Tempted to buy this Phalaenopsis Parishii, but...
 

I'm tempted to buy this Phalaenopsis Parishii but the shipping estimates from the seller (in Greece) is 10 to 30 days. I'm awfully hesitant to spend $45 for this plant if it arrives sickly or dead and there's a questionable refund...what do you guys think? This little guy is REALLY cute...

---------- Post added at 09:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

Btw, I've already sent an email over to the seller asking about refund policy clarification

Hi Valorie,

While it is cute, it looks more like a hybrid to me. The big question is do you have an import permit to have it shipped legally?

Ooohh...hadn't even thought of that. This is the first time I've thought about buying a plant online.

There are a lot of people that don't think about that and wonder why their plants get confiscated. It is best to find what your looking for from venders here in the US.

Valorie, you may not know this, but all orchids are CITES protected. This means that if you want to import it legally, you need a (free) import permit, and they have to provide CITES and phytosanitary certificate. If these proper documents are included in $45 shipping, it is a really good shipping/documentation price.

But it doesn't make sense to import a single plant (especially a relatively common species). If you want to get a Phal. parishii, contact Louisiana Orchid Connection (you probably need to email them instead of ordering via their web store). They have great, interesting (and relatively rare) Phal species. Andy's orchid also seems to have one.

I agree with the others, regardless of the shipping time, I think you are best to order from someone in the USA.

Some less than scrupulous sellers won't warn you about the paperwork required to legally import into another country, but as said above CITES covers orchids and you need documentation to move them to another country. (Except for CITES purposes all of Europe is counted as one country so within Europe we can buy from any other European country).

On shipping time, I've had even mounted orchids arrive fine from Germany to the UK in 10 days, however I would not be happy about shipping much longer than that. Also temperatures along the journey should be take in to account. Shipping while temps are freezing can kill plants unless heat packs are included. Many reputable places won't ship in cold weather conditions.

Thanks guys, your advice has helped a lot!