Ordering plants from Taiwan?

[Erica]

I know we can't do vendor reviews, so I won't mention the specific seller, but has anyone ordered plants from Taiwan before? They have these flame moss rocks that I want, that in the picture look fantastic, but I'm worried they would never make it to me alive. What do you think?

[somewhatshocked]

They can't enter the United States without a phytosanitary certificate, which costs $$$.

Without one? You can be fined and potentially face prosecution.

[jcsdad]

i used to order plants from a couple of ebay vendors from taiwan, singapore and malaysia.i am not sure if the money saved is worth the wait time. some plants take a couple of weeks and by the time it gets to you they are not in good shape. if you are not happy, send them a picture and wait another couple of weeks....and so on and so on...till you get lucky. good luck

[mistergreen]

Don't bother. Order from the State, there are plenty of sources. It might be $1 more but you'll get it alive and no risk of getting fined by the Fed.

[DerekFF]

Its a gamble if it will even make it through customs, and if it does its likely in bad shape

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[sewingalot]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

They can't enter the United States without a phytosanitary certificate, which costs $$$.

Without one? You can be fined and potentially face prosecution.

Ditto. It's illegal. Many people have been getting personally notified by customs and put on watch lists. It's a shame places like e b ay allow this to continue. I remember reading a post over at APC where there were some really nasty bug hitching a ride as well. Not worth the risk.

By the way, you can get much larger portions of flame moss from members on here and legally.

[kcartwright856]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

By the way, you can get much larger portions of flame moss from members on here and legally.

With the bonus of supporting your fellow hobbyists!

[somewhatshocked]

Not only can you get larger portions here on the TPT, it's likely WAY better stuff. And from a hobbyist who loves it as much as you will. Win-win situation.

[thechibi]

I ordered unwittingly from a store in Singapore. :/ I'm very lucky everything arrived alive and through customs, but I am not doing it again now that I found here and can just bug my fellow hobbyists. :P

[Erica]

Oh wow. I didn't know it was illegal.

If I was looking for just the moss, I wouldn't have even considered ordering from there, but it was rocks with the moss already attached and grown out, which I can't find anywhere else. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to grow it out myself.

[somewhatshocked]

You can easily attach moss to rocks with super glue gel. No need to order them with it grown out.

Cotton thread also works well for attaching moss.

[Erica]

yeah, i know. i'm just lazy like that