What's your best tip(s) for plant/seed trading?

No,it isn't the "norm" with my trading ethics and realize things can happen' I was giving an example only' Many have contributed their trading ethics and a rating of traders has also been mentioned in many posts'

There are many pro/cons concerning ratings and believe that ratings should be personal,if such is possible and not shared content'

In my way of thinking,there is a lesson in everything''Many would like to contribute and all should be given much thought before any guidelines are established'

And once again, if anything I have posted has offended anyone,I do appologize' Sis'

The United States Post Office supplies Priority Boxes and envelopes for free. Also Tape and labels are free. These boxes and tape & labels are available at most post offices.

For large quantities you can order them through the internet & they will be delivered to your door. Free.
Click on the hyperlink:

http://supplies.usps.gov

Thanks daffydill,use them everyday to ship,good info'

i just noticed this thread, i have already made some mistakes i see. cause i am sure my seeds are sticking to tape. i am so sorry. if you recieve something like this from me, please let me know and i will try to replace the seeds if i have any. And I promise to do better! I have noticed how i have been getting seeds sent to me, so I will copy that. So sorry if I have messed anyones seeds up!

How I send plants even in the summer heat and they arrive in good shape.

I lift the plants with a small amount of dirt on the roots
then I wrap in newspaper and secure with tape
wet this newspaper but not to dripping
then wrap with plastic and secure it good so water cannot excape
then wrap the whole plant in dry newsapaper, secure it snuggly around the root ball and turn the top dow and secure so that moisture is not left to evaporate thru the leaves.
the other day i found a box of passion vinws i had fixed and forgot to mail when i hurt my leg. these plants had been sealed in the box for ten days and were still alive and green. I repotted them to let them get over the shock before mailing them out.

the way i ship plants:

i ONLY ship plants on Monday no other days to prevent the plant from baking or frying in shipping warehouses. i ship plants only via priority mail, with delivery confirmation receipt attached - allow both sender and receiver to track the shipment... fool proof and no one can deny they did not received the plants sent out. also i understand from local post office friends... they take special attention on boxes w/ Del. Confirm. attached.

i am a firm believer in B1 fertilizer formula: 1 tbs. liquid B1 fertilizer plus 1 gal. water. i buy B1 at Home Depot, where all the liquid fertilizers are located. i also use this formula in propagating cuttings and other plants. divide the formula in half. 1/2 for soaking the plants, the other 1/2 to soak the peat moss in.

advance preparation is a must, specially during warm or hot weather. presoaking plants give them enough 'moisture' to endure the trip they are about to experience on their journey. i treat plants like i would treat my best friend... never take anything for granted. so far, everyone who rcvd plants i sent out are overwhelmed when they rcvd plants i sent them. plants are super happy... happy too :)!!!

1. two days before shipping, soak the rooted plant or cuttings in 1/2 of the formula. on the other half soak the peat moss too.

2. on morning of shipping, assemble:
a. cut 24" aluminum foil and fold in half. set aside.
b. take a 6" vinyl used mini blinds - write the name of the plant on the vinyl.
c. gather enough crumbled newspaper or shredded paper to nest the plants in snugly. this part i used only for one or two plants for shipment. otherwise the more plants u ship... there is no need for this.
d. assemble the priority box... close one side only.
e. print priority label and delivery confirmation receipt.

3. now the dirty part:
a. lay folded foil on a flat surface, the v or angular part next to u [make pocket out of it later.]
b. squeeze out as much water off the peat moss. about two handful for me since my hands are small ;).
c. spread the peat moss on the lower 10" off the edge of foil.
d. shake off most of the soil from the plant's root ball.
e. lay the rooted part against the peat moss. evenly cover the root ball with more peat moss. [evenly spread out the wet peat moss. use only enough peat moss that will retain moisture around the root ball.]
f. fold in the lower v part of the foil against the root covered with peat moss. fold into the center [root ball] both sides of the foil.
g. pick up the foil, forming a pocket on the root ball part. squeeze the foil between the root and plant. this process is where u secure all the moisture on the root ball. be sure to squeeze tight so moisture won't escape.
h. secure the rest of the upper portion of the plant with the upper portion of the foil.
4. place the root ball the almost florist like foil wrapped plant inside the box. nestle the plant in between newspaper or shredded paper. only and only if u got one or two plants in the box. otherwise pack in all the plants inside the box.
5. seal the box. attached both - printed label and delivery confirmation receipt on the plant box.
6. take to the post office and mail.

