I order plants from Hawaii regularly, and have had no issues whatsoever. I got water plants from Texas this spring, and order transplants from Burpee in Pennsylvania sometimes (if they're on sale!). No issues. I'm wondering too, what kind of plant was it that you ordered?
Thinking there are some states that have even stricter regulations regarding plants than Florida. Hawaii and California come to mind. So other than ordering from within the state, I'd advise you to order from Hawaii and California if you can to be sure not to get into trouble.
Don't forget that nurseries all over the country import tropical plants from overseas, along with their pests and pathogens. They do have to jump through the legal hoops to do this, so the plants are always inspected and certified. I can't understand why the Florida authorities even looked at your package.
