Buying orchid oversea
 

hello everyone

I've been thinking to buy some orchids which are not so easy to find in the state from oversea such as Taiwan and Thailand.
Has anyone done this before? how does this work?
I know you will need import permit, but I saw some seller on ebay USA are from thailand or Singapore.
I'm wondering if we buy orchids from those sellers, will the plants ever going to arrive due to the custom?

thks

If you try to import without proper permits, the plants might be intercepted and burned. You might be charged with a crime for not following the correct import process. You might be charged with violating the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES.)

Many vendors come to US orchid shows. They arrange the permits. Once the plants are in the US you don't need more permits. You can buy their plants at the shows. You can also pre-order plants, and they will ship to you from the show city.

Unless the sellers on ebay explicitly mention that all the paperwork can be arranged, stay away. Importing is best done directly with a reputable nursery, who will work with you to put together all the export/import paperwork.

What orchids are you looking for? You'd be amazed how helpful people can be on Orchidboard in that regard.

Thks Camille
Yeah that was my concern; however, people keep doing that on eBay just like weird orchid seeds sellers too.

I’m looking for phal schillierana from all regions and it’s primary hybrids especially schilleriana x stuartiana and schilleriana x gigantea.

I have already asked people here a while ago, basically plants I’m looking for are not that trendy so nursery usually don’t have it.

Too bad I'm in Europe, I have schilleriana x stuartiana and also know where it is available. Try searching for it under its different names: Phal schillero-stuartiana (or schilleriano-stuartiana), Phal Wiganiae (registered name of hybrid) and Phal Philadelphia (the commercial trade name, this is a mass produced hybrid). I bought mine in a garden center...

Have you contacted Big Leaf Orchids about them? It's quite possible that Peter has one of them or could help you in your search.

And, if Peter knows a source in Asia, he might be able to include plants in one of his import shipments.

Just FYI Hausermann and Orchid Web (Orchids Limited) both have Phal. schilleriana available (different color variations; no primary hybrids, unfortunately!)

When the international vendors come to shows in the US, they can usually arrange to mail plants to people who have ordered them, who can't come to the show - they have the paperwork for all the plants they bring in, then they just package up the order and mail it to you (which saves any problems with documentation on a particular package)

Thks ya’ll
Yeah I’ve been trying to find some suppliers from Europe who attend shows and exhibitions here because it’s easier to find primary hybrids there. If would be awesome if you guys know any.
I got schilleriana from some local orchid nurseries already, Hausermann has very good TKB with long and narrow leaves; on the other hand, orchid.com got pretty silver leave variety and var. sabah has amazing wavy flowers and fragrance. Now I’m trying to collect more from different regions such as marindugue island, Lupas and panganiban....

I’m just so in love with schilleriana and want to have and see more varieties.

I'll check the show calendars of my favorite EU vendors and see if anyone is going to the US this year.