fence ... Have
not tried DHL. For a few small plants, I suspect Priority Mail will be your
best bet. If you have a small scale and use the online click-n-ship service
to purchase your labels with postage, you can schedule a free pickup and
avoid the long lines at the PO. And if you have an email address for the
recipient, USPS will send them a shipping confirmation and tracking #.

On the Max: They're very tenacious, but you should expect a sulk after
repotting. The only ones I've ever lost were some small divisions that came
from a horribly over-grown and badly-neglected plant that came to us in very
poor condition, from an estate sale -- knock wood. Kenni

"bobc" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello RGO!
I have a Maxillaria tenuifolia I just repotted into osmunda from it's
original bark substrate. I have read that Maxillaria in general do not
like root disturbance. I waited until I saw new growth before
repotting.
Do any of you have experience with this plant and repotting? Will it
just sulk for a while, or can it have a more drastic reaction?
[My reasoning went like this - "Put Lockhartia into osmunda - went well
... Maxillaria too? Let's find out!"]
I also have a question about mail ordering, or rather shipping orchids
through the mail. The couple vendors I've brought from used the USPS
and now use FedEx. Browsing online, it seems a common carrier. I
never had a problem with USPS on the receiving end. I would like to
sell some of my orchids, but don't know if I should use USPS or FedEx.
Any comments? I'm only talking a few small plants and only the
domestic US area.
Thanks in advance!
Bob Campoli - BTW I noticed a single spike from one of the mounted
divisions of Pths. sp. cf. groybii! Ya Hoo!