Frequently Asked Orchid Questions

What is an orchid, anyway?

What orchids could I grow on a windowsill?

See the list of orchids grow well on a windowsills

What orchids smell nice (or not so nice)?

List of Fragrant Orchids by compiled by Sydney H. Yearron, Member of the Victoria Orchid Society, Victoria, B.C. Canada.

What orchids will stay in bloom the longest?

See the list of Long and Frequently Blooming Orchids by compiled by Sydney H. Yearron, Member of the Victoria Orchid Society, Victoria, B.C. Canada.

Where can I buy orchids in Canada?

See the list of orchid vendors in Canada compiled by the Canadian Orchid Congress. Most of these vendors will mail orchids to you in Canada during the frost free months of the year. You can also purchase orchids from the continental United States, but special permits available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada must be used. These are the import permits. You will be required to obtain a CITES (Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species) and Phytosanitary (Plant Health) certificates from the vendor. Importing orchids from other countries into Canada is even more difficult.

How can I import orchids? What is CITES?

In Canada, and many countries importing orchids is a complicated procedure. The authorites are want to be sure that they are not importing plants pests and diseases, so a "Phytosanitary" certificate is necessary, usually from the exporting country. Secondly, to control the trade in endangered species, a Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species requires a CITES certificate from the exporting nation for most orchids (except seedlings in a flask) and for a few a CITES from both the Exporting and Importing Country. See: