Does anyone know where I can pick up some Christmas moss (Not Java moss) in the Northern VA area? May consider other moss if Christmas moss is out of reach. It's very expensive to buy online with shipping. Thanks.
I've got a ton, I prune and throw some away almost weekly. I could ship you a small culture (in a ziplock baggie, with a damp towel?) in a standard letter envelope with a 42 cent stamp (49 cent? "Forever stamp" cent).
It's growing in both my home and work tank and while my tank at home has a bit of hair algae my work tank appears algae free and I'd pluck you a piece from there.
Sorry to butt in, but I read this and asked hubby about it as he works for the post office.
If you try to send moss as you plan on, the moss is going to get squashed. It will also probably cost you more than a regular stamp as all letters and packages are weighed. If you shove it in a mail box and it weighs more than what is covered by the stamp, they will send it back to you.
His suggestion was if you're going to send moss, send it as a package. Even a padded envelope would be better than a regular one. The price difference to ship isn't going to be huge.
If you send it in any kind of envelope without a box inside there's a good chance you will end up with algae juice as Smooch was alluