This may be tacky - maybe just a "yea or nah" or email me...LOL Any opinions on any of the following Plumeria sellers on ebay:
bloomingplumerias, frangipaniheavenflorida, happylei808, hawaiitoys, hawaiitropicals (Ed Packer, Hawaii), i-sell-sticks, island.plumeria (Suki, Hawaii), ncasselberryfla, plantsaloha (Hawaii), plumeriaman777, twistedparrot. Of course Hetty is: 1000blooms and was very patient with my numerous emails. LOL You all might have mentioned these sellers already...but I thought I put it out there in a new topic by itself...might be helpful to other newbies...like me. Thank you!!
Chantell
Ebay Sellers ???
Hi Chantell,
Of those that you mentioned, I can highly recommend frangipaniheavenflorida (Brad), island.plumeria (Suki), twistedparrot (Kathee), and 1000blooms (Hetty) as being reputable sellers. With those people, you can trust that you will get the cultivar that you pay for, and they will stand behind their products. They all know plumerias very well.
I've purchased cuttings from Happylei and Ed Packer too and received healthy cuttings from them both; although, they both sell unnamed cultivars, and some may be mislabeled, but they are not expensive so worth purchasing. I'm not sure about the others you listed, but maybe someone else knows about them. There is a list that I use and maintain of trusted eBay sellers that you are welcome to use.
Here it is:
HawaiiSandy, Sandy Lavarias, Jim Little's daughter-in-law in Hawaii
1000blooms -- Hetty
4miss -- Carol / Miss
adsutton -- Alisa
avideo4u -- James
bassnut-10 -- Will
bigwahine -- Naomi
Brad's Buds and Blooms - Brad
cjbj -- Carol
desiree2208 -- Desiree
Fishdan -- Dan
frangipani*heaven -- Chris / FrangipaniHeaven
frangipaniheavenflorida -- Brad
GILBO300 -- William
IOLEFI -- Jeff
islandmokes, island.plumeria -- Suki
jdungan98 -- Julie
leigirl760 -- Kristen
lulu_lolacat -- Cassandra
miar -- Gemila
mups03 -- Jennifer
ncasselberryfla -- Brad
opalibra10 -- Sally
Pamalestrom -- Michael
plumeriaguy -- Angus
plumeria-lady -- Paula
Plumeria_Palace -- Randy
rtruck -- Robert / rtruck
shmilyaggie -- Carolyn
Speedy4us -- Janet
sugarnspice -- Michele
Triciabug2003 -- Trish
Tropicalbargainhunt -- Relda
twistedparrot -- Kathee
Vail4me -- Brent / Vail4me
WER4GZS -- Linda
wolf111 -- Jean Theilmann
GOOD LIST
I CONCUR ;)
Clare,
You keep the "bestest" lists...I love it!!! I'd been putting my own notes beside their names i.e. response to emails - conflicts in listings etc. But YOUR list....wow!!! You are a wealth of information. The Kona Rainbow I rec'd from Ed Packer was huge (4 tips but sadly one broke during shipping) - I'm waiting the arrival (today, I hope) of my large black plastic planters and will get to plant my first tonight. Suki is waiting till tomorrow to send my Duke (she's the one that highly rec. it for it's spicy/sweet fragrance) & Hetty has been kind enough to hold my Miami Rose for a little bit for me. I'm so excited...can you tell? Now I'm going to work on finding 1 or 2 more...and someone who will be able to enlarge my deck...LOL.
Chantell
Thanks, Chantell. LOL! I'm a list girl! I actually shouldn't take credit for compiling that list. I think Kathee (Twisted Parrot) compiled it one day over at Maui Plumeria Gardens. I have added a few names and deleted a few names, and that is why I called it my own personal list. I forgot to add Pooba32 to that list because I got some great cuttings from him last summer for about $7 each. Including this one spidery pink one below. I have been burned on eBay a couple of times, and I prefer not to shop there if I can help it, but I do make an exception and bid on HawaiiSandy's, Frangipaniheavenflorida's, and Brad's Buds and Blooms's auctions whenever I can. Those three usually have imported plumies or rare plumies that you cannot buy elsewhere.
Thanks Clare for your kind words. I notice some sellers have already started selling on Ebay so EARLY! Yikes!
Man, here I am in central Florida and we had a freeze last night, and, one supposed to happen tonight. UGH! I hate winter, and unless these sellers are sending with heat packs--I would recommend waiting for warmer days above 45 degrees before ordering.
I am expecting some plumies this week but had to make sure they'd get here AFTER Wednesday. If I lived anywhere north of Florida, I'd be waiting a while before ordering plumies.
I hope that doesn't mean that my cuttings will be damaged. Both Suki and Ed said they'd been shipping "this time of year" for years...and without heat packs. :( Thankfully Hetty is still holding my rooted one for me...big thank you (again) Hetty!!
