Who ships live orchids

[csgray]

I have a friend on the mainland who just got married and I want to send her a live orchid but I can't spend a fortune. where should I go?
Mahalo

Carol

[missydog1]

I think you have a lot of choices. There are lots of orchid growers, and then there are three pages of florists in the yellow pages, most of whom ship to the mainland. I like the ad for Alohilani Nursery on Railroad Ave. (Pahoa address), but it doesn't say they ship. Akatsuka ships for sure, and Volcano store. I used to have friends with a Kapoho orchid nursery but they shipped quantities for weddings (cut), not single plants.

For one plant, maybe a grower with a retail outlet like Akatsuka, or call a few of the florists and check their prices.
Re orchids, I have bought many many of them, and the prices vary a lot by the species or variety. There are common orchids and special ones. There are also orchids that last longer and ship better than others. Dendrobiums are tough, and not expensive.

However, my best luck with keeping an orchid going on the mainland was definitely a phalenopsis. One spray will bloom for months, much longer than a dendrobium or an oncidium.

[Laughing_girl]

The most inexpensive way is to go buy the orchids, pack it but dont seal box, have it AG inspected at airport or in town by Tyke's, and drop off at Fed Ex.

Takes time but saves big dollars.

[DTisme]

I ordered orchids once thru FTD - came from hawaii but don't know exactly where - they're FedExed. If you have AAA, you can get 15% (20%?) discount aaa.com/ftd - just a thought. You wouldn't know exactly where they're coming from, but they'd be fresh and hawaiian. This was cut orchids btw.

[Daniel]

Lowesorchids.com Mr. Lowe has some beautiful plants.

Daniel R Diamond

[missydog1]

Laughing girl, I didn't know it was possibly to have ag inspection done on my own. I thought it had to ship through a certified nursery. Thanks for that info!