One important aspect to keep in mind is that the orchids are living. Temperatures and weather conditions can sometimes be prohibitive for shipping and at other times somewhat stressful. Generally plants shipped by FedEx (*) arrive in good condition throughout most weeks out of the year. We recommend ordering your plants before your first frost and even earlier if possible. For Northern States it is essential to give ample time for transplants to root before winter and we recommend it also for Southern States.

Ordering finished plants or blooming size plants during the winter seems feasible if temperatures remain about 40 degrees F.

If you are ordering plants for the first time you will need to make sure you are ready and equipped to handle them once they arrive. A temperature controlled greenhouse is ideal, atriums are okay, shadehouses in the tropics will do, a garage with artificial lighting and air circulation is getting on the questionable side, but some are known to make even their apartment work. It's really a matter of temperature, light, air circulation, humidity and other aspects that living orchids need to thrive.

We don't recommend installing budded dendrobiums in an arid, air conditioned space, right out of the box. They can lose some buds this way. A few days in an oasis - a greenhouse will do -- is ideal to help them recover from jet lag. You will need a means to prop the budded dendrobiums up. It's not necessary to remove them from the pot; Just anchor them down or put them in a heavy clay pot and stuff gravel around the roots. You can mist them, water them if the media is dry, and watch them revive right before your eyes. It's essential that they don't sit in water so make sure that the media and roots are allowed to drain thoroughly.

Basically, what you need to establish before ordering, is a place to house your new guests once they have arrived.

(*) Fedex and Hawaiian Floral Nursery are not responsible for damage due to heat or frost.