OT - This is how I pack plants to ship

I have been shipping plants, commercially now for about 5 or 6 years and being basically very lazy, I have honed it down to minimum effort to produce maximum efficiency. My main goals are:

1. Minimize to the minimum (hopefully ZERO) movement of the plant in the box. Stabilize the plant so that the only movement is from the whole box, not the plant rattling around in the box.

2. Facilitate the recipient opening the plant up...some shippers are so 'thorough' it takes all the razors I have to free the plant.

So... Here is the plant I am demonstrating: a costus with 4 stems.

The KEY in wrapping the plant is to STOP the medium (soil, dirt, bark, whatever) from coming out of the pot with the roots...which can dry out the roots. I use shredded paper from a large business who shreds their documents....when they are out of paper, I buy shredded newsprint. I pack a 'wad' around the top of the plant (trying not to unravel the tightness of the clump of paper)...and then using broad packing tape, I tape down two sides. This is easy to do, very effective and easy to undo.

I used to wrap the pot in a plastic bag and tape it on the top...but with multiple stems this is hard...and takes longer. I received some plants from Brian Williams that were packed this way and I found it brilliant.

(I took a photo of the shredded paper with tape on it, but it wasn't noticeable...)

Then I lay the plant down on two sheets of newsprint....and roll it up. I only use black and white newsprint....color ink is suspicious to me...heheheheheh.

I roll the plant up in the paper...containing al of the ;stems' so they won't rattle around and I go off to find a box to fit it in.

OK...found a box, even tho it is a few inches short. Good enough for the demonstration. I slip the plant down the box (it is easier if it is open the other way so that you can tuck wads of newspaper around the pot to make sure it does not budge!!! Even tho a few inches of leaves stick out of the top, they can be tucked in for shipping. The plant will recover within a few days and the plant will be normal.

Good method Carol!

Plants go thru a lot of change when they are put into a dark box for a number of days....and they become sensitive to light after the voyage. THE BEST idea is to water your plants you are shipping a number of days before shipping so you are shipping them when they are only slightly moist/borderline dry. TRY to put the plant you are shipping into low light for a couple/3-4 days before you pack it into the box.

When you receive the box, and take the plant OUT...give it a good watering and spritz...and 'gradually' introduce it back into bright light. I leave mine in the carport under the table for a day or two, then I put it on the table for a day or two and then into the light it wants.

Newspaper is a wonderful insullator...it keeps moisture in/out as well as the temperture.If you are shipping a number of plants, pack them snugly in the box...they mustn't rattle around...that is what causes broken stems and soil to fall out.

In very hot and dry weather, I even spritz mine once before wrapping it up...just a bit of moisture...not a soggy plant.

Hope this helps... Any questions?

Thanks Dave... They got to DC Ok, didn't they? Still haven't gotten a copy of the brochure!!!

(PS. Dave and I supplied an exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington DC with plants that the polynesians brought in their canoes to Hawaii....lots of cane, bamboo,banana, taro and others. The ONE thing we couldn't ship out was sweet potato.)

I also tape my plant to a bamboo stick or any old stick that runs the length of the box. That way it won't slide around. It works well for tall plants with lots of foliage, like bananas.

Thanks much for posting this! I've been hesitant to join in the plant swap fun because I was not sure how to properly pack/ship plants. Much appreciated!

Yes...I have seen a bamboo stick used...but if the plant is held in place within the box with newspaper, it won't rattle around at all.

Another no-no is to use plastic bag to enclose anything... whatever i have received in plastic (even bubblewrap) does not breathe and it rots.

If the pot is too big, wrapping the roots in a plastic bag closed tightly at the top so that no air can dry it out, can sometimes help if you want to use a smaller box...

I agree that the plastic around plants is a no-no.

If I ship a plant out of the pot, I'll knock off some of the dirt, wrap a paper towel around the remaining dirt plus roots, dribble water on the paper towel so it is moist (not sopping wet!), and wrap with the new Glad wrap self stick wrap. It is great! I had some vines I wrapped up on July 4th for a Marketplace buyer that never paid (also taught me not to pack in advance), and believe it or not they still look good- still in the packaging!

I do disagree about the newspaper. I suppose it can be done, but I've gotten too many plants that didn't survive that method.

Oops, I hit send instead of Browse, here's a photo of a plant that came from HI (NOT ONE OF ALOHAHOYA'S!!!!)
It not only took over 7 days to get to TN via priority mail, but the top was all smuched from the plant sliding back and forth. This came from a seller that sells a LOT on eBay, and has 100% feedback.

I do like the wrapping plants in newspaper, it helps protect them a lot, too. If you have several sheets it makes a stiff shell the plant is protected inside.

I recently wrapped a plant in a layer of quilt batting and I liked the way it filled up the box while keeping the plant from moving. Originally I did it for the insulating factor and it worked for that to.

Many moons ago I worked for a wholesale fern grower and we sent out thousands of liners and grown plants every week. Rolling the plants in newspapers like Carol is doing was the method the packers used.