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Calwest Orchid Supply

Discussion in 'Orchid Vendor FYI' started by Jon, Feb 23, 2009.

  1. Kitty

    Kitty AKA\Debby

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    Just checked Charlies grnhs supply, they offer as a new item shredded tf, 3 pounds for $25.listed under potting mediums
     
  2. Kitty

    Kitty AKA\Debby

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    ok, so now I just googled shredded tree fern and half doz. sites came up including repotme and jimsupply. So now I can tell you that I still have half a bag from calwest, I never learned to use it successfully, perhaps I'll give another shot, it's been 10 years since I last tried it.
     
  3. Dale

    Dale New Member

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    Thanks. I can find shredded tree fern, but I'm not a windowsill grower. I need volume pricing to make it a good option for me.
     
  4. JonP

    JonP all that Supporting Member

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    Dale,
    I have made a couple of orders from Tropical Plant Products and, other than the inconvenience of them not taking cc, I was very pleased with the products and the prices. After I submitted the order they sent me an email with the total and I mailed them a check. It has been a few years since I ordered from them. I did order TF in various sizes at the time.
    HTH
     
  5. Dale

    Dale New Member

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    Thank you, Jon. That's helpful. I'm still awaiting a reply to an inquiry I made 9 1/2 hours ago.
     
  6. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    You know, Dale, some businesses close for the WHOLE week between Christmas and New Year's. You might be counting more than hours before you hear from them.
     
  7. Dale

    Dale New Member

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    Yeah, I know. I want patience and I want it NOW!
     
  8. AHAB

    AHAB New Member

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    Hi, they are very nice people to work with, I have found their prices more than fair.
    Their hours reflect the "small family business that it is".
    I have been their several times when a Disney truck is loading up, they seem to buy just about everything in site. I commented on this to the lady their, she said Disney has been a customer of theirs for many, many years.
    Sooo, if Disney is happy with you, you are doing something right for all of those years.
    I've always paid with cash or check.
     
  9. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    So when they do answer, be sure to thank them for this character building exercise.
     
  10. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Dale, would 1" cubes be any use to you?
     
  11. Dale

    Dale New Member

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    Thanks Ray, but I couldn't use anything like that.
     
  12. Aceetobe

    Aceetobe Member

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    OFE has 2 cf boxes for $38. Shipping might kill you though. Since they package a lot of their products themselves (i've gotten large volumes of palm fiber from them before), they might be able to do much larger than 2CF.

    Now that Brazil has made collection of TF illegal, it will be getting more and more difficult to find in the future.

    Someone from our orchid society was moving and just found a large box of osmunda, so who knows?

    I had the worst experience in the world with Cal West but I continue to order from them because of their proximity. Shockingly :)rolleyes:), there are two Daves in San Diego that order orchid supplies from them. They sent us each others packages, and it took about 3 weeks, 10 emails, 4 phone calls and calling in from work twice to get it rectified, even though they realized the mistake the next day. They were unwilling to ship me a replacement package, but insisted that the wrong one get picked up by fed-ex first, delivered to the other Dave and have his package swapped with mine. Of course fed-ex was unwilling to do this, and simply wanted to "return" the packages to Cal-West.
     
  13. Dale

    Dale New Member

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    "OFE has 2 cf boxes for $38. Shipping might kill you though. Since they package a lot of their products themselves (i've gotten large volumes of palm fiber from them before), they might be able to do much larger than 2CF."

    Thanks, I emailed them on November 27th asking about tree fern and a couple other items. Never heard back, but it's only been a month.

    "Now that Brazil has made collection of TF illegal, it will be getting more and more difficult to find in the future."

    I stopped using tree fern for 25 years because of concern for exhausting that resource. I recently heard that tree fern was being farmed in Central America and was considered a sustainable resource. It's not impossible someone was lying to me, though. It's happened before.:bang:
     
  14. gnathaniel

    gnathaniel Lurker Supporting Member

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    Marni, Tropical Plant Products lists shredded TF fiber under 'Potting Media.' 2 cf bags of fine-grade are 12.95, coarse 22.50, and medium 24.95 (why this is more than coarse I don't know, maybe it takes more processing). Also available in 1/4 cf sizes, don't see anything about larger than 2 cf. Hopefully cross-country shipping isn't too much...

    --Nat
     
  15. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Thanks, Nat, I never would have thought of that. I use it in my fine bark mix and could probably do without it, but don't really want to. Perhaps this is the time to start testing a mix without. They say they will email you the total and they have a website, so they are on the internet. Wonder why they don't take PayPal? It would certainly increase their business and cut down on delays.

    I gave up on OFE years ago.
     
  16. Aceetobe

    Aceetobe Member

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    Yeah, I would call OFE on the phone. They aren't very responsive period, but I have ordered from them (online), my order was processed in a couple of days, and at my house in no time at all.

    They were backordered on their vanda basket bottoms last time I tried to order, and they did actually contact me about being able to fill the backorder. I ordered in april, and they contacted me about a week ago to let me know that they had been restocked with them. I think thats a world record for what amounts to in essence matchsticks stapled together. Those baskets better be lined with yeti hair.
     
  17. This_guy_Bri

    This_guy_Bri weirdo

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    as Mr T taught me to say, i pity the fool
     
  18. dahiker

    dahiker Member

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    Calwest baskets
    I wanted to ask about the wood baskets. Seems much lower price than anywhere else I've found. What wood are they made of?
     
  19. phelsumatic

    phelsumatic Member

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    I buy from tropical plant products regularly and they are way behind the times but the products are good especially the shredded tree fern there is actually fern in it and not just a bag of dust.Great people