note: if peat moss is not available - used wet newspaper or paper towel along with the aluminum foil.

shredded dry paper or newspaper nestled against the plant, help retain moisture inside the box and protect plants against the elements.

i have shipped plants both in the midst of summer and dead winter... so far, everyone that received plants are happy. accdg to receiver of plants i sent out, the plants looked liked they never traveled at all.

this system of shipping too made it easy for reciever cause all they do is directly plant to the ground or pot.

if these steps sound complicated, it is not. it really is simple. i formulated these in my head with common sense, which i got tons of. pls. feel free to ask question if i got u confuse ... ma vie rose

A quick status update: I have an outline put together (it has been together for a while, in fact), and I'll be using it to organize all these great plus the others I found on old threads.

Angelsong, if you're still interested in helping edit, I'll send you a draft version of it by the end of this week, and hopefully we can get it finalized pretty quick.

Thanks again to everyone who has given their input! Feel free to continue to offer tips and techniques here; I'll check back frequently and add any additional items to the draft in progress.

I THINK THAT THE SEEDS SHOULD BE CLEANED. WITH SMALL SEEDS I USE MY SMALL STRAINER, THIS LETS THE SEEDS FALL THROUGH BUT THE CHAFF STAYS IN THE STRAINER. WHEN IT IS A NEW SEEDS YOU ARE TRADING FOR YOU DON'T WANT TO INADVERTANTLY THROW OUT THE SEED AND PLANT THE CHAFF.
TRAILINGON

Well, I really don't have anything to add to this forum, for I myself am still learning as I go, and have learned alot by reading soooo many of the forums here @ Dave's Garden.

Basically, what I wanted to say was to thank all of you for the wonderful information that was posted and I especially would like to thank Go-Vols for starting this forum up. She and others deserve alot of recognition here @ DG, so to you Vols, I Thank You.
All My Best
CoCo

I just wanted to say. that when trading with me, please put the botanical names to the seed packets also if you know them, and the reply address so I know where it comes from :-)

And your email address, many doesn't include it.

HOW I STAY ORGANIZED:

I copy every email I get and use that adding as I go until the trade is finished. then i file it in the completed folder but I always have it on hand to check thinkgs out.
when i get a request for seeds for an sase i go ahead and mark those seeds with the persons name and attach them to the email or paper i am using for the trade. that way i make sur i don't promise seeds i donot have.
i also have an address book strictly for seed trading.
illist the persons name in alphabetical order according to their web name. then list there name and addy below it. this really helps save alot of time,.

when replying e-mails about trades, please put your 'dg' name in with your mail, i get so confused sometimes because i can't match the names up! also please put your address and dg name on the envelope, makes life much easier! this thread has been a great help to me, and i'll sure be doing things a little differently now! thanks all for some wonderful advice.

lil

this is a great thread and i'm learning with each message written. thank you all.

i don't know if this worked well, no one ever said it did or didn't, but i used the cardboard from toilet tissue and paper towels over the tops of the plants, i shipped out. I felt this would help them not be crushed or damaged. I used paper towels and a baggy/ziplock around the roots. Then taped the cardboard to the plastic bag.

I also use plastic bags for filler. The ones you get everything from groceries to clothes in. Another way to recycle.

As a newbie to the gardening world, i ask a lot of questions. I was told that the only foolish question is the one not asked.

As a newbie if I don't have what I feel is a "good enough" trade (example secret trade) etc. I will include an item or 2 or 3 from my crafting/painting talents, usually garden related. I have also done and am presently doing this instead of a plant or seeds. Just as collecting seeds, nurturing plants etc takes time, crafting and painting can take many hours to achieve a final product.

I agree whole heartedly with being specific and honest. I want to know what i did wrong because then i can change it now, before i repeat the process because i haven't heard otherwise.

Fun, Fun, Fun. do unto others as you would have others do unto you. give with an open heart. understanding, I could be the one with the problems tomorrow. I've heard all of these and i agree whole heartedly.