I would like to weigh in on this subject. I have never tried growing orchids from seed, but have often started garden perennials from seed. Last year, I placed a fairly large ($250) seed order with Chiltern seeds in the UK. They have varieties of plants there that we don't have here. I am not a commercial grower, but love different varieties of plants for my own garden, and donate the remainder to a local plant swap.
The seeds were confiscated in Chicago by a governmental inspector. I had wondered what happened to my order, and Chiltern said they had sent it off the day after they received it. I waited months for a short note to appear in my mailbox saying that all the seeds had been confiscated and destroyed because each packet didn't have a phytosanitary certificate.
Chiltern was wonderful and resent the order along with a nasty note to the agency - basically the note said "our government is in the process of talking to your government" about this mess. I ended up with the seeds, but it was too late to start them. Luckily, I had fairly good germination this spring.
Something must be done!
Denise Nash _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