I have been participating in some Hawaii to Pennsylvania shipping experiments to determine what temps actually are ok.
The main problem seems to be if the package doesnt get marked as live plants they will place the box into the lower unheated cargo hold.
If it is marked properly and all protocols at the airport / post office (HA!) are followed,
then the only concern is how long it sits in an unheated truck or at your front door if your not home when it arrives.
I recently recieved 2 Maui Beauty cuttings at 8 inches long by 1 inch thick.
It was very cold, upper 20s day and mid 20s night.
They were fine.
Extraordinary steps were taken to package them in a special way.
If I were spending on an expensive or rare plant, id request they hold it till favorable temps were here.
Id be willing to pay extra for the 'holding time' also.
Some Sellers offer a rooting service for around $10.- a cutting also
This is a good thing to do this time of the year in my opinion.
If they are willing to hold it then why not ask them to root it also?
I hate rooting, I often forget the second 'O'
Most folks who are selling seem to have it down to a science
They tell me 'Oh thats an easy one to root.' LOL!
So I offer them a few $$ to do it for me.
I have only been refused a couple of times.
I also make a practice of only buying rooted plants unless its an extrordinary opportunity.
Great ideas!! Thank you!!! Guess my ISO (Plumerias) is a bit pre-mature in the season. :( Got caught up the wonder of it all - beauty plus fragrance... Think I'll just keep looking but maybe wait until...hmmm....March-ish down here. Thank you again!!!
Hey, there is our own special Brad! Hi Brad! I know what you mean about Ebay sellers selling early this year. I didn't expect to see HawaiiSandy for another month. Sorry about your freeze! Yikes! You've got lots of things to cover up and protect! Are you throwing sheets over some things? It's been like summer here for the past few days, but a cold front is coming from Alaska and is due to be here in a few days, and temps are going to drop by about ten degrees. I hate winter too. I'm expecting a box of plumies here this week too. Nighttime temps are above 40 here still so I think the package should be fine.
Michael, that is so funny. We've been having an in-depth discussion of air travel and cargo-hold temperatures of commercial airlines, Fed Ex, and DHL over at PlumeriaPals. Scott suggested placing a Min/Max thermometer inside the package to regulate how cold and how hot the package has gotten over the trip. I was wondering if a styrofoam cooler inside a box could keep the extreme lows and extreme highs from reaching and damaging cuttings. The thing is that, sometimes, it is best to avoid putting "live plants" on the box to avoid taxes, theft, inspection, and unnecessary quarantine. I know I might get scolded for that statement, and I know there are good reasons for inspection, quarantine, etc. So that is the dilemma, I suppose. You are right that all the shipments that were properly inspected, labeled "live plants," and properly packaged arrived in great condition. I'm not big on rooting myself and would rather buy rooted or grafted plants if possible. Some of Jim Little's plumerias only come as cuttings so I have to send them to Luc to graft for me or root them myself.
Chantell, you can order from Florida Colors now, if you wish, and they will wait until spring before they start shipping orders out. Many places are more than willing to hold your order until warmer weather arrives.
I have had people ask me about using heat packs--an added expense and a real hassle-----adds weight to shipping costs, and cost around $5.00 each unless you buy lots of them. Forget it. LOL
Successful shipping this time can be done, but I prefer not to risk it as one order I sent last year ended up frozen on a doorstep in the snow. I warned the person about this and they still insisted on sending ASAP--well, that's what they got for being in a hurry---I mean they had hardly paid and they wanted the plant like YESTERDAY; didn't listen to advice. BTW--I did have "perishable" and "Live Plants" on the package in BIG red letters. After this episode I decided it wasn;t worth the hassle and I'd start waiting until at leat March.
Clare, I sustained some frost damage on plants that I just KNEW were going to make it to March without a hitch! Rats! Luckily I had covered most stuff with blankets, but the things that I thought were safe under the shade cloth area------the same area that was safe last year---got burned pretty badly because of a nasty wind that forced the cold air under there and all over everything under it.
I hope this was winter's last stand before the warm settles in for good. I did leave my large plumies in the ground uncovered and so far they look to be okay.
Hope everyone else in central and north Florida covered their plants!
I am personally ready to move to Puerto Rico or Hawaii. LOL
Brad
I think it is only impatience that moves anyone to expect a tropical plant to survive arctic temps.
If the opportunity is rare and temps are iffy then maybe take a risk.
Ill choose to wait.
My $$ are hard to come by right now on disability.
A plumcicle would break my heart.
When I first started buying on e-bay I won a second chance offering from Ha and it came frozen. I was so saaad... :-(
The seller was very kind about it and didnt charge me.
Lesson well learned @ $65.-
Ill wait from now on except for the experiments.
