Break even means what? Get back the price paid for the plant/s plus a portion of the costs of the greenhouse and the energy, materials [water, media and fertilizers] used to grow the plant? The 'time' invested cannot be returned. Honestly, commercial growers, like all businesses, are in business to make money. Usually they do this by buying volumes of plants at a reduced cost and selling them for profit. The turnaround into profit comes when income exceeds expenses.
littlefrog said:
Similarly, as an investor, if the investment price is high I am reasonably assured that few divisions are out there and I have a reasonable expectation of a return on the investment. This is what drives prices up to the 3, 4, and 5 figure levels.
It works with everything, not just orchids... *grin* And there are always screwballs with more money than sense who want something just because it is expensive. That messes up the system a bit.
This is the important note, the value of the plant is what a person is willing to pay for it. If you develope and grow it yourself, no matter how nice or unique it is if no-one will pay what you ask for a plant then it has no monetary value.