Here's the question "du jour" up for discussion:
Trading in the cold winter months in zones 6 or below...
Could we? Should we? How should we if so? Are postal boxes kept in heated areas while en route? How much cold would actually make it into the box past the newspapers and bubble wraps? Has anyone dared sending this time of year or later? Successes, failures...?
Any thoughts or experiences?
:) This (and maybe other) inquiring minds would looove to know......!
-gt-
Winter Months Plant Trading (Do We Dare???)
Thanks for starting this thread!!! I have some plants I would love to ship out of here. I read on EBay about "heat" being added to the box!! Anyone have any idea what that could be??
Judy
My husband uses a product called "Heat" It's chemical heat that when you put the two chemicals together, they generate instant heat. The "Heat" he uses though burns very hot - wouldn't want to chance it. I have actually waited until my plants were dormant to send them to friends. I found better results packing the bare roots in barely moist peat mossshavings and send them to them than to ship plants where they may cook in some building somewhere. Anyway, no expert here but thought I'd chime in :)
HTH
Mindy Eilers
Here are some of the ways I've had luck shipping & getting plants with heat packs...Hope it helps...
I've had tender plants like African Violets and Episcias shipped with those
"hand warmer-heater packets " that hunters use . You can get them at Academy stores or any other place that sells hunting equipment.
I do suggest putting something like a piece of cardboard between the plant and the heat pack though, because I have had plants destroyed by the extreme temp changes from one zone area to another and it also makes a greenhouse effect,so you need to place the plant in a protected spot and gradually let the plant get used to normal air conditions. It's very much like growing a plant in a plastic bag & slowly opening the bag to acclimate the plant.
You might also try using styrofoam sheets cut to fit as a lining inside the box.
That works very well and doesn't harm the plants. Just add a little newspaper around the plant to chusion it in the box.
You could also ship them in those cheap styrofoam ice chest.
Hope those suggestions help get the winter trades done.
MsC
Thank You for taking the time to proved the information!!
Judy
Wow, what great ideas! And using styrofoam & newspapers work even when it's bitter, like 10 degrees? I would hope I'd have the common sense to not ship a plant in weather like that (LOL) but one never knows... -gt-
I don't know if I can hold off on shipping plants, I need at least a few to get me through winter!
How many hand packs do you use and don't they stop working after 8 hours?