When the warm temps get here the sales will be flowing like a flood
and ill have at least 2 boxes every 3 weeks heh....
Its worth the wait. ;)
I am a Star Trek fan, In one episode Spock said to Kirk
"The pleasure is in the desiring, not in having. Once it has been aquired the pleasure of desire is gone".
of course he was reffering to Kirks latest female conquest.... blah blah blah....
I still desire my wife after 20 some years so Spock was wrong LOL!!! (about me anyway)
Heh plumies forever!!!!
Brad, you are wise. I have always admired your business standards.
Why not Galveston / Corpus Christi?
Ya that's me in the pic with Mrs. Malestrom ;)
This message was edited Feb 14, 2006 10:35 AM
Impatience & ignorance - unfortunately I was guilty of both. I figured if sellers were selling and stating it was ok to ship then it should be fine. I should've found these forums first...ah, well...lesson learned.
Love that Star Trek quote - makes one think. I will "patiently" wait on ordering any more until March - sure my bank acct. appreciates that anyway. Don't want any "plumsicles" - funny but not at the same time. :)
Where do folks find the "heat mats" to place under the pots? Suggestions?
Hetty, thank you - just trying to figure out a way to take care of the two I'll have i.e. keeping them warm until this ucky weather changes finally.
Hi Brad, I'm so sorry about the things under your shade cloth that got it. Hopefully, everything will branch and become lush in no time. I do hope that is the last of the cold for you. I bet your plumies in the ground will be fine. Jack recently pointed out to me that frost damage is apparent immediately the next day and will not show up later so therefore, if you don't see damage now, you are in the clear. I agree with what Michael said about your business standards. And I told you before that, anytime you want to run away with me to a lush tropical island, just let me know! Although, shipping all our lovely must-have plants there would be quite tough! LOL!
Great picture, Michael! And you've got a great sense of humor and attitude. I love Star Trek too, but I do agree that Spock was wrong in that case! I find great pleasure in those plumerias and that great love that I have! LOL!
Hi Chantell! Hetty is right about where to find them. I ran across one on a online nursery site not too long ago that had them for about $24. I paid too much for mine. I got mine from Rosemania, where I buy a lot of products: www.rosemania.com The good thing is that shipping and tax is free. Don't worry about your orders that are being shipped to you now. I'm sure they will be fine provided that they don't sit at your door step very long. Hopefully, someone will be there to accept your package from the mailman. If you can wait, that would be best, but if some packages are already on their way to you, I'm sure they will be fine as long as they are collected right away.
Drat Drat Drat---my plumies in the grounf out back got damage on the very tippy-tips. They are soft, but only the very tips. Oh well, they will come back quickly--they usually do. The ones out front, including the singapore got a little 'burned" perhaps, but are not soft like the ones in the back. I think these two will be able to grow from at least 95% of their tips. I usually throw giant, custom made frost cloths over these, but I really wanted to test and see if the 2 foot thick mulch in the front would provide heat--it did. In the back, the mulch needs replacing and these plumies got a little zapped, along with my beautiful 7 foot tall Costus barbatus (red spiral ginger). Winter is a miserable season and serves no purpose here in central Florida other than to make us zonally challenged gardeners miserable.. By God, if winter is to be somewhere let there be snow and really cold weather 100 % of the time and not this on-again-off-again stuff we get here.
WHEW!!! Okay, I feel better now! LOL
Michael, you look like a mighty proud papa with your plumie! :)
Clare, we are leaving for the Caribbean--when? LOL
Brad
Ill try to help yall feel better ... a bit a bit ...
heres what I awoke to Sunday
This is my Plumie pen
This is the view from the rear of my property
Heres a shot from my fromt window..
Yah its pretty but you can have it.....
Dang penguin weather....
So Brad have you considered Texas?
Plenty of no snow there
and youve braved the hurricanes well enough
so sorry about all the tip damage.. :(
Youll have plenty of branches though, maybe tons of flowers too later in the fall.
Oh wow, Michael. That does make me feel better that I am not there! LOL!
Brad, we should have left for the Carribean yesterday:-) I'm so sorry about your soft tips but glad that it is only 5% of them so 95% percent will bloom and the other 5% will branch; right? I guess that it some consolation but not really. So, your mulch helped in front but needs replacing in back. I wonder how hard it would be to erect a structure around your in-ground ones during the winter but dismantle it in the spring, summer, and fall -- sort of a fold up gazebo that you could have in cases of unexpected frost to protect those tips, but it would have to be fairly large or at least have tall legs to accomodate the trees as they grow. I don't blame you for being frustrated.
Ah...the Caribbean...here's some shots from Aruba last June... Could we all get a "group rate?" Nothing like inviting myself eh?
