Ok! I'm getting my secret trade ready to mail. But it's been awhile sense I've mailed off any daylilies. Are these one of the plants we mail dry? (no damp paper towels and baggies)
Thank you, Joy
CLOSED: How to package daylilies for mailing?
yes, mail them dry:) with priority mail, they arrive almost perfect:)
Yes Joy - mail them dry. I know a lot of people are afraid to mail them dry but daylilies can handle being dry for weeks. In fact, last year when I divided some of mine ... I lost some fans that I know I had set aside for someone. About 3 weeks later I found them baking in my greenhouse ..... all brown and shriveled up. I stuck them back in the ground anyways - and the darn things bloomed this summer. There's less chance of them rotting or getting moldy when they're mailed dry.
Thank you tiG and Poppysue. I thought so. But wanted to make sure. Joy
Thanks for the advice, I too was going to ship some, and now I know to let them dry.
pebble, you really don't have to let them dry. Just wash them, and wrap newspaper around the roots. Don't use the wet paper towel/baggie method. Any water that gets on the newspaper will dry real fast.
Do you mean I could have been just tossing them in the box all this time! Well, that makes life easier! Thanks for the info. John
wetting them and sending like most other plants can cause them to rot. I got real lucky earlier this summer, before I knew. (at least I think I got lucky, no one ever said they got them in bad shape:)
Okay, I did an experiment and sent 12 of the same daylily across the country. 6 were wrapped in damp paper towel and plastic wrap, and a half dozen were sent dry in newspaper. The ones kept moist arrived in FAR better condition- perfect, actually. The others looked BAD. My trader sent me pictures taken upon arrival! Maybe it doesn't matter in the long run, daylilies being adaptable, but I am going back to the moist method, so I can place better looking plants in someone's hands! Just my experience... John
Okay, it looks like maybe we need to add an update to the trading primer specifically addressing how to ship daylilies? I have received them:
1. Dry roots, wrapped in newspaper
2. Whole plant tucked in ziplock baggie - fairly moist
3. Wet towels + baggie around roots
Those that were moist packed seemed greener and healthier than those that were dry, BUT this time of year, some of their condition will depend on where the daylily is coming from and if it's an evergreen or dormant variety. All seem to be doing equally well in their beds once I get them planted.
I'll be glad to work up a section specifically for packaging daylilies if you can give me some specifics on what you recommend.
I have been told (and have taken the advice) to soak the daylily roots overnight in a weak fertilizer solution before planting.
Let's hear from everyone so we can hopefully settle on the recommended packaging technique (or alternatives) for daylilies....
Good idea, go_vols. I would add that the only plants I received in any trade NOT in good condition were those completely enclosed in a plastic bag. Now, none of these were daylilies, but the combination of heat and enclosed plastic seems to cause overheating followed by rotting. This is pretty much what we are trying to avoid by shipping dry rather than even enclosing the roots. I have soaked the roots after receiving them with good results. I like to do that for 24 hours only, but for various reasons a recent trade sat for several days...no harm done, and new grwoth has started already! John
Folks, it does not matter!!! I dug some early last fall and they set on my arbor porch (concrete) all fall and winter. They looked awful!!!! I was sick and could not set them out til spring. I worried about them not getting set out. But, I set them out in the spring and they "all" came up.
I talked with others about daylillies and found out that some people dig and let sit like that til next year. In northern climates, it would be a problem!!
So, receiving dry roots are no problem as long as they are not totally shriveled.
This is very good information, everyone. Here's a question that came to my mind:
Should daylilies that are growing be handled differently than those that are dormant? (Cut off the fans, ship dry vs. in soil, etc.)
Or to ask the question another way, is there an optimal time of year to dig and divide daylilies? Is there a time when they absolutely should not be disturbed?
I think if the answer is "it doesn't matter" that's still good, reassuring information to give to new traders who may be hesitant to offer some things for trade if they're not sure when and how to divide and package :)
go_vols, I have moved them at all seasons without them slowing down at all. The only time I'd wait is if they are about to bloom, although I have had trades arrive with buds that opened! But, I think the "optimal" time would be in spring when the new shoots are a couple inches high...