Box Stores & Palm Season

[Scott]

Had to go to Lowes & HD to get some plumbing supplies today - but couldn't go without checking the palm situation out.

While there wasn't anything unusual, $20.00 Cat Palms were flying off the shelves at HD. They sold 3 LARGE Bismarckias. Taller than myself. Plus selling Coconut palms - growing right out of the coconut - as house plants.

Lowe's had a couple of large Dypsis Lutescens for $39.00, Several Wodyetas with trunk for about $150.00. (although I'm scared to plant mine now after this frost business! ). They had a frost damaged Kentia for $50.00. Way overpriced.

Sales are brisk, and while I was seriously tempted by the cat palm, I'm still hoping to see some unusual items come in.

[John Case]

Up in NorCal we have the same thing withoutthe Bismarkias.

I'm thinking of putting a cat next to the grotto spa and hope for the best.

Always hoping for something new at the box stores.....

[neoflora]

Box Stores suck! Your supporting a corporation that rubs out the little guy. It's all about botton line. True palm collectors should avoid these stores!Buy from nursery that have a passion in growing palms. Yea! Sure you might pay a little more. But you are helping to support someone who might bring you something really rare. The box stores don't give a s--- about palms.

[Tad]

(neoflora @ Mar. 03 2007,22:30)

QUOTE

Box Stores suck! Your supporting a corporation that rubs out the little guy. It's all about botton line. True palm collectors should avoid these stores!Buy from nursery that have a passion in growing palms. Yea! Sure you might pay a little more. But you are helping to support someone who might bring you something really rare. The box stores don't give a s--- about palms.

a true palm collector is like a dope fiend and would buy somthing at a funeral if it was what they were looking for.

[Walter John]

(palmotrafficante @ Mar. 04 2007,12:38)

QUOTE

(neoflora @ Mar. 03 2007,22:30)

QUOTE

Box Stores suck! Your supporting a corporation that rubs out the little guy. It's all about botton line. True palm collectors should avoid these stores!Buy from nursery that have a passion in growing palms. Yea! Sure you might pay a little more. But you are helping to support someone who might bring you something really rare. The box stores don't give a s--- about palms.

a true palm collector is like a dope fiend and would buy somthing at a funeral if it was what they were looking for.

   

'sides, you'll find it's a little guy selling to box stores.

[neoflora]

Wal, That not true! Look at the crap they are selling. There are nursery only growing what they can sell to the box stores. I know I have been aproached by a broker. They don't s--- about palms. Its all about price. If you buy from these places you support these jerks!

[Scott]

(neoflora @ Mar. 03 2007,19:30)

QUOTE

Buy from nursery that have a passion in growing palms. Yea! Sure you might pay a little more.

If you can tell me of one near Northridge California (In the San Fernando Valley) I'd love to shop there. But unfortunately, for me to find what your talking about, it's an enourmous trip .

Tad's right though. When you gotta get your fix.... you gotta get it!!!!      

[RadPalms]

I got my fix today at the HD.....been eyeing a 2 gallon Kentia for the last month and today I bought it for half the price of the 5 gallon kentias that were half the size.  Oh and I got a coconut palm last Sat. from someone for a birthday present. I wonder what kind of fix I'll get next......

[Neofolis]

Even the box stores here are starting to widen there range, I see things like Areca triandra that I would never have seen even two years ago.

I would much prefer to buy from a "true palm person", as the quality is invariably much better, but sometimes you get things where you can find them.

[jrod]

Maybe quality is an issue where you are located but where I am at, most of the nurseries produce plants of lower quality and at higher prices than the box stores.  I would rather support the nurseries but not if they can't put out the quality for the price.

[Kris]

Hey guys  

i usually buy plants only from reputed nurseries,but once in a

blue moon when i see some thing attractive or a rare find in

peculier location or shops.i even purschase from there.

all i want is collect my favouriate plants,be it cheap or

expensive.all i want is to fill my garden with all the desired

palms & cycas.

iam preety open to this !

Love,

Kris.

[Jim in Los Altos]

(neoflora @ Mar. 03 2007,19:30)

QUOTE

Box Stores suck! Your supporting a corporation that rubs out the little guy. It's all about botton line. True palm collectors should avoid these stores!Buy from nursery that have a passion in growing palms. Yea! Sure you might pay a little more. But you are helping to support someone who might bring you something really rare. The box stores don't give a s--- about palms.

Not necessarily true. At least in my area. I know many of the people in charge of ordering palms and other plants at my area big box stores as well as the growers that are supplying them and there's no funny business going on, just good business. In fact at a Home Depot in San Jose that I buy lots from, Pat, the lady who orders the palms gets them from Barcello palms, a big palm grower that her husband is a regional manager for. Barcello supplies palms to nearly all the Lowe's, Home Depots, Walmarts, etc. I can special order whenever I need something such as a huge 36" boxed Butia.

I shop the specialty palm nurseries for rare and unusual stuff but lately they've been beating the big box stores prices on common palms like queens and CIDPs. Competition is good. It encourages high quality as well as affordable prices.

[Walter John]

(neoflora @ Mar. 04 2007,13:00)

QUOTE

Wal, That not true! Look at the crap they are selling. There are nursery only growing what they can sell to the box stores. I know I have been aproached by a broker. They don't s--- about palms. Its all about price. If you buy from these places you support these jerks!

Maybe where you are, your area, here there's a variation of people suppliers. I've met one who supplies bangalows and he does it tough.

Jerks ? ???

[palmblues]

the box stores do have some benefits for sure ... but i hear neoflora too ... have seen pure shade plants put out on tables in the full sun at HD ... then again i've gotten a steal on a 4-5', 13' oa of trunk silver biz, plus the reddest silver biz i've ever seen at the same Lowes, 7 gal for $40 and last week at HD in Palm Bay got a 5' Pinanga and a 15 gal Buddha Belly Bamboo at a great price too ... they do have some excellent items sometimes ...

[gsn]

Neo,

I aggree to a point,re small palm nurseries,that specailize in rarer palms.

I think what you might be missing ,is at least around here MOST ,but not all nurseries don't grow there OWN plants.

They load up a semi from HOMESTEAD ,just like the BIG BOX stores do, bring it to central Florida and sell it.

So in alot of instances there is no difference in buying from  the nursery or the big box store! These plants are very easy spot where they come from, down south. When you go to a small nursery that does grow there OWN plants there is usually a difference in quality and how well they are grown.  But many are just plants that have made the trek up I95,or the Turnpike,just like the ones at Lowes,or Home Depot!!Just my 2 cents!