Well Howard, lookee here, you want to go to Chicago. Lots of company. The thing with going back to NY rather than elsewhere, for me, is that NY is easy to get into and out of, I can do a RT in one day, don't need hotels, don't need to rent a car, don't need a pet sitter at home etc, etc, etc..... That and I don't feel like taking my vacations in the States going to orchid shows. If I'm going to go to the trouble of organizing a few days out of town, I want it to be well worth it. Albeit,it's fun meeting people from the forum. Not having Paul around anymore to take care of the dogs and birds, when I decide to disappear for a couple of days, just adds another "issue" to consider. At the moment,I don't have the energy.

Very informative! I am seeking Clivia and may need to start with seeds. With so much-sometimes conflicting- information on the internet, it is very helpful to review information here from someone who knows. Thank you for sharing.

I've had this happen on a few occasions but it didn't seem to affect anything. It tends to happen because the pea straw has been stored wrongly, probably rained on while in the bale and since you've had rain, it's triggered the spores. Be sure to buy the freshest baled straw you can find, preferably stored under cover. It might pay to fluff up your mulch a bit and get the air in on a dry day. Putting it down in 'biscuits' isn't the best way, it does better if there's a bit of air circulation.Dry heat should reduce the mould. I've just done my vegetable beds with pea straw too and we bought it in the paddock minutes after it was baled, nice and loose and airy.

Sorry to hear that happened to you. Don't feel like you did anything wrong. I have often ordered plants in the dead of winter and some sellers are much better than others about making sure the plants arrive safely in cold temps. Personally, I order houseplants and orchids in winter more often than not because I get the craving for new indoor plants most strongly when there isn't any plant action going on outside. :) I just got a shipment of African violets from the Violet Barn who uses insulated boxes and guarantees live delivery if you use express mail. When I order from Carter & Holmes orchids, they always check the weather forecast to make sure it is safe before they send orders out. With these two companies, I have never worried about plants getting to me safely in winter. Unfortunately, not all companies are as careful as they are. Did you even get a notice that it shipped so you could keep an eye out for it? I would suggest writing the seller to tell them what happened. It's possible they may be willing to try to do something to make it up to you rather than lose your business. As for the plant, all I would do is cut off the mushy leaves and then put the plant wherever the best conditions for clivia are in your home. As long as the base of the plant wasn't turned to mush, it will most likely recover.