My ebay Paph roebellinii arrived this week. I don't know what the seller was thinking! I assumed that she would be shipping it bare root and I think her listing even said that, but NOOOOO! It came in a heavy, painted, clay pot. I never even thought to ask her to not ship it in the pot. (another lseeon learned!)':(' Anyway, It was not packed very well, and I suspect that the bouncing of the clay pot damaged the leaves:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/100066699.jpg

I'm learning so much from this forum. I took the Roeb, and unpotted it to take a good look at the roots. I'm glad I did, as the medium it was in was breaking down. I was happy to see nice light green tips on the roots. Some of the roots looked dead, so I trimmed them. I hope this is OK??

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/100284646.jpg

Then, I repotted it into a clear plastic seafood container with holes I poked into the bottom. (Thanks Tadd, for explaining your Hot scissor method. It worked great!) After that, it got repotted using CHC medium.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com:80/VOL796/117745/519734/100284640.jpg

As I examined the Roeb, I saw that it had one P/B growth. There are 3 nice new growths and the plant is still very healthy. I'm wondering whether the seller listed it because she could not bloom it. I think it has nice breeding as it originally came from Orchids Limited in Minnesota. I then soaked it in freshly collected rain water and fertilized with MSU.

Is there anything more I should do? I'm just wondering what to do with the broken leaves. Should I trim them, or let them be?? Any advice would be very welcome!

Thanks!!!

You can either leave the broken leaves as they are but if they bother you, you can just cut them off.

I would leave the broken leaves, at least at this time, for they will still function to produce energy for your plant.

Susan, I'm sure your plant will recover.
Sorry to snipe you on that primulinum on ebay yesterday.
I try not to buy anything on ebay without checking out feedback from other Buyers about how a Seller packs and ships their stuff. I think this is particularly important with plants.
Also, if a Seller doesn't seem to do a lot of plant auctions, I tend to pass on it.

Hi Susan,
I'm sure your plant will be fine, the growths look nice. I hate broken leaves, but try to let them be as long as I can stand it. Sometimes though they are so far gone, they just have to go. It looks happier in your care already!!

Marcus, you sniped me????:poke: I'm supposed to be the Ebay Goddess. :embarass:

I would not have known that was you! I really just put up a bid before I headed out for the yard sales!!!! AND,that's OK. Ebay is Ebay and that is what bidding is all about!!!

I hope you get a good, healthy plant and that you will post photos of it when it arrives!!!! Congratulations are in order! (And, of course, someday, I expect a division!):evil: Only kidding. Enjoy!!!

Hi, Thanks so much for your advice. The Roeb in now in the screen house and I did not trim the broken leaves. Overall, I think it is a healthy plant that just got knocked around when it was shipped.

Does anyone know about Orchids Limited and their breeding programs??

looks like you did everything, i would love to be one of your plants!

Hi NY,

That is so sweet! You are no slouch with your Plants, and I enjoy learning from you.

Glad my advice worked out. The plant will recover well in your care! Good Luck, looking forward to your bloom photos.

Does anyone know about Orchids Limited and their breeding programs??

I don't know a lot about their Paph. breeding program but they have been involved in excellent Phrag. breeding for a while, as far as I know. Others may correct me....

No matter who registered 'Pam' x 'Grace' - it seems anything w/ 'Grace' and the two Candor crosses, 'Candor Red Streamers' and 'Candor Red Ribbons' have turned out to be quite wonderful crosses. I have two now w/ Grace in the breeding and am very happy with the way the first turned out.

OK. I think it was a good ebay rescue. Very healthy plant, despite being tossed around in the shipping. This plant wants to live. Has good 'CHI' & energy. Most definitely.

Just curious about the breeding of it and Orchids Limited. I thought that they had a good reputatuion.

Thank you for all your advice. I will keep the leaves as you recommended.

Just curious about the breeding of it and Orchids Limited. I thought that they had a good reputatuion.

I think they do, I just don't know who's cross 'Pam' x 'Grace' is....maybe someone can help?

There is so much to understand who breeds what. I think it will take the rest of my life to comprehend!!!!

I also have a roeb Grace and Honey but mine came from Bloomfield and not OL. My roeb Grace x CRS plant is much larger, growth size wise and the flowers have longer twistier petals.

The plant looks healthy....I wouldn't worry about it. An important thing to know about Ebay.....its not just the feedback. Look at the number of bids. If there are no bids, it could be because the grower is new ...(check their date..) you could really luck out with them...(or the opposite...but overall my ebay experience with orchids has been good). However, if they are established "ebayers", and have no bids...there must be a good reason for that....and it won't be revealed by feedback. (Many people, including myself, are as diplomatic as possible with feedback...) Take care, Eric

Hopefully, with everyone's advice, I will be able to get this plant to bloom and then we can see what we have!!!! It is a good size and capable of blooming!!