Vendors in South Florida
 

My hubbie and I are going to Florida for a few days next week. We're flying in to Orlando and then planning a leisurely drive to the Everglades. Anyone have recommendations for orchid vendors I could visit on the way? I'd especially like to get some small vandaceous orchids, like maybe an ascocenda or two. They never seem to be available up here in New England.

Growing ascocendas in New England might be quite a challenge. But if you're determined to do it, my favorite commercial vanda grower is RF Orchids in Homestead. They have top quality plants but are a more expensive than the others. They have lots of knowledgeable people who can give you suggestions. It's a nice place to visit even if you don't buy there. There are somewhere between 10 and 15 commercial orchid growers in the Homestead area. Take your GPS, some of them are hard to find and don't look like retail outlets when you do find them. Bangjong Nursery has less expensive vandas. For cattleyas I like Carib or Soroa. Soroa is a small operation but Carib has two or three large greenhouses.

I just reread your post and I realize that Homestead may be out of your way if you're driving from Orlando. It's well south of Miami. Smiley's Orchids is in Clermont, Florida which is 25 miles west of Orlando. I've never been there but friends of mine tell me they're nice people and grow mostly vandas. The other growers that I know on the way south are mostly cattleya growers. Orchid nurseries are usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but a few are closed on Sundays, so check with them before visiting. Enjoy your vacation.

There are a number of orchid growers in the orlando area, especially Apopka. If you Google Apopka orchids it will come up with a number of them. An hour to the SW in Tampa is Louis del Favero Orchids. He has many greenhouses full of all kinds, are wonderful people, and a beautiful place. Google Louis del Favero Orchids. Our weather in Tampa Bay has been up and down, mostly chilly. However, my Vandas are outside despite upper 30's at night and still blooming! No damage. Enjoy your FL trip.

Thanks for the info. We do plan to be in the Homestead area and hopefully will go into the Everglades from there. We are going to go to Corkscrew Swamp and Marco Island and haven't decided exactly how to approach the Everglades yet. We have 11 days so hopefully can get it all in.
Has anyone flown home with orchids? I'm assuming I would keep them with me in the cabin.

Of course I should tell you to come see us at Motes Orchids. Dr. Motes is a breeder, so what you will find from him are made in the USA vandaceous hybrids and species that cannot be found anywhere else. I put a contact link below. There are several great orchid growers in the Homestead area, like Jeff said. Some are open to the public and some are by appointment. If it were me I would try to hit them all! Hope to see you!

http://www.orchidworks.com/redland/motes.html