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Shipping Live Plants
The Box:
If you have your own boxes, use a sturdy cardboard box, never anything like a cereal box, it's not strong enough. Keep in mind that the "Priority Mail" boxes often times weigh less than other boxes of the same size you may get from another source, and every ounce counts.You can get "Priority Mail" boxes, Self-Adhesive Priority Mail Address Labels, and Priority Mail Tape free from any U.S. Post Office. Just ask for the size box you want and tell them how many you need. If they don't have the size you need, that office might not be able to get them for any number of reasons. So you can go to the USPS web site and order Priority Mail boxes of various sizes, Priority Mail tape, and Priority Mail address labels for $0.00 and have them shipped and delivered to your doorstep for $0.00 here: "Priority Mail Supplies" If you can't use them all, bring the extras to your local post offce and they will be grateful for the extras. You may also call the following number to order supplies: 1-800-222-1811.
Packing Your Plants:
I use the following method (as do many other traders) and have received several compliments about how well the plants traveled even in the heat of August for a week! This is tried and true after trying (and having received the results of) various methods.
Labeling on the Box:
Do NOT mark the box "fragile" or give any other type of indication that special care is needed. It's sad to say but it will call attention to your box and someone may damage it just because it says something like that. This has been discussed numerous times at the forums.
Label the plants:
Keep in mind the person receiving the plants most likely does not know what it looks like. Be creative, possibilities include are tape, blank address labels, popsicle sticks, string tags, milk jugs cut into labels, mini-blinds whatever works... You can cut strips of self-adhesive address labels, write on the right half of the strip, peel off the back, wrap it around an upper stem and stick it to itself. It's best if you can have tags ready to put in the ground for the person receiving the plants along with something like "full sun" or "partial shade" etc. The most economical method is to use window blinds, cut them up to desired length, people often throw out or offer free at garage sales, double the supply by cutting them in half lengthwise. Use a paint pen to write on the tag. Paint pens seem to last longer than permanent markers which tend to bleach out by the end of a season in the sun and elements.
Digging Your Plants:
Be as gentle with the root system as possible. If possible, water them well 4-6 hours before you're going to dig. When you dig, do so a few inches a way from the main stem so you aren't cutting the roots up. You can gently loosen the soil around the roots and shake most of the soil off. Some people like to rinse the soil off in a bucket of water by swishing the roots in the water. Don't let the plants that you have dug up sit in direct sun or wind especially if you've exposed the roots. You can imagine if you've been hibernating all winter inside and then suddenly you're exposed to direct sun, your skin won't like it just as roots are sensitive to being exposed. If you're worried about heat, just don't trade during the high temperatures and resume when it's cooler.
Keep the Plants Hydrated During Shipping:
Make a plant container out of a few layers (3-5sheets) of water soaked, but not dripping newspaper. In other words, damp - not sopping. Just lay the plant down sideways on the newspaper, roots on the left (on top of the newspaper), tops on the right (off the newspaper).
Adjust so that any foilage is outside the right edge of the newspaper. Now roll up the paper around the roots (don't forget to include a label with each plant - more below).
Don't forget the plant label.
You'll end up with a tube, fold the bottom of the tube up once so that it's not open ended to protect the roots. Wrap only the roots. If you get the foilage wet, it will rot. You can do this with several different plants. Wrap each variety separately and label.
Place the roots in the bottom corner of a grocery sack (the kind you get your veggies in at the grocery store are great for this first one, or the plastic ones they put your groceries in). It is important not to get the leaves wet or wrap anything damp around the leaves because they will immediately begin to suffocate and rot. No need for rubber bands or twist ties or tape.
It is a common mistake to soak a paper towel in too much water, wrap the roots in it, put it in a plastic bag and then tape the top of the platic bag shut or use a rubber band to do the same thing. This encourages the roots to rot because they have no air! Roots need air equally as much as they need moisture! No need to wrap them like a turtleneck! Very gently and loosely twist the sack around the roots so the greenery sticks out. Then put them in at least 3 (I like to use 5, any less than three will dehydrate the plants) normal plastic grocery sacks, each time covering the open end of the sack with the bottom of the next. They'll be well cushioned with plenty of breathing room. For naysayers who think that the plants will rot, they will NOT rot. The newspaper is not soaking wet. It should not be dripping or sopping wet. It should be as damp as a well rung washcloth. Enough to provide moisture and humidity only. And the plants are not in any form of strangle hold at their crown to trap moisture in. I have received plenty of rotted plants. Once I started using this method I received many, many "thanks" from recipients who were very pleased with the health of their plants even when mailed in 96 degree weather. You can put several newspaper wrapped plants together on one sack, you DO NOT need to individually wrap each plant in plastic.
This is the secret! This keeps the air around the plants humid which is the best atmosphere for them, like a mini greenhouse. The grocery sacks also cut down on the weight of your package and act as automatic padding. There is no need to individually wrap each plant with this method (which saves you time).
For example: (this is much easier to do than explain in writing) sit the plants upright on a table - the same plants that now have newspaper around their roots. Pick up the base of the roots and place into the bottom corner of a vegetable grocery sack. Roll or fold down the top of the sack so the greenery sticks out and gently twist that opening around the top of damp newspaper, not around the foilage. Next, place another grocery sack on top to cover everything, plant and all. Now use a third grocery sack and pick the whole thing up and put it root side down inside the third. Gently squeeze some air out if needed. Gently put your bundle into the box and you're done in a flash!
All this provides somewhat of a "greenhouse" allowing enough air around all parts of the plant so that it can breathe, humidity which won't escape too much during the trip because of the layers of plastic, as well as providing the roots with water, and cushioning/padding for the plant all at the same time. The most important part is that moisture is retained around all the plants but not so much that they will rot.
I personally feel that newspaper is much better to use than paper towels, it's much more sturdy, doesn't disintegrate, and allows the roots to breathe better.
Instead of plastic grocery sacks, you can also use zip locks or baggies or cling wrap as long as you don't wrap a rubber band around the top because it traps the water in and the roots will rot. And don't ever put them in a zip lock and seal the zip lock, they will suffocate. Never wrap in aluminum foil because this cooks the plants in the box especially in warm/hot weather.
Bulbs & Tubers:
When shipping bulbs & tubers, carefully brush all of the excess dirt off, then put the dry tubers/bulbs in a (lunch sized or larger) paper bag. That way the bulbs/tubers can still breathe and not get moldy in transit. Write all of the info about the tuber's size, color, etc. on the outside of the bag. You can use plastic grocery sacks, peanuts, bubble wrap, or newspaper to protect the tuber(s).
Fill it up!
If your box weighs one pound one ounce, you'd pay the same amount of shipping for a one pound, 15 ounce box, so if you can, why not get the most out of your money and add some more plants?
Include a surprise freebie!
This is always a welcome addition to any package you receive in the mail. The sign of a truely generous gardener. This can include an extra plant (or plants) you have (be sure to label!) which may or may not be listed on your exchange page. It can include anything garden related that you think someone might be able to make use of, extra labels, greeting cards, etc.
Make it Fun!
Ask to see what stamps are available at the post office and use the ones which are not so common! They're collectible and beautiful! The don't have to literally be "priority stamps" - the post office doesn't care as long as the total amount is correct.
When to Mail:
It is actually BEST to mail on Saturday because mail still is in transport on Sunday. Mail is actually shipped every single day of the year whether the desk at the post office is open or not. I have found that I usually receive my plants faster from others when they are mailed on Saturday (usually get them Monday), because the post office only has to focus on transporting them instead of dealing directly with the public.
Be sure you agree with your trader on when each of you will be sending. Keep in mind, some people don't get home until late so that box might be sitting out in the hot sun if they don't have any shade over their front door. If they know when to be expecting it, they can try to get home early. If you're going to be late, be curtious and email that trader to let them know.
Can my Postal Carrier take the Box?
Only if the box is one pound or less. Otherwise you have to take it to the Post Office. Or you may call the following number to have your box(es) picked up for a fee of $12.50: 1-800-222-1811.
Weigh the Package:
If you don't have a scale at home, any local post office should have a scale available for free use 24 hours a day so you can verify the weight. You can find scales (manual and digital) which weigh in pounds and ounces at garage sales, discount, and hardware stores. They come in very handy. Otherwise, hand it to the person behind the counter at the post office. If you know how much the package weighs, you can verify exactly how much it should cost to ship the package. To do this, look here. You'll need to refer to the "Postal Zone Chart" and the "Ratefold Chart". If you'd like to learn about how shipping costs work for seeds or plants, click here.
Want to get it there faster?
Address your packages using the Zip+4 Code. Take the initiative to do this for all your mail if you want to get it there faster. I've had many people who started doing this email me and tell them it really does improve the time. Doing so makes the zip code as specific as Carrier Route & Delivery Point.
Delivery Confirmation Service:
It's free. Yes, FREE! If you have a printer, make your own Shipping Labels!
You can create and print USPS Priority Mail labels with bar-codes from your computer with no special forms required. These labels allow you to have FREE delivery confirmation. The "label" will print out on regular 8.5" X 11" laser-printer paper. Simply use the United States Postal Service Shipping Label service.
You may view a sample by going to the web site, filling out the form, and checking "Create an online label as a sample (not to be used for shipping)." The label will automatically include a postnet bar code so you can utilize the free Delivery Confirmation Service. This gives you the delivery ZIP Code as well as the date and time that your article was delivered. If delivery was attempted you will get the date and time of attempted delivery. You can find this information at the Track & Confirm Web site. This means you can check the status of your package online at anytime.
For more information, check the USPS Delivery Confirmation Page
Q. Why isn't there an additional fee for Delivery Confirmation when I print a Priority Mail online label?A. When you print an online label, an electronic record of your transaction is sent to the United States Postal Service. This meets the requirements for electronic option Delivery Confirmation service; no additional fees are required when used with Priority Mail.
Q. What if the retail employee tries to charge Delivery Confirmation fees for my online label?A.Since the online label is a new feature, some USPS employees may not yet be familiar with it. Point out the "e/" endorsement on your label next to the Delivery Confirmation text. This indicates that this item is an electronic option Delivery Confirmation mailpiece. The retail associate should refer to the July 26, 2001 Postal Bulletin for further information. Regular Priority Mail postage rates apply." From: USPS Delivery Confirmation Page
Feel free to call the following number to check on the status of your delivery if you are using the Delivery Confirmation Service: 1-800-222-1811
What About Other Postal Carriers?
Thinking of using UPS, Airborne Express, or FedEx instead? Find out more.
Want to read an article regarding priority mail from the Wall Street Journal? Check this out: For 1st-class delivery, don't go Priority Mail
For information on seed trading and growing and gardening, look here.
I hope I explained this ok! Let me know if there's any other info you need.
Violet