I want to make sure I do not make some mistake and accidentally cause problems for the plants or leaves I add to the Fall exchange box and I thought I might find some instructions on the internet in addition to what everyone else has posted or added. I did find this http://www.vintageviolets.org/Shipping_African_Violets.htm . I do not know how to post links here so forgive me for placing the long address in the post. I don't know if it's a no-no here but in the search there is a discussion about this at another forum and here is the link http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/afrviolet/msg0915453720334.html . In that thread some people mentioned that Violet Barn had good instructions (did someone already post those?) and here is the link to that too. http://www.robsviolet.com/how_we_ship.htm
RainGazer I think was going to take pictures maybe they can be put in this thread so we always have a place to look when we need help packing for shipping.
How to Pack Plants for Shipping
Anna...........that first site is exactly how i ship my violets..........only I usually have to use larger styrofoam cups.......maybe I will cut them down in size although I found some much shorter ones last week..............
I want to look at Rob's site, too..................thanks for your hard work and effort in finding these.
Rob's site is fascinating to see...............how they ship............
This message was edited Sep 24, 2009 10:05 PM
A friend from another forum does this -
Cover exposed soil with damp toilet paper - wadded strips will mold into the soil areas well, and stay put.
Using clear plastic wrap, cover TP'd areas up to and around stem of plant, fastening with tape - just make sure its all covered so that soil and plant will not fly out of pot. Wrap excess saran down around pot, securing with more tape. Use enuff wrap that you will have a bunch at the bottom to make a tail
Starting with bottom corner of a double piece of newpaper, tape saran tail to paper and start rolling. Fold over tops and sides, sort of making a cone. More tape. Pot should stay firm (taped) into the pointy bottom part, and the sara wrap will keep the plant and the soil IN the pot.
Cushion cones in box with paper or packing peanuts tucked around them.
Thats it. I have recieved a few packages from her, unbelievable how nice the plants came out, no broken leaves, no soil messes. I just sent her my first plants wrapped the same way, and though it was awkward and not as nice as her packaging, it wasn't bad. I need a little more practice!
Thanks jmp.......wish I took the newspaper. I have been using tissue paper I buy in bulk........but I think the newspaper adds more protection............thanks to both of you!!
I don't know if this picture will help or not. I took some ideas from vendors who had sent me plants and they arrived in perfect condition.
I used round make up cotton pads and divided them in half once they were wet......to keep the soil in and moist.
Then I used saran wrap to cover the cotton pads and all soil.
Then I used masking tape across the little pots on top of the saran wrap.
Now I have to figure out how I am wrap these little plants headed to Rain..............she bought some......and some leaves. (hope you don't care that I said this, Amy)
I don't mind a bit, Gail! Woohoo! Those are mine? I can hardly wait til they arrive! LOL Thanks, Gail!
Now, Amy..........let's just say a little prayer that they get there safely through the US postal service. (LOL)
Those are so perfect Gail!!!!
So Amy, whatdyaget????!!! LOL I just ordered some stuff from her too. I can't wait!!!! I am going to have gessies and violets coming out of my ears! Spring should be a grand ole trading time for me!!! BTW, you don't have to answer on here. You can dmail me and we can chit chat offline!!!! I'll tell ya about my recent violet gallery order too!
My neighbor and I were talking and she said she recently saw a list about sending AV leaves. She said that it said the following:
1. Only put one leaf in each baggie that way if a leaf starts to rot it won't take its neighbors with it.
2. Never wrap the ends of the leaves with anything wet because it's a sure way to start rot. (I just got leaves from someone that were wrapped with paper towels and they were wonderful leaves as if just cut so this surprised me)
She also said to follow these rules about picking leaves:
1. Water the plant a few days before picking the leaves. If the plant is dry the leaves won't have enough water but the plant is too wet the leaves are not good either (she didn't tell me why). So just in the middle.
2. Always pick the leaves from the 2nd or 3rd row of the plant only. Never use rows on outer edges unless the plant only has 3 rows.
3. Pick leaves without any blemishes as these will likely rot. No cuts, discolorations, breaks or similar.
I think that's it but I may not have remembered everything she said.
Oh, just remembered another one:
4. Leave a long petiole (leaf stem) so that the person getting it can choose if they want to leave it long or cut it short since we each do that part differently.
I agree with a lot you said, Anna. Viostrep sends her leaves with long petioles and damp paper towel around the petiole.........two to a larger zip lock bag. They are heavenly to receive.
When you do receive leaves (miniatures and some semi minis) with short petioles, you can always turn the leaf over when you receive and cut into the leaf with a razor blade to make the petiole a little longer. Then you can make a new cut on the existing petiole......
I
Hmmm,
Something I read,but have never tried.When you make the new angled cut on an AV leaf,then carefully split the stem 1/4 of an inch.This makes it produce more babies.This came from an old AVS magazine.
If you are growing to sell or maybe for your AVS group or something it would be nice to have more but I sure do not need more that what I'm getting. On some of my leaves that are starting to show babies I have 3 or 4 on each! Others there is only one or two but that is enough for just me. Then again if I give them to all of you maybe I do need more!
Hello everyone, I'm new to the AV forum but wanted to add a little shipping info I used when shipping my starter plants. I put each wraped plant in a qt. freezer bag, then place the plant in a box from grocery stores that has cardboard dividers in them, like the ones sweet pickles or glass ketsup bottles come in. Next I blow up the bag to fill the divided section and tie it off like a ballon. This prevents any jostling of the plant. I did leaves the same way and had wonderful letters from my customers saying "No breakage!" Hope ya'll don't mind my 2 cents worth.
Loving everyone sharing ideas..........I am still looking for the clear bags with gussets like David Thompson uses. I think I have found them on line but am not sure of the right size......will find the site in a minute and ask you all.
Where do we buy the insulation that looks like this? It is the best for both heat and cold problems......but it doesn't have that horrible little sticky stuff that they put in your attic for insulationl
Thanks for any help..........
Here is the site, but now I don't know what sizes to order for shipping like plant_maniac does his african violets.
http://www.uline.com/BL_160/Uline-1-Mil-Gusseted-Poly-Bags
Help please (LOL)
Gail, why don't you email David and ask him what size he gets? He seems like a very nice guy and I'm sure he'd tell you.
Here is a wonderful site for bubble wrap, etc.............even the gusseted bags I think
http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/cat/info/7416/sub/4/category.web
I did.......he told me he bought thousands a couple of years ago and has no idea where he bought them on line...........he is always very nice...........I have some that Goldleaf sent me.......when I get the next plants from DAvid (hope to this week) I want to measure his against what Goldleaf sent me.........because they came from the same place and same material used. I did email Goldleaf but she doesn't even get on the computer anymore as her son and friend are usually on the computer.
Oh it's too bad we didn't do this before this started - the Round Robin I mean - because we could have shared them in the box with each other and each added a bit of money in to go back to the person who started it so we'd all have some.
Gail would you measure the bag Goldleaf sent you and post it for all of us? Even if it's not identical if it's a good size we could just order those. I suppose it would depend on the plants we are packing as they might vary a bit but if they are all young plants they would most likely be in a 3 oz Solo cup and that would probably fit in a 4 or 5" wide bag as long as the leaves didn't come out much past the edge. A 6" would be playing it very safe but maybe too big.
Goldleaf's bag is 4 inches across x 2 x 9
It holds everything but a 21/2" square or a 3" pot...........so I really need to order two sizes for me..........
But I am still waiting on winning something of David Thompson's tomorrow night so that I can measure his exactly........he always sends 21/2" square......
DAvid ties his with a pretty sharp tie.....but Goldleaf used to always first use saran wrap and then tie it with string in a double knot........
Oh yes 4" makes perfect sense because of the gusseting. maybe David's is a 5".
I am just itching to know.........before I order anything, but I wish someone could tell me where to get the good insulation as I will have to use it for both heat and cold.........it is the best. Heat packs can only be used when both sides have freezing temps or the plants will die at the first post office............
Have you asked at a store like Home Depot or similar? Maybe they could tell you what wouldn't cause problems and would be easy to cut and pack etc.
I need to do some calling as any store from out here is 30 minutes away..........thanks and I will start calling this week..........
This might help some people who haven't done this before. I know I didn't have the foggiest idea of how to do this until last fall's round robin.