"Must-visit" orchid nurseries in Florida?
 

Hello Forum!

I'm stefan and i'm from germany.
I will be in florida in february and i'd like to visit some orchid nurseries while i'm there.
I'm especially interested in Cattleya species but i also like almost every other species :).
Does anyone know of some "must-visit" nurseries or events in february?

Thank you

Greetings from germany

Stefan

Welcome! And where in Florida will you be visiting, Stephan? It's a big state, you really couldn't drive from tip to tip in a day (Key West to Pensacola). I'm in central Florida, it is 4+ hours to Miami and the same or more to the capital of Tallahassee.

It seems that most of the biggest and bestest nurseries are concentrated in the South Florida/Homestead area and on the southwest coast in the Ft. Meyers to Sarasota areas, but there's nurseries all over and you can sometimes find good things at less traditional outlets. (regular greenhouses, big box stores etc.- this is especially true if you'll be in the south)
I wish Fender's was still around, they had great catts and were wonderful people.

Also, depending on where you'll be when, show season has started here. There may be a show close enough for you to drive to- I know of one in Orlando for instance, another in Boca Raton near Palm Beach. Seeing if a club located in the area you'll be visiting has their meeting when you'll be here is also an option- I was in Atlanta last summer and went to that group's meeting, had a great time and met some very nice people. You can contact a group before you leave also, they will know best which nurseries are in that area and can tell you which allow visitors.

I know I'd love to visit Ruben in Orchids and St. Pete Orchid Farms, Meke Aloha Orchids too. E.F.G. (Powerplant) Orchids doesn't specialize in catts but they do allow visitors, I think Krull-Smith does too, as I think does Orchids Amore... there are lots of smaller nurseries scattered around that may be open only by appointment too. The Better-Gro bag babies you read about are grown here but that nursery is wholesale only and not open to public viewing.

Exotic orchids shop (doesn't have website, my mom goes there quite often..)in Fort Myers, I stopped by like a month ago. They do have cattleya. Beautiful place. Wide selections of orchids. It's in goggle. Good luck! Enjoy our sunshine Florida but it's bit cool here right now like 66 degrees. (Tampa, Florida). I've heard there is cattleya orchid around st. Petersburg, but haven't check it out. After you arrive in Florida, you can call, it won't hurt to try... ;).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Odom's Orchids
1611 South Jenkins Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34947
Orchid Grower

I was there this past April and we stopped there driving down from North Carolina to Miami. Very nice folks there and MANY cattleyas.

Sundance Orchids - Fort Meyers, Florida

Welcome to Sundance Orchids & Bromeliads, southwest Florida's number one source for your orchid, bromeliad, and nursery needs!

Here are some pictures I took of the place:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...e-orchids.html

If you're visiting the Redlands area in Homestead (south of Miami), I recommend:

-RF Orchids (their stuff is pricier but they are always open and I recommend going at least to see their gardens and their enormous old Vandas).
-Ruben in Orchids (very friendly, good prices)
-Motes Orchids (they are not normally open to the public, but on some weekends they do classes and the nursery is open then). Dr. Motes is one of the world's leading Vanda experts.
-Banjong Orchids (again, mostly vandas, but they have some really nice ones)
-Soroa Orchids (large variety of different plants, they also have a nice garden in front of their greenhouses)

First of all, thank you guys for your many replies. i really appreciate it :)

I did some research and i found "Miranda Orchids", "Camp a lot", "Plantio la Orquidea". Anyone heard of them?

i will be visiting Orlando, Tampa/Sarasota, Fort Myers, Keys, Miami.
i think i could make it to the Orlando show, do you think it is worth it? i would have to drive 2 hours to and back, because on that date im already in sarasota.
Thanks for your list of nurseries, i will definetely check out their websites.
Where are the best places to buy these "bag babies"? Maybe already to reduced prices :lol:


Thank you, i will try to find some more info on that nursery!

That place looks great! It's not really in my itinerary, because i won't be driving Orlando - Miami... my route is along the westcoast :((


Great pictures! Thank you!

i heard of RF Orchids, their gardens look amazing! i think i will stop by when driving Key West - Miami... only to look ;)
i couldn't really find websites of the other nurseries :( but motes looks great! not only typical vandas there :)

HAVE A GREAT TRIP! we expect pictures!

I'm not familiar with Miranda.

'Camp a lot of Noise' Orchids is one of those places that I'm not sure whether or not they are open to the public.

Plantio la Orquidea is a good vendor. I bought a nice plant from them at the Tamiami show in Miami a couple of weeks ago. Their prices seemed reasonable.

---------- Post added at 06:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------

I live right near the location of the Orlando show, so I will be there.

Here's a list of the vendors:

Adamson Orchids
Dan and Marge Orchid
Dee's Orchids
Alex Pardo Orchids
Pelican Coast Orchids
Prince Orchids
Ritter's Orchids
So Orchids
Smiley's Orchids

If your visiting orlando and tampa check out
Louis Delfavero orchids he has thousands of orchids and hes like one of the only people that can take cattleyas from brazil. His nursery is mostly cattleyas.
Heres his address: 6601 Gant Road, Tampa, FL 33625, United States
Phone:(813) 961-8277
or you could check out krull smith orchids they have lots of phalaenopsis especially species
2800 West Ponkan Road, Apopka, FL 32712, United States
(407) 886-4134