Hi Everyone.

Carol
– I don’t think you’re going to upset anyone by arranging swaps through the
forum; it’s only when it’s used for selling things you could find yourself in
trouble. I think the old format for this forum even had a section where you
could list plants and seeds you wanted to trade, but as I’m not really up to
speed on the new layout I don’t know if it carried over to the new format or how to access it,
maybe other members can advise.

What
you want to do is a great idea and certainly not new. It’s something that’s
been done ever since we started growing plants in our gardens. It a natural
thing to visit someone’s garden and comment on a nice plant, and then be offered
a piece as a gift or a swap for a plant in our own garden. What you’re
suggesting is the same thing but using the electronic media to arrange the swap.

I
live in N.S.W. Australia and not long after I started growing bromeliads I
joined the local Bromeliad Society where it was common to swap plants with
other members; however over time, we all finished up with the same plants as
there was nothing new to swap.

Buying
from bromeliad nurseries in those days wasn’t an option as the prices were well
out of my reach financially and the only other options were to hybridise and
grow my own, (which I did, but that’s another long long story), or swap with
growers in other states.

I
joined an Australian bromeliad forum on the internet and although it was only
small (about eight members) it became a great place to arrange swaps because
the people came from other states and had different plants to me, and we could all
add new varieties to our collections, so we had a “win win” situation.

Obviously
to swap plants interstate involved postage and the plants taking anywhere from
three to seven days depending on the distances travelled, but even now with the
increase in postal charges, it’s still a reasonable way to get new plants for a
moderate cost.

I
have found the cheapest way to send these plants is by standard parcel post and
packed in a polystyrene box as these are strong, lightweight and have excellent
insulation qualities and plants don’t suffer damage if left in excessively hot
or cold areas.

I
had one box sent interstate which went astray and wasn’t delivered for three weeks
and on arrival the plants were suffering mild dehydration, but after a soak in
the “Magic Elixor” for a few hours were still fine.

In
case you don’t know what the “Magic Elixor” is, it’s simply one cup of sugar dissolved
in two gallons of room temperature water. This is a very good “pick-me-up” for
any plants suffering a bit from dehydration.

I’d
also like to complement you on your great photography; and this is a very
important part of the swap when you can’t physically go and see what you are
swapping. It’s always good to post pictures so the “swapper” and the “swappee”
know exactly what they are getting.

I’m
just a bit sorry we don’t live in the same country as I have lots of plants
just waiting to be swapped, however I’m sure you’re going about it in the right
way and should get some good results. Good communication and photographs are a
necessity for it to work well, and it’s a great way to amass a good collection without
breaking the bank and also a great way to make new “brom friends”.

All
the best, Nev.

Nev,

To say I wish you lived closer is an understatement! I would love to trade with you until we "finished up with the same plants"! I'm pretty sure those would all be one-way swaps... I'd have to wash your car, or something... but I'd love to have any of your broms. You have some beauties!

I know you moved on to hybridizing your own. I did that with amaryllis for a long time and got a yard full of pure hot pinks, which is what I wanted. :) I will have to find the time to do the same with broms.

Thanks for the Magic Elixor recipe! I've never heard of that! It's a good thing to put into the knowledge tank. (Unfortunately, the knowledge tank is like a colander.)

Good ideas about shipping, too. I appreciate all of the tips.

I posted my trade wish to both this forum and the Florida Garden Exchange forum, but no responses, yet. I may have to go to other forum sites. I've seen you post on a few others, Nev, and I may break down and register on those sites.

Hope you are having a nice fall and a mild winter. It is starting to get pretty hot and humid here.

Carol