A friend of mine just cuts a 8-10" cutting, throws it into a envelope and sends them first class (not even priority) to friends and she says they do fine.
I am going to start offering some cuttings for trade and want to make sure I have the proper shipping method before I do.
Can anyone provide info?
Mailing Plumeria cuttings
This method works great. They need to be mailed dry so that when you plant them the cut is 'healed' and won't rot.
I have to respectfully disagree with KayJones. I've purchased a lot of cuttings this year and mailed out a few myself. I always send and receive cuttings by Priority Mail, which takes 2-3 days. If cuttings are taxed or stressed too much from heat, cold, etc., they will have trouble rooting. They must be healthy to root well.
Usually, the cutting is cut a few days before mailing and immediately dipped in powdered rooting compound and allowed to sit in a cool shady place to heal over, but it can be mailed right away after cutting and dipping. All the leaves should be removed except for the smallest leaves at the top. The cutting is usually wrapped in newspaper and then placed in a Priority Mail Box with peanuts to fill the rest of the space of the box. Sometimes, when the cutting has multiple branches, the branches themselves are carefully wrapped in newspaper or bubblewrap to protect the growing tips which can be easily damaged in shipping. Also, oftentimes, the wrapped cutting is taped to the box so that it doesn't move around and get damaged in transit.
I, personally, would be very unhappy if I received a plumeria cutting in an envelope -- even a bubblewrap one. I just don't think that is enough protection for a cutting in transit from one place to another. Priority Mail boxes are free, and Priority Mail is not that much more expensive than First Class Mail, and I think your traders would prefer it this way.
Okay, my turn to chime in.. LOL
I agree with Clare, for the most part. except that I would not use bubble wrap any time except in cool weather. Being in Florida, buble wrap can shold too much moisture and can cause heat damage to the cutting if left in a hot post office or mail truck for a long persiod of time. Good Old Newspaper wrapped sveral times around and folded on the ends is fantastic in priority mail shippers, which I use.
As for cuttings and sending right away---ACK! That is scary indeed as Clare pointed out.
I recommend cutting them and dipping immediately in rooting powder that contains a fungicide (Roottone is one). Place in a very well ventilated, dry, and shady place for at least a day or two before sending. Cuttings survive much better this way. You can also do it without the rooting powder, but make sure the cut end only comes in contact with clean surfaces and not dirt etc.
Brad
Dittos to Clare and Brads advice!! HERE HERE!!
I have never recieved a damaged cutting in a priority box.
Despite the fact that sometimes the boxes get hammered.
I have recieved around 20 plants from Brad alone and have never been saddened by an injured plumie or adenium.
Packing is a skill like any other and if what you are shipping is worth shipping,
Then its worth packing with great care first.
Many of my most prized Plumies came taped to the boxes they were in to prevent any shifting.
I have spent as much as 15 minutes un-packing a single plant. (SCP) From Kathee @ MPG and it was worth te effort indeed!!
Imagine the letdown and heartache of seeing a long desired plumie broken. bruised or crushed and knowing that 10 more minutes of care would have prevented it.
Kudos tot he mega packers!!!
WEE-HOO!! 8D
I agree with Brad and Michael. Brad, you are so right about the bubble wrap. I meant to say that I've seen just the tips wrapped in bubble wrap to protect them, but you are right that it should only be done in cool weather, but with different weather across the country at different times, I suppose it is better just to avoid bubble wrap altogether to be on the safe side. Since KnotImpaired is in Puerto Rico, packages might take a little longer in transit, even with Priority Mail.
I appreciate the suggestions.
Would it be fair of me to offer a trade and not ask for anything in return until that person was happy?
Basically putting me in the back burner until they know I sent them something that will live?
Knot, I personally wouldn't do that either. Trades should be mailed at the same time on the same day, I feel, unless you are very comfortable with the person that you are trading with. There are members (subscribers only) that I have traded with in the past that I trust, and we mail trades out to each other at different times, and that is just fine, but if I've never traded with someone before, it is best if the trade goes out at the same time.
If the trader isn't happy with the condition of the item that you sent, you can send another or make amends some other way if you wish. If you take all the necessary steps like sending a healthy cutting, packing well, sending by Priority Mail, then you've done your part to make sure the trade is successful.
Personally, I don't trade anymore because I think it is a major hassle, time-consuming, and expensive to do it right, among other reasons, and most people do not take the same care in packaging and labeling, etc. It is worth it to me to purchase cuttings from reputable sources instead. If you are at all concerned that some people might not ship to you, you might try Florida Colors and Maui Plumeria Gardens because I believe they will ship to you, and their prices are very reasonable.
Thanks for the advice.
I have been very sucessful through Ebay as a buyer and everything has arrived alive and they have all thrived.
I don't mind getting burned a few times, but if it get's to be a habit I may not.
Other than stores here how does one offer to purchase and hope it arrives.
Knot, I'm not sure of what you are asking. Both Florida Colors and Maui Plumeria Gardens have web sites that you can order from, but you can call them first if you are unsure about whether they will ship to you.
Clare,
I just checked out the 2 sellers you recommended and found that Maui Plumeria Gardens has generic rainbow, red/pink, white and yellow cuttings 60 for $225.00.
Dang! And us not able to do co-ops anymore!!!
At $3.75 a cutting I'd take a my chances with a (or several ;-> ) generic any day of the week!
Yes, I know it! You can get a named one from there that is a mystery for $7.95, which also isn't a bad deal, and we can usually help you identify it from her selection. Sometimes, she sends an extra one as a gift with purchase. That's not a bad route to go either.
I thought about doing a co-op a while ago when she had bags of Candy Stripe for super cheap, but co-op's weren't allowed here anymore, and I just don't have the time to do one anyway.
ok,
Let me put my 2 cents in. I got cuttings from someone locally and put them in the garage meaning to get back to them. Well, something got tossed over them and they sat in the garage all winter just like that. no dirt, no moisture, no light to speak of. When I unearthed them in the spring, they were still green and some even had signs of growth even though they were not even rooted. I planted them shortly afterwards and they are all nice healthy plants today. If anything, I have killed a few by overpampering them.
Jan...
This message was edited Oct 20, 2005 12:02 PM
Over pampering was a biggie for me.
I have learned to ignore them when rooting, once I set them up.
I got the ^0 rainbow cuttings from MPG and they were all Kauka Wilder and almost allo of them made it I think I only lost about 6 from the whole bunch like you said for under 4 bucks you can't go wrong.
Roger