I applied to get importation permits online. One nasty cold day last month, I wondered through eBay and found variegated Clivias and fell in love. I now have a permit to import Clivia seed and/ or plants. I bought some, but now, I can't find out what to do next. I know I need to send a label to the seller so they can mail the seed to the Houston inspection station, but where do I get those labels. I can't find the info on APHIS or the USDA websites. And do I send the seller the phyto-certificate or does he have to obtain it? I'm asking here because if this works out, Brug seed from Germany are next as soon as I get a permit and I can find a seller in Germany. Any suggestions? Please help.
What do I do next?
Its the sellar that has do obtaine the phyto cert. Usually its that countrys agroculture Dep that handles the cert but in some countrys it can cost alot.
BUT reading post here at DG you can also apply for a permitte to grow the plants/seeds and keep them in quarantin for two years but where you apply for that I dont know, as I understand it you then dont need the phyto but you have to apply for the permitt in advance to importation.
Someone correct me if I have understood this wrong and can you please jump in with more info.
Janett
On one of the APHIS sites, there's a page that says "click here to request USDA shipping labels for existing permits." Looks like you'll just need to send an email request for the labels. Here it is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantpest/snails_slugs.html
When you applied on line, had you already been verified? If not you have to go to the nearest USDA office and show them ID, and then they'll process "most" things on line. Otherwise you'll have to do things through the mail or go to the USDA office every time. Now, it depends what type permit you applied for. If it was the small lot of seed permit you won't need Phyto. If it wasn't the new small lot seed import permit specifically, you will need phyto. Phyto comes from the person shipping the seed but is paid for by the person that is requesting the seeds unless some other arrangement has been made. When I applied on line it took about 2-3 weeks before the labels arrived in the mail. I didn't have to ask for them .... they just came in the mail.
If you decide to import cuttings it's more complicated because you have to arrange for a pre-inspection of the quarantine area first. Who you contact is different in each State, but I believe there were links when I looked.
Thanks wrightie.
Mary, I've been verified and have received the ePermit. However, when I applied for the permit, there wasn't any place on the application to say I was applying for the small lots of seed program. I've probably screwed this royally now because I went back in and revised my request. There was a dialog box under the section where you choose the plant parts you wish to import. That's where I wrote that I was applying for the small lot of seeds program. I hope it goes through. Otherwise, I'd have to pay for the phyto certificate. As to the labels, I guess I jumped the gun. It's only been 2 days since I received the permit. Thank you so much for all your help. Right now I plan to stick to importing seeds.
Veronica
Oh Veronica, I LOVE variegated clivia!! Did you buy from the new guy on there? I have had big eyes looking too. Some of the sellers send their clivia to a contact in the US and then the contact sends them to the US buyers. That way they only have to pay for one phyto for a huge lot. I LOVE Chinese variegated clivia. LOL When you get yours you have to show me their pictures so I can drool.
There are greenhouses here that I have gone to get some of Solomone's variegated clivia. In fact I am going this month for they are in bloom and it is a good time to pick them out. It is such a thrill to see so many at one time.
Kell,
I had a large clump of the ordinary orange Clivia back home and I loved it, but when I saw the variegated ones, I knew I had to have at least one.
I hadn't realized there were so many varieties. I've been salivating over the Chinese variegated ones, too, but it seemed peculiar that a Chinese outfit would sell only to the US especially since there was no mention of required permits. I bought a 'Da Fu Gai variegated Clivia, but the indicated location of the plant is Pennsylvania. I must have been really depressed that day because I also bough some Solomone Dark Red, Solomone variegated yellow seeds and from England, two different lots of yellow open faced Clivias. Now I hope I can get them to germinate. Do you use rock wool with Clivia seeds? Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I'll post a photo when my Clivia arrives.
I saw that photo and started to drool uncontrollably. I wish you hadn't posted it. There just wasn't enough Kleenex in the house to clean up all that drool. Darn! I wish my younger son's birthday was in March instead of November. I've been spending two weeks each November, since we moved, back in the Bay Area and spending part of the time lurking at nurseries. Every time I go, I have to mail back boxes with the goodies I've bought.
That contrast between the flowers and the leaves is fantastic. I'm sure the contract between the leaves and yellow colored flowers won't be as dramatic, but right now I'm in a yellow phase.
I though of you when I saw some seeds selling on eBay of a pink flowered Clivia. Each flower had a broad band of a clear medium pink and a cream colored throat. The final price was over $30.00 a seed. Too rich for my blood.
Enjoy your trek to Clivialand. Post photos of your purchases.
Funny, I just emailed someone detailed instuctions. Let me find it. They are easy in rockwool! Yellow variegated are very expensive.
I LOVE the PINK variegated!! I have one but the variegation is not good and I have not seen it bloom yet. I want to find one at Solomones this month with lots of variegation. They are so hard to find. I also love the watercolors.
Here is one of my better variegated.
I can't find my email. But I remembered I posted about it.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/698597/
Good luck. They make really cute babies.
