Thanks for your reply louise_9954. I can handle the bad news, and I won't be returning them. Seeing they are so small I might pot them together today in some nice bark and label them. Chop off the dark leaves too, and keep my eye on them. The phalaenopsis when it gets a bit bigger and healthier, (and if I don't lose it.) I will put it in my wall garden, with the other ones that I have. I will then leave the cattleya in the original pot.

Well the phalaenopsis now is a mystery plant, as I don't now know what kind of flower it has. I am hoping it is still going to be yellow, but will have to wait for a couple of years and see. Does that sound ok? I really apprieciated your feedback, and I got alot out of everything you said. As for the mislabeling I'll be having a real good look next time I buy one of these. Thank you so much!

Were those in "polypacks"? Bunnings has been getting a lot of those in of late. I got 3 Dendrobiums like that. One I've put on a tree, D. lodiggessi, and the others I'll wait until the wet season starts. But Bunnings also has a lot of Phalaenopsis in ceramic pots and smaller cheaper ones in plastic pots. All in full flower, for the time being. What doesn't get sold quickly gets killed off. It's not bad if you know what you want and you're careful about what you pick.

Thanks tropicbreezent for your reply. I presume you are in Australia also. Yes, I did buy these from Bunnings in poly packs. They were the best ones there as I was looking for another cattleya. As usual came home with two.

I am always looking at Bunnings as I work in the same complex as they are, and its just a little too convenient for me. I must be their best customer!! Bunnings usually has a discount rack up the back and I have bought many plants off it. Usually I don't pay full price for any plant unless I really want it. Its a bit like an addiction.

Thanks again. Everyone is just fantastic, Glad I joined this forum!

I'm near Darwin and I'm into Bunnings a lot for hardware things. Can't help having a quick look around the nursery while there.

Thank you for your reply. I used to live in Darwin about 20 years ago. Nakara and Karama to be exact. Your weather is more severe than ours in Townsville, and your wet season is just cruel. We are on water restrictions here, level 3 as we have had no rain, and I'm still buying plants. Silly me!

Anyone else on here from Australia?

I'm in the rural area, a bit further from the sea breezes than Nakara or Karama. I've been to Townsville a fair bit, had friends in Wulguru. It's this time of year I dislike here, not just hot but very dry. I like the wet season though, don't mind the sweat. I've heard Townsville is very dry now. You missed Debbie but probably just as well, even though you missed the rain with it. I'm on bore water, no restrictions but a hell of a power bill.

ArthurM from Sydney is a frequent poster on the orchid forums. Triffidmoss is from Tassie, mostly on the Hoya forums. Adam from Perth was on Hoyas and orchids but was moving house and seems to have disappeared now. Alisonoz is from Brisbane and is mostly on the plant ID forum. There's a number of others who make an occasional appearance.

Thanks for your reply tropicbreezent. Nice to hear there are quite a few people on here from Australia. I will look out for them!

Townsville is very dry, and no rain in sight. It's starting to warm up a bit here too, just like there, which is making it harder to keep the water up to the garden. Cyclone Debbie did miss us, we were lucky. Even though I don't tend to panic now as I have been through quite a few of these. I have lived at various places in the tropics for about 30 years.

I have chopped off the black leaves and have planted the 2 little orchids in a hanging basket suspended from a tree. They seem to be a bit happier now that they are not in their polypacks sweating it out any more. I'll see how they go.

I'm really enjoying GardenWeb and I am learning alot. I watched it for quite awhile before I joined and am so pleased I did. All you guys are just awesome. Thanks again!