--- title: "Where I buy my orchids: trusted vendors for (miniature) orchid collectors" url: https://myorchidjournal.blog/where-i-buy-my-orchids-trusted-vendors-for-miniature-orchid-collectors/ type: page date: 2026-04-25 modified: 2026-04-25 markdown_url: https://myorchidjournal.blog/where-i-buy-my-orchids-trusted-vendors-for-miniature-orchid-collectors.md author: "Nathalie" --- # Where I buy my orchids: trusted vendors for (miniature) orchid collectors By Nathalie · Published: April 2026 · Last updated: April 2026 I've been buying orchids in the United States for 19 years, starting with cardboard boxes carried home from the two San Francisco orchid shows — the **Pacific Orchid Exposition** in early spring and **Orchids in the Park** in summer, both run by the San Francisco Orchid Society. Unless you have the possibility to visit the vendor in person, there's no real substitute for seeing a plant in person before deciding it's coming home with you. As my focus narrowed toward miniature orchids and the cool- and intermediate-growing species I keep in my orchidarium — *Pleurothallis*, *Lepanthes*, *Masdevallia*, *Dracula*, miniature *Dendrobium*, and a growing collection of *Bulbophyllum* — online vendors became essential. You won't find most of these at a general nursery, and even orchid shows only scratch the surface of what specialists actually carry. The vendor table (see the "Orchid Vendors" tab) is my working list of every vendor I've ordered from, researched, or keep on a wish list. The backbone of my current collection comes from Ecuagenera and Andy's Orchids. The other vendors here each fill a niche: angraecoids from Madagascar, Brazilian species, miniature Cattleyas, Dendrobium cuthbertsonii selections, hard-to-find Colombian imports. Use the genus columns to skip vendors that don't carry what you're hunting for, and read my notes in the Personal Comments column where I've shared my own experience. A few practical things to know before you order. International vendors (Ecuagenera, Mundiflora, Tropical Exotique, Florália Orquidário, Orquídeas Amazónicas, Afri Orchids, Orquídeas Katía) require CITES paperwork and an import permit (additional cost) — orders take weeks to months and arrive bare-root. US-based vendors are faster but their selection is narrower. Avoid winter shipping unless the vendor packs heat packs. And whenever you can, go in person — local orchid society shows are still the best way to start a collection or find that one plant you've been chasing. What to expect when ordering Shipping timelines vary widely. Below is a rough guide based on common experience — yours may differ depending on permit processing, season, and how the vendor batches shipments. International orders generally arrive bare-root and can be delayed by phytosanitary inspections at the port of entry. **International vendors (CITES paperwork required)**: - Ecuagenera (Ecuador) — 4–8 weeks. Weekly batched shipments to the United States and Europe. - Mundiflora (Ecuador) — 4–8 weeks; similar Andean batching schedule.   - Tropical Exotique (Thailand) — 4–6 weeks for export-ready stock. - Florália Orquidário (Brazil) — 6–10 weeks typical for international orders.   - Orquídeas Amazónicas (Peru) — 6–10 weeks typical.   - Orquídeas Katía (Colombia) — 6–10 weeks typical; often coordinates around major orchid festivals.   - Afri Orchids (South Africa) — International shipping by arrangement; expect long waits and limited windows.   - Colombian Orchid Imports (US-based, imports from Colombia) — Famously slow at 2–4 months from order to arrival, occasionally longer. Worth the wait for the Dracula and Masdevallia selection. **US-based vendors:** Most US vendors ship within 1–2 weeks of placing an order. Notable exceptions: Andy's Orchids may take a few weeks during busy seasons or quarterly open-house weeks; Al's Orchids closes shipping over winter and reopens in spring; and Botanica Ltd. holds shipments during the last three weeks of December. For all winter orders, ask whether a heat pack will be included — temperatures in transit can drop well below safe thresholds, and a single cold night can ruin a plant. > **From my orchidarium**I buy now most of my orchids at shows — either directly from the vendor's table, by pre-ordering ahead of the show (Ecuagenera does this well), or by visiting vendors in person between shows (Andy's Orchids, Fantasy Orchids). I've almost always had good experiences. The one exception was a pre-order where some plants arrived in poor shape, but I suspect that was less about the vendor and more about the species themselves — some orchids simply don't tolerate the temperature swings that come with international shipping. Orchid vendor list Large: Major specialty — extensive selection across many species in this group Small: Limited selection — a few species available, but not a focus None: Does not carry orchids in this group Compiled from each vendor's official website, OrchidWire listings, San Francisco Orchid Society vendor pages, and Orchid Board vendor feedback threads. Specialty levels are best estimates from public catalogues — please correct from your own experience. This directory reflects my personal experience and ongoing research. I update it as I order from new vendors or as the existing ones change their shipping policies, open new locations, or shift their specialties. If a vendor you'd recommend isn't here, or if you've had a different experience with one that is, I'd love to hear from you. Pictures from my last visit at Andy's Orchid (March 2026) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-statue-730x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-statue.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Orchid-s-orchid-alley-2-749x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Orchid-s-orchid-alley-2.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-orchid-everywhere-703x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-orchid-everywhere.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-Epidendrum-marmoratum-654x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-Epidendrum-marmoratum.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-dracula-2-820x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-dracula-2.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-dracula-820x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-dracula.jpg) [![](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-orchid-alley-1-737x1024.jpg)](https://myorchidjournal.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Andy-s-orchid-orchid-alley-1.jpg)