Dominican Orchids - Orchid Board

adlemsi · #1 07-18-2008, 11:09 PM

Has anyone bought orchids from the Dominican Republic? Has anyone tried to bring orchids with them on a plane? My parents are Dominican and my mother's sisters all grow orchids in their yards, some mounted on rocks, others mounted on trees. I know there are orchids that only grow in the Dominican Republic. I would love to have some of my own in the future, so I'm getting a head start on my research.

sramosmo · #2 08-07-2008, 04:03 PM

Hi adlemsi,

I am from Puerto Rico but currently live in the states. I have been able to bring orchids from PR back to the states multiple times. The only way I could bring them back is with the roots exposed so no material and I had to wash the plants so there are no bugs. Also I had to make sure the leaves were intact no black or yellow spots because that could signal fungus to the Agriculture people. I don't know how similar it would be in DR. I have quite a variety from back home and they are doing okay. They could be doing better but the conditions where I live are not as wonderful as the Caribbean. Hope that helps.

Ross · #3 08-07-2008, 04:19 PM

I'm only guessing here, from a trip to Hawaii, but I'll bet USDA wants some sort of sticker on the plant container. It's called going through ag when you come from Hawaii into the continental US.

sramosmo · #4 08-07-2008, 04:36 PM

Yeah the agriculture people (USDA) check the plants over and they either let them pass or stay with them. The sticker that says USDA inspected only goes on the bags you are checking in and if your orchids are carry on (I hope) they don't have to have the sticker. Also the TSA security people check the plants. I only had to do it leaving PR and I didn't have any problems carrying them over to the US. They do require bare roots and a clean plant.

What I forgot to say is that customs tend to be tricky in Dominican Republic so I don't know how it would work there. One agent maybe okay with your orchids and one may not. If anybody else finds anything out let me know. My husband is from DR and we travel occasionally there.

Ross · #5 08-07-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sramosmo

The sticker that says USDA inspected only goes on the bags you are checking in and if your orchids are carry on (I hope) they don't have to have the sticker.

Don't think that's true. I carried on orchids from Hawaii that had the Ag sticker on the box and they had to go through Ag anyways. I believe the container with the plants has to be sealed by the vendor (who probably has authority to issue the Ag stamp) and carried on by the purchaser. Correct me, if I am wrong.

sramosmo · #6 08-07-2008, 07:13 PM

I don't know how it is in Hawaii. I know that they have stricter regulations than in PR not only with produce but with animals. You can not bring produce like pineapples or avocados from Hawaii but you can take them in from PR. But I have traveled with orchids from PR 3 times and they inspected the plants but did not put the sticker because they were carry on. Also all the orchids I have brought were taken from my grandma's back yard so I didn't have to buy them from a vendor or go through one to get them. It varies from place to place. I would just call whichever airport you travel to in DR and ask to be sure or have one of your family members ask.

Ross · #7 08-07-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sramosmo

I don't know how it is in Hawaii. I know that they have stricter regulations than in PR not only with produce but with animals. You can not bring produce like pineapples or avocados from Hawaii but you can take them in from PR. But I have traveled with orchids from PR 3 times and they inspected the plants but did not put the sticker because they were carry on. Also all the orchids I have brought were taken from my grandma's back yard so I didn't have to buy them from a vendor or go through one to get them. It varies from place to place. I would just call whichever airport you travel to in DR and ask to be sure or have one of your family members ask.

Good info. Nice to know. I didn't know this.

adlemsi · #8 08-08-2008, 01:17 AM

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. If I do go through this next I travel back to DR, I'll probably bring it in bare-root as a carry-on. I don't know when that will be though...busy with work and my recent vacation request was denied.

epiphyte78 · #9 08-09-2008, 03:58 AM

Even though it's extremely outdated, I just ran across this article, "Instructions for Collecting Orchids from the Dominican Republic" in the July 1980 issue of the AOS magazine. Although the instructions are no longer relevant, it may be of some interest as it lists several Dominican orchids.

adlemsi · #10 08-09-2008, 10:52 PM

I'll have to look that up...