In the debate on plant sizes begun by Will's post on the closing of his nursery, there is one very important issue that was not raised: value. There is a misconception among orchid hobbyists that somehow plants ought to be priced solely according to their direct production costs, regardless of the plants' intrinsic value. This misconception also exists among many commercial orchid growers, in my view. An orchid's value is only partially connected to its direct and indirect production costs. An old orchid saying goes "It takes just as much effort to grow a bad orchid as a good one." Same goes for costs. I would also point out that orchid prices have remained remarkably stable in the face of rapidly escalting other costs. When I began growing orchids in the mid 70's, a near flowering size orchid was $15 - $25, while select plants were $35+. Today? About the same, but how much will that same $15-$35 get you? I could fill my gas tank and get change for a $10 in the mid-70's. It is not unlike our politcal system: you get the leaders you deserve. If no one supports those who take the time and effort to produce more desireable plants, those producers and their plants will vanish, as Ernest Hetherington liked to say "on the desert wind." Once the nurseries catering to the orchidists are gone, owing to lack of support, where will we find orchids other than those raised solely for their low production costs? Ned Nash _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