Here is VA we've gone from almost 10" of snow last Sat/Sun to temps in the 60's tomorrow...what the heck is this?
or how about this shot....
snorkeling anyone?
ok....last one...
Great shots, Chantell! The more, the merrier!
Clare - wanna guess what I'm doing? Putting sand on all my plants...War on Fungus Knats...LOL
LOL! Yeah, fungus knats are a pain. I don't even have any houseplants because they are such a pain and because I can grow most houseplants outside all year in my climate and because the lighting is terrible in my house. The only trouble with the sand is that you can't see when the soil is dry and needs watering so you have to half empty it out to get a good look and then put it back. It does work though.
Clare,
You're great with your suggestions...it was probably you who initially told me about the sand a week or so ago. Since then I've mentioned it in the house plant forum - was glad to see I wasn't the only one that had never heard of it before (I went out and bought 50lbs of sand at HD since it was only a little more then buying the 3 pounder in the nursery section-guh!). If you want a good laugh go read that whole bit over there - the title was Insects. Think I was going on little sleep or something...but it did make for some comic relief. LOL
Chantell
LOL!
Clare (I'm baaa-aack...LOL),
Whew! Finally received my 3 gal. pots yesterday. Silly question but are they suppose to be "true to size?" I only ask b/c as I was mixing up the soil in a 3 gal. bucket it appeared to be about 1/3 bigger then the pot....hmmmm. ??????
Now for the warmth issue...ready for my ghetto solution? Those heat pads were too expensive...couldn't find any under $45. This time of year, though Walmart (any store, I'm sure) has all their electric blankets marked down. I figured if it didn't work I'd give it to one of the kids...LOL. I potted my first baby...then loosely wrapped the pot with a twin electic blanket (making sure none of the blanket was touching the cutting)...layed a house thermometer on the soil and monitored it on and off for a few hours before going to bed. Whaa! Laaa! I hope this will work out. We're not known for keeping the house very warm. Temp was fine this AM when I uncovered it and moved it to the south facing windows for the day. The teenagers just keep shaking their heads and suggesting medication. Brats...LOL
LOL, Chantell! Now, that is creative! Good for you:-) That sounds great. Let us know how it is going.
I don't know about the pot size, but your three-gallon bucket is probably larger than an actual three-gallon container. I'm not sure if three gallons of liquid occupies the same volume as three gallons of soil. I'm sure your containers are what they are supposed to be. The measurements of a three-gallon container are around 10 1/2 x 9 7/8, according to this link: http://mortonproducts.com/page.cfm/1480
Ah...good point re the different volume - liquid vrs soil...hmmm!
Got my 2nd Plumeria today - the "Duke" from Suki (Thank you Jesus for the mild temps) AND (you'll be so proud, Clare) picked up a moisture meter. Those things are just too cool!!! I just kept looking at my fingers and thinking there's no way my longest finger would even reach down in the soil to the bottom of that cutting. Duh!! Too, too funny! Thank God for Walmarts (and the rest, I'm sure) getting their "spring stuff" out!!!
Great link, too! I wasn't over happy with the ones I got through ebay....I realize these aren't to make a fashion statement but they're flimsy. I was wondering who, other then wholesalers, had these things to buy. THANK YOU!
Chantell, your comment about moisture meters makes me think that you are trying to root in a 3 gal. pot full of dirt.
Unrooted cuttings are best placed lightly in about two inches of soil (just let them lean against the side of the pot). The more of the cutting is in the soil, the greater your chance that it rots, and this way you can keep an eye on the cutting better. The roots only emerge from the very bottom anyway.
This is my system and I potted up 16 rooted cuttings yesterday..... ;-))
Yikes!!! I was using the formula off of Plumeria101...I think. Mercy!!! SIXTEEN cuttings, Hetty? Wow!!! Look at me fussing over one...and one getting put in a pot today. Thank you for the advice...the last thing I want is for one of these to rot. Glad the one you're holding for already has the roots...at least she's got a head start...LOL
Chantell, I didn't realize that you were potting a cutting in a three-gallon container. A one-gallon container is much better for a standard-sized cutting as Hetty said. I use three-gallon containers to root larger branches. You want heat from the heat mat, concrete, water heater, etc., to warm the soil at the bottom of the pot underneath the cutting to encourage rooting, and the less soil between heat and the cutting, the better. I hope that makes sense.
Edited to say:
I'm editing this post as I just read that you have two huge cuttings! You are right to pot them up in three-gallon containers then. I would put in about three inches of soil, then your cutting, and then fill up the pot with two more inches of soil so that there is only five or six inches in the pot and so that it only looks half full of soil. That way, you will not have the problem of too much soil beneath the cutting which can stay wet from being unused by any roots. It sounds like you are doing just fine so go with your own instincts. Just remember bottom heat and misting! Let us know how they do!
This message was edited Feb 19, 2006 6:01 AM