I am looking for some foliage plants. Can anyone recommend a source for any of the following:

Anthurium Crystallinum
Alocasia "Black Velvet
Philodendron Black Cardinal
Philodendron Gloriosum

Would love to try my hand at A. crystallinum or magnificum. I wonder how difficult they are?

I am sure they are challenging but the real challenge is the Black velvet alocasia (regulina). I have ordered all but Crystallinum from Glasshouse Works about 5 weeks ago and have not received them yet. This is even after talking with the owner and being assured that they would ship that week and then again next week and then who knows? Hard to recommend this retailer. Getting frustrating. I paid with Paypal and almost ready to file a complaint.

Found some Anthurium Crystallinum on Ebay .. just type in Anthurium Crystallinum in the search box .. also the Black Velvet Alocasia.

Xeramtheum said:Found some Anthurium Crystallinum on Ebay .. just type in Anthurium Crystallinum in the search box .. also the Black Velvet Alocasia.

Thanks so much for the response. I saw those as well from Hawaii. I tried sending a message to the seller a couple of weeks ago and received no response. The same seller has both. Anyone have any experience with this seller? I also need to educate myself regarding what's involved getting the plant here from Hawaii but it may be my only source.

I saw his feedback was good but make sure you check the not so good or bad feedback for him to see what the problems were.

(Enid) @ NSE Tropicals.com or ebay; (Mike) @ mda1515 on ebay.

If one of these people can't find it, it can't be found.

NSE is amazing Drew. I drool every time I visit their site. What do you think of that wall? NSE The Wall

Thanks for the information Drew. I sent an email to NSE and waiting a reply. My gosh they have some beautiful plants.

Some sellers are hesitant to send plants in the hottest weather of the year, Dave. It's risky. If they sit in a truck in the heat, they arrive as cooked mush. I'd advise you to wait a month.

Here's another nursery with Black Velvet and P. Gloriosum for $8
http://www.floridahillnursery....
http://www.floridahillnursery....

I got liner size Philo Gloriosum from a local nursery, Tropiflora, last year for $3.95 each. I checked though and they don't have any right now.

I might suggest just holding off on the alocasia this season Dave, it's a touchy one, from what I read that is...

Green velvet might be a better choice, they r really nice looking, not nearly as hard to find, and look very similar!

Green velvet will stand up to far more sun than any jewel alocasia I've grown! And man do they multiply!
This is thru a window, but still gorgeous!
A big problem with black velvet is that it's incredibly hard to keep active in winter, and is notorious for never re-emerging the following year!
Green velvet is much easier to keep up, easiest of the jewels I have, and although slow to wake, it does reliably do so!
I have a few extra green velvet if your interested...but as mentioned above, this heat...it will cook the leaves, the bulb would most likely be fine, but a barebulb this late is going to equal a rough winter!

I've heard nothing but good about glasshouse, it's very likely the case that they are waiting for a few cool days to ship out, but it's just another place I refuse to order from! I can't handle their prices for one, but ( insert cuss word here) if u can't make a website that I can navigate!!!!! Then you don't deserve my business! Sorry...

Sway thanks for the advice and I am going to take it. I am interested in the Green Velvet. Just let me know when is the right time. We are getting ready for the dog days of August but I don't think that's the reason for Glasshouse not shipping. I could and would accept that as a reason for delayed shipment. I was warned that they are not as diligent with customer service after payment as they are before payment is made and you are right about that website. One of the two managing partners died unexpectedly. Unfortunately, he was the main plant propogator and real driving force for the business. It remains to be seen what the long term viability will be there. I am a patient guy usually but when I pay in advance I guess I expect some due diligence on the part of the seller. If there is going to be a long delay then please don't charge me until you are ready to ship. I think the present policy is what causes most of the negative feedback for Glasshouse Works because they certainly have some beautiful plants that a lot of places don't carry....and as you mentioned there is that maze of a website.

I'd love to see the operation in person!

I was unaware of their situation! Good update there Dave, ill have to keep an eye on them!

Even they don't give me warm fuzzy feelings, it's always a shame for any greenhouse, any private small business for that matter, to go down the drain, it's getting tougher and tougher for them to stay viable, and profitable!

eclayne said:NSE is amazing Drew. I drool every time I visit their site. What do you think of that wall? NSE The Wall

Alocasia Micholitziana, aka; Green velvet, Frydek. Did not know if you guys knew that or not.

OMG! I'm in love with that wall, thank you for the link. I have a spot I would love to do that but I'm a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of building it. It's on my major wish list though, wow

homer1958 said:Alocasia Micholitziana, aka; Green velvet, Frydek. Did not know if you guys knew that or not.

@homer1958, take a look at this page on Steve Lucas' site: Exotic Rainforest. Notes Alocasia Frydek as a hybrid involving Alocasia micholitziana.
Kew WCSP, via COL dynamic notes Alocasia micholitziana as an accepted species.
The RHS has a herbarium specimen of Alocasia 'Green Velvet' as a cultivar.

I stand corrected.

It's funny this would all come up...
I've been wondering alot about this bunch of alocasia
It's too late for me too start rambling, and probably more appropriate to start another thread...

Hope you're coffee'd up Sway. I wouldn't call those links I posted definitive at all and these things change all the time. It would be nice to hear other views because there is clearly a lot of confusion about them. I see @LariAnn has done work with A. 'Frydek'.