Ok, Plant Peeps, I must confess.
I did a thing.
It’s something that I’ve never done before, and it’s kind of a big deal for me because it’s always felt super risky.
I… I ordered plants from overseas.
More specifically, I ordered from Indonesia― a whopping 8,900 mi (14,320 km) across the Pacific Ocean from where I live in Southern California.
Of course, you’re probably wondering:
“Are you crazy? Why would you do that now? There’s a global pandemic going on, and shipping times are awful. Didn’t you say here that you weren’t going to risk buying from overseas?”
Yes, yes I did. It was kind of an impulse purchase. And for me, “impulse” means:
- Researching the vendor reviews,
- Making sure the vendor offered free phytosanitary certificates and free shipping,
- Asking the vendor if there were any issues shipping to my particular state,
- Calculating the average cost per plant, and
- Comparing prices with the same plants available in the U.S.
So, yes, it was an “impulse.”
Overall, it’s a much better deal than the insanely-overpriced plants currently available here in the U.S. No, I am not going to pay $300 for a chunk of a supposed Anthurium warocqueanum stem cutting with one node, #sorrynotsorry...
Ordering
The vendor I chose to purchase from is called Exotropical, on Etsy. They are located in Jakarta, Indonesia. They are a relatively new Etsy shop with a nice selection of plants, including many variegated species. While they’ve only had several hundred orders to their name, the reviews look decent overall. After mulling it over for some time, I decided to take the plunge.
Exporting
According to their shop policies, Exotropical requires two weeks turnaround time to acquire an export permit and a phytosanitary certificate from the Jakarta Ministry of Agriculture. Don’t freak out if you don’t hear anything for a couple of weeks. They need that time to get the paperwork in order. They use DHL as their shipping courier. Depending on your country, province or state, you may be required to pay Customs fees and/or show evidence of an import permit. Canada and the UK require paperwork, and the details are specified in the product listings so be sure to read them!
Some things to remember if you are looking to purchase from Exotropical:
- Include your phone number and email in your shipping details. DHL will send shipment notifications and ask for a no-signature delivery.
- They don’t accept order cancellations 2 days after the order is placed.
- Make certain that you don’t make any typos in your address.
- Read the terms and conditions in their listings! If you’re not comfortable with their terms, you may be better off not making a purchase.
As for Customs fees, this will vary depending on your location of residence. I live in Southern California and I was not required to pay customs fees or need to provide a USDA import permit. I was very concerned that my order would be held in Customs, but all was well and everything cleared in one afternoon.
For U.S. buyers, do keep this in mind: I have read in multiple areas online that an import permit is required if you purchase 12 or more plants at one time. So if you keep it beneath that limit, you will likely not need an import permit. Disclaimer: Do your own research to make sure!
Shipping
Fast forward a week, and DHL drops off a package wrapped in reflective thermal insulation sheets. Since this was my first international import, I tracked the shipping details closely (in other words, I obsessively refreshed my shipment tracking page dozens of times per day).
The package arrived at Los Angeles International airport (LAX) and was inspected by U.S. Customs. Each plant is wrapped in paper by Exotropical, and the Customs agents tore open the wrappings of the bigger plants to inspect their contents. They did not appear to bother with the smaller plants, possibly to avoid risking damage.
It’s a bit crazy, but my Exotropical/Indonesia order arrived faster than another shipment from Ohio. The latter arrived eight days late and spent eleven days in the postal system! Yikes!
Before shipping, Exotropical sanitizes the plants and wraps the rootballs in sterilized, moist moss. As you can see in the photo above, the moss is bundled with plastic wrap and the plants’ leaves are carefully wrapped in paper for protection.
Next, you’ll get to see the roster of plants that I purchased!
the plants
Anthurium magnificum
The Customs agents were so kind as to unwrap a lot of the plants for me, so this is the first thing I saw when I opened the box:
A lovely (and large) Anthurium magnificum! Wow! It’s as big as my head! Words can’t describe how incredible and perfect this plant is.
As you can see, the roots are super white and healthy, and there’s a new leaf coming out as well!
Philodendron melanochrysum
I did notice that Exotropical packs everything extremely carefully. In the left-hand photo, you can see the emerging leaf of this Philodendron melanochrysum carefully wrapped in toilet paper to protect it from damage.
How gorgeous are those leaves? The contrast between the velvety greenish-black mature leaves and the coppery new leaf is stunning. I can’t wait for this plant to acclimate and start growing!
