I've never ordered from CBFM, but I read a lot of good reviews on him here. I'm planning on getting some plants from him soon. I'm waiting for him to list a few more plants I want so I can combine shipping. He has some plants for really good prices, and the shipping is much cheaper than Gardino. What I like about him is he says how many plants are in a pot in his eBay descriptions.

But I love Gardino Nursery and they have a much larger selection. I've been completely happy with what I got from them so far. Some plants were surprisingly big. Their eBay store (rareflora) has some rare or larger plants. They are very responsive to inquiries too.

Happy Hoya shopping!

Great! Thanks for the feedback.

BOTH! :D

Both are good. But i have had some of my CBFM plants die because the soil they use is water retentive.

Also, how is your new rubra doing? Did it dry out some for you?

Ditto to what tlbean said about CBFM. I know they try to dry out her soil before shipping, but I've received some really waterlogged plants from them. Gardino's is the bestest IMO, but one of my favorite plants is from CBFM so that's why I say both. SRQ has some great deals sometimes as well, like the $10 sales or her black friday sale that I went absolutely b a n a n a s with.

I've gotten lots of great plants from both. Yes, Gardino's shipping is high, but when you see how well they're packed, you'll get it. You will never lose a plant during shipping unless a truck drops on the box! Their plants are typically large and well established.

Denise in Omaha

I ordered, um, really a lot of bigger Hoyas from Gardino's last fall...like maybe 16, maybe more. I KNOW. Anyway, they came in a huuuuge box and not.one.single.leaf was damaged. Not one. They really do pack like champs.

Wow, 16 plants. You must have an amazing collection.

tlbean - my Rubra is doing great. Here's a picture.

I got my shepherdii from Gardino's. It has never bloomed for me, but it is a very healthy plant, and it was ordered and delivered in the midst of February! I'm thinking of getting a couple of plants from there for my birthday, if I fail to find one at Lowe's the next time I go.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

I know what you mean Brad. Sadly, all the Lowes around here carry all the typical ones. I was fortunate to spot a polyneura at Walmart recently.

I really want a potsii and a Nicholsoniae.

Monica, I have a very (uber) small nicholsoniae start you can have. You know how to reach me. :)

I have ordered from both, also. I got some nice little plants from CBFM, at good prices, and good shipping costs. However, as others have mentioned, the soil was far too water retentive for my conditions. I lost most of the plants. Not, I think, because there was anything wrong with the plants. It was the soil. If I had known to change the soil, I think that I would have kept them all healthy. The one that I did change, when I realized what was happening, is doing well, and it is a plant that is notorious for being hard to please.

All of the plants that I have gotten from Gardino's are doing well. I did not change the soil in any of them. The plant prices were very reasonable, but, as mentioned the shipping cost seems high. However, the plants are also huge, for the price the charged. And the packing was wonderful. I've lost some plants from other growers due to shipping damage, and I would far prefer to pay more, if it means getting live, healthy plants at my end. Overall, I'd say that Gardino's shipping charges are worth paying, given the quality of the plants and packing.

Thanks zigbud. My Gardino's order shipped yesterday. I can't wait to receive them.

I order from both. I remove all the soil from cowboyflowerman orders and pot up in my own medium. None have died yet.

aurorawa, in another thread (help with new soil for new hoyas) I have some questions about what folks do when they change the soil for new hoyas. Would you mind clicking on that thread and giving me some specifics of how you remove the old soil? I don't want to take up a lot of space on this thread.

Thanks,

zigbud

Gardens is awesome! One of my favorite nurseries!

My first /last order from Cowboyflowerman is going to be my last forever. The quality of what I received is no where near what I received from Gardino's. I may try Epiphytica next. Especially since spring is coming! I've got Hoya Fever!!!

Careful when ordering from Jack (Epiphytica). Once you do it, it will be VERY, VERY hard to stop!

Here is a pic of one of my past orders from Jack...this was right after it arrived and had been soaked and potted up. This way you can see what you are paying for:

Hoya and other houseplants (for my area, at least) · More Info

And another:

Hoya and other houseplants (for my area, at least) · More Info

My experience with the Thai vendors has never been good. I ordered a couple times from one (small orders) one year and didn't have a great survival rate. Then in 2012, I'd heard great things about Epiphytica and because I was just coming off of a rough financial patch decided to order a bunch from them - $200 worth. And it got hung up somewhere and by the time I got it, it was a box of pretty much dead cuttings. I managed to salvage just one from that order. I won't be doing it again.

Denise in Omaha

I purchased some orchids from CFM - one of them shed its leaves and I emailed him asking for advice - no reply. Very sad that peop can sell on the web then be distant when there is a problem!