73 Heaths Rd. Hoppers Crossing, Vic 3029,
Skype Phone: 61 3 9005 7569, Landline: 61 3 9734 6333, Mobile: 0412 134 047
How It Started
I started collecting cacti plants in early 1980’s. In mid-1980’s I started buying seeds from local and overseas cactus seeds dealers. In 1989 I have written to a well-known cactus seeds collector in Mexico, requesting some cactus seeds. He sent me much more than I could use. A friend suggested advertising them for sale in a gardening magazine, which I did. The seeds were sold within a few weeks and people were asking for more. After writing letters to some other cactus seeds collectors, nurseries, private collectors, cactus clubs and societies, etc., I established a network of suppliers in Australia and overseas, providing me with a great choice of numerous species, varieties and forms of cacti. I encouraged my customers to send me their “wish lists” and I would hunt for the seeds of the species they were interested in. More often than not, I would get them, even though several times it has taken me a few years. (But getting some species into Australia is impossible, because they are classified by AQIS as weeds.)
Through the years the number of regular customers grew. Most of them commented very favourably on the germination rate, quality of the seeds, etc, which helped me to weed out the unreliable suppliers. The reputation for the quality of seeds, ever increasing number of species on the seed list, prompt responses to requests for seed lists or for seeds made me the top cactus seeds dealer in Australia just six years after the first offer. In 2001, with almost 3700 cactus species on my list, I had the biggest cactus seeds list in the world, though others were offering a much larger selection of succulent seeds. Since 2004 my lists have the biggest selection of cactus AND succulents seeds hovering at about 7,000 names, while the second largest list is hovering around 6,000 names. In season 2008/09 I had a staggering 8,300 items and I had a chance to have over 9000 names in season in 2009/10, but for the mess-up with my insurance claim. This year’s list has almost 900 fewer items than last year’s list, because for a long time it looked like the business will be sold- If I did buy new seeds, the buyer would not have agreed to increase the payment by the amount I spent on the new seeds. I have restocked most of the popular common seeds, but the rare ones were sold out long time ago.
The seed list could be much bigger, but AQIS regulations prevent me from importing numerous genera and species of cacti. On my list there are “prohibited imports“, but are supplied by local growers. Those seeds were harvested from plants imported to this country before any restrictions were introduced.
In the last few years the sales were increasing beyond my expectations. I contribute it to more and more severe restrictions on water uses, which I believe will be getting harsher. Sales in the financial year 2008/09 were amazing – after my health food business was shut down by TGA, seeds sales were keeping me alive. It felt like God taketh with one hand and giveth with the other. Perhaps it was meant to be.
This year in October I will be a pensioner and I was planning to continue with this business – it would have nicely supplemented my pension. But “Man Proposeth, God disposeth”. See page “Arizona Cactus Garden for sale” for the full story.
If I won’t find a buyer for the business, this may be the last opportunity for you to buy the seeds that you are interested in.