Alocasia “Dragonscale”
This Alocasia Dragonscale is five times bigger than any plant available in the U.S. at the same price. It’s quite lanky though, so I’m uncertain about how deep it needs to be potted.
The root systems of the Alocasias are much sparser than the Philodendrons and Anthuriums, so I will probably end up pampering them more than the other plants. I’m a little bit concerned about this particular Alocasia because I’m not entirely sure if the roots fared too well throughout the process. I’ll definitely have to give it more time, warmth and humidity so that it (hopefully) recovers from the shock.
Alocasia cuprea
I can’t decide which plant from this order is my favorite— the Anthurium magnificum or the Alocasia cuprea! I do have to admit, the Alocasia cuprea is attention-grabbing. It’s no wonder why it’s called the Jewel Alocasia. The coppery, metallic leaves are so stunning in a photo, but even more stunning in person. This plant has been on my Wishlist for a long time, and I’m so excited to cross it off. Here’s hoping that I can keep it alive and thriving!
Anthurium crystallinum
This Anthurium crystallinum is basically one big chunk of stem, with a set of plants and roots popping out from separate nodes on opposite sides. It’s like getting two plants out of one! Even for a young plant, the silver venation is already so crisp and prominent. I’m looking forward to seeing them develop more boldly as the years pass.
Anthurium clarinervium
I’ve had Anthurium clarinervium on my Planty Wishlist for many years, and I’m very excited to FINALLY get my hands on one. I was hoping it would be a bit bigger, but I suspect that these plants are so popular that Exotropical may only be able to offer younger and smaller plants. If you do your research, you may be able to find larger plants for the same price from other vendors. Nevertheless, it arrived in good health and I’m hoping that it acclimates quickly and starts growing.
Aglaonema rotundum
I purchased this Aglaonema rotundum because it looks a lot like Calathea ornata, which I think is a gorgeous plant. However, I’ve sworn off Calatheas for now because of how finicky they are. Maybe one day I’ll try them again, but for now, this Aglaonema will be a nice substitute. I love the dark leaves offset by the contrasting pink veins. The new leaves also appear to have a blush pink tint to them. I’ll have to pamper this plant too, since it only has two leaves.
Monstera acuminata
I purchased this Monstera acuminata mostly out of curiosity. It looks very much like a Monstera adansonii and there is very little information online about the differences between them. One website here mentioned that the leaves of Monstera acuminata have a slight iridescence to them, which prompted me to compare the leaves of my M. acuminata and M. adansonii backlit by a light source. After some careful examination, it really does look like M. acuminata leaf tissue has more of a transparent shimmer. M. adansonii appears more opaque with no detectable iridescence.
Anthurium radicans
If you love foliage textures, then you’ll love Anthurium radicans! The heart-shaped leaves are dark, rich green with deep veins and a very textured, corrugated surface. Of all the plants in my order, I would say that this one seems the least affected by the whole shipping process. The newest leaf was a bit wilted from dehydration, but an overnight soak in some water took care of that. I have a feeling that this plant will be an excellent one for beginners, but I’ll have to report back!
Anthurium regale
The Anthurium regale that Exotropical offers is a very young and small plant, and is described as such in their product listing. You may want to consider whether or not it would be worth the price, especially if you want a larger specimen right in the beginning. This is definitely a plant that you will need to grow out on your own. I’ve placed this plant into my warm, humid rehab tank to give it the best conditions for recovery.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I would say that I had a good experience ordering plants from overseas with Exotropical. Any time I communicated with the vendor, I received a very prompt response, usually within 24 hours. Their export timeline was exactly as specified in their terms and conditions, and the plants arrived in good condition. I expect to lose a few leaves as the plants acclimate to my home environment, but I believe that all of them should survive (fingers crossed!). In the end, I think the plants were definitely worth it!
To all of you Plant Peeps out there looking to import from overseas: Please remember that purchasing plants internationally entails a certain amount of risk. There are many moving parts within the entire process. If you don’t live close to a global transportation hub like Los Angeles International Airport, it may take more time for DHL to deliver your plants to you. Other issues may arise unexpectedly. These problems can be anything from import permit requirements to bad weather, Customs confiscation, airport delays and so forth. As a buyer, you are ultimately responsible for determining your risk tolerance when buying a plant from overseas. Do not stretch yourself financially to make these purchases.
However, if you feel comfortable taking a possible risk and purchasing some of these gorgeous plants, then do consider Exotropical as a source!
If you’re looking to import your own plants, check out my blog post on how to sanitize them before you integrate them with your other houseplants.
Always Keep Growing,
Heather (a.k.a. The Botanical Chick)
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