Thailand

mo's bonsai · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:49 am Post subject: Thailand

Hey whats up, I have a friend that is going to Thailand and he promised to bring me a native tree. Can anyone suggest a good Thailand native tree for bonsai. Thanks.

Mo

Dick · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:21 am Post subject: Re: Thailand

Even though he has good intentions and it sound like a good idea and very plausible, the fact is that there will be an embargo on any tree brought into the US. The tree will bne confiscated by customs and placed in quaranteen for up to two years. So don't get too excited that this will happen. It probably will not.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject: Thailand

I was hoping this wouldn't be the case. My neighbor bought a plant from a certified nursery in Hawaii and was able to bring it into the U.S through customs using certified documentation authorized to her through the nursery. I'm not sure if this is possible through other places over seas. Also I was under the impression something like that can be mailed. Hmm, how are bonsai sent from other countries into the U.S for those who buy on-line. There has to a way to send or bring one into the U.S. Any clever ideas.
Mo

steve · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Thailand

Keep in mind hawaii is part of the US so the plant would only be subject to state laws ot federal import laws.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: Thailand

It does sound almost impossible but how do bonsai sold on-line through nurseries over seas get delivered to customers in the U.S?

Mo

imholte · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Thailand

They are held in quarentine for 2 years.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:11 am Post subject: Re: Thailand

You have to be kidding! So if I were to order something from a bonsai nursery in the UK, I shouldn't expect it for two years. That cannot be right. If there is anyone in Bonsai Help that lives in the U.S that has purchased a bonsai from over seas, please help!

Mo

imholte · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Thailand

You also need to have the special permit too. Check out the USDA site here for more information

You sound surprised about the regulations. These are needed to protect the plants that we have naturally in the US. Non native species cause billions of $ in damage each year in the US along, from zebra mussels, to reed-canary grass.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: Thailand

I'm not too surprised, I always new there was a species permit required and that only certain garden and nursery centers are allowed to sell plants with species permits as was the situation with my neighbor in Hawaii, I just never thought it would take 2 years. I think I am going to do some more research on this subject but if I am successful, What species in Thailand do you recommend for bonsai?

Mo

imholte · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: Re: Thailand

I have no clue for what they use in Thailand, but check out this site for information on Thailand Bonsai.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: Thailand

Thanks Ed, I'll take a look.

Mo

mo's bonsai · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: Thailand

Here is the website for APHIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service which will regulate the import of plants into the U.S if anyone in the U.S wants to know. As far as I can tell, to bring a foreign plant into the U.S, you have to first be a resident of the U.S with a residing residence. and you must place an application for importing a foreign plant. the plant has to not be on the prohibited species list but may be on the restricted list as long as you meet the requirements such as no soil etc. the cost for the application is free and certain criteria must be followed when transporting such as packaging and labeling and identifying species. The application takes roughly 30 days. There is much more information on this website so please take a look. Thanks.

Mo

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/Q37.shtml

imholte · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Thailand

Hey mo did you check out my post where I had a link to the same USDA site?

mo's bonsai · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: Thailand

Ed, I did check it out, those are some amazing bonsai. I also emailed my buddy this site for when he goes to Thailand he can pick out a plant from that list and see if it is possible to bring it to the U.S. I so am looking forward to this. I hope there are no snags in this process. He is going only for a couple of weeks so I'm afraid I will not have my permit ready by then but I'm going to give it a go. Viewing the gallery in the link you sent, I am beginning to admire the bonsai which have been pruned. Not only do they look spooky, but they look wise. An admirable characteristic.

Mo

TB420 · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: Thailand

Mo, Ed was talking about his post on March 17th at 12:09 where he provided the exact same link to the USDA that you did.

Ed, correct about potted trees being quarantined for 2 years, but bareroot tree's don't adhere to the same guidelines.