packing for trading

Wondering how to package water plants for safe sending.

I'm not an expert but let me try to help you. There's varying opinions on this subject so don't take what I say "to the bank". You didn't mention what plants you're wanting to ship and/or how far they're going. Any plants I've received during the hot days of summer were all packed securely in good heavy boxes with a cold pac inside. I'm assuming that was to keep the plants cool during those hot truck rides. If you're shipping floating plants the entire plant can go into about gallon size bags with water inside the bag. Of course this is depending on how many floaters you're sending. Also be sure there's lots of air inside the gallon bag. You wouldn't want your recipient to receive smooshed plants. :) Certainly you can go into wrapping the roots in very wet papertowels but I've never rec'd them that way. If you're shipping waterlilies the roots should be wrapped in very wet papertowels and a layer of wet newspaper. Then wrap them in plastic wrap and secure the plastic wrap so it stays put. The concept is to keep the roots as wet as possible in shipment. You probably could put some peat moss also on the roots to again, maintain moisture in shipment. You don't need to keep the pads wet. This method of protection would most likely work also for marginal plants.

It seems waterplants don't handle shipping well and no matter what you do they loose some growth. But I know from personal experience it is very possible.

Hope this helps and Happy gardening!!

"T" :)

Thanks "T" ,
Another member is shipping me floaters, lettuce and hyacinth. Neither one of knew how to package them. What you recommend sounds great!
koko

I packaged and received floaters in double ziplock bags with a little water. Everything else, is root wrapped with 2 very wet papertowels and then the root/towel area is wrapped good with saran wrap with one/two layers of newspaper(dry) around the whole thing.
charlotteda