Question
Hi
Does anyone have any experience with mailing live plants?
I want to mail my sister some cactus cuttings.
Some are good size pieces, maybe a foot or two long.
What's the best way to package them? Should I wrap them in paper?
Packing peanuts? Double box them?
I figure they should go Priority.
Thanks for any info or ideas.
Answer
I ordered some aquatic plants awhile back, for my aquariums. The seller wrapped them in very damp (but not drippy wet) paper towels, and then sealed them in plastic bags. She then popped them into a Priority box, added a little padding, and they arrived just fine.
I'd say you could probably do the same/similar with cactus plants, but I wonder if the temperatures this time of year might harm them? My plant seller only shipped during warm weather.
Answer
I was reading some sellers ship with a heat pack for $2.00
Others say they can ship with no heat pack if the temp is above 40
I don't think it's colder than that where she lives.
I'm not sure what a heat pack is or where to get one.
Answer
Handwarmers that hunters use will work just fine for a heat pack. They're in the sporting goods section of Walmart/K-Mart/etc. You open the package, shake them up, and the powder produces a gentle heat that lasts quite a long time. I would wrap it in newspaper or something breathable so that it doesn't come into direct contact with the plants.
I use handwarmers when shipping fish in cool weather. Works like a charm!
Answer
Doob-
It's not just about where you live and where she lives, but where the PLANES go that get it from you to her. Few (if any) have heated cargo holds, and it gets mighty cold up there. Plus factor in waits on the tarmac - just like passenger planes, then the truck to drag it to the sorting facility (again, probably not heated), then from the sorting facility to your local post office, then into a barely-heated delivery vehicle.
How about shipping it with a 'warmer' packet and boxed in a styro picnic box?
Answer
Thanks for the info. I'm going to Kmart on Friday and I will check into the heat packs (I would have never thought to look in sporting goods) and
the styro box.
Answer
Hi
I finally found this info: http://www.theamateursdigest.com/plntmail.htm
I found the heat packs at Big 5 Sporting Goods.
Now, if I ever get them mailed, sister will be a happy camper.
Answer
I bought some cactusususes (that's the plural of "cactus" by the way) through the mail a few years ago. Here's what the seller did, and it showed up looking GREAT!
- box about 3 inches bigger than the cactus in each dimension
- create a "nest" of newspaper in the bottom of the box, to hold the pot
- wrap cactus and pot in a big sheet of newspaper (to keep them both together)
- nestle pot into "nest" in the bottom
- fill the rest of the space with peanuts or wads of newspaper
The important thing is to keep the cactus DRY, if it gets wet, it will rot very quickly.
Answer
Yeah, I wouldn't add wet newspaper to cactus, if you are sending priority there should be no problem sending them sans moisture and I would not put them in any plastic either because if there's condensation it could help to rot the plant.
Also you should check to make sure sending them is legal to wherever she lives. Some states don't allow certain plants to cross their state lines.