There are several reasons. First, it is almost impossible to import orchids to the country. You need not only a phyto and CITES, but also a large sample for the authorities to test for virus (e.g. 10 o more plants). Additionally, you can only import phals, cattleyas, oncidiums and cymbidiums and wait for more than 4 weeks for the release of the imported orchids (and by this time most surely they will be death). You need a lot of perseverance to succeed in this improbable enterprise. Even when you use only mexican sp. and hybrids to build a stock, it is forbidden for anyone to cultivate in their homes cactus and orchids sp without a permit and registration of the collection (with all the authorities visiting constantly to check if you do not have anything else you shouldn't). As a note, to all the people that claim collecting orchids in Mexico when it was allowed: the laws forbidding collecting in our country without a specific permit were issued in the 1940's!! This adds to the difficulties. It is far easier to import flasks and plugs from overseas and grow them to maturity, in order to sell them in wallmart and similar than to start a business from scratch to offer them to other countries.
Best regard
Jorge Melendez-Zajgla
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
