There are two nurseries in Peru that have been granted permission by the Peruvian government to export Phrag kovachii:
(1) Centro de Jardineria Manrique (Alfredo Manrique) - Dealing only with Fritz Schomburg at Tropical Propagations (handling the lab work) and Glen Decker at Piping Rock Orchids (seedlings and sales). They already have a sizable number of flasks in the states and should have seedlings for sale sometime around August. I bought a flask from Fritz and Glen at the NYIOS 10 days ago containing ~15 plantlets for $225. The plantlets are not yet large enough to be deflasked, so they are only being sold at the moment to those who can hand carry them. (2) Peruflora (Manuel and Monolo Arias) - Has sold flasks to a number of orchid growers, in the US and elsewhere. However, they forced whoever they sold to to sign a document promising not to sell the seedlings until March/April, 2007. They claim it is somehow associated with the INRENA officials in Peru, but it was basically a way to try and maintain a monopoly on kovachii flask sales. For a list of people who purchased flasks, you can check their website: http://www.peru-flora.com/news19.htm There are only two growers in the US that I know of currently selling kovachii from Peruflora. Orchids Limited is selling seedlings as what they call 'futures' at a massively inflated price. Their minimum for a single seedling is $225, with a non-refundable 50% deposit required at the time of order, to be shipped in March/April, 2007. Chuck Acker is selling kovachii seedlings in compots of 5 or 10 for $100/ seedling, with a non-refundable 50% deposit required at the time of order, to be shipped in March/April, 2007. [The difference between the deposits being that if Orchids Limited can't fill your order, you get store credit, whereas Chuck Acker will refund your money.] --Stephen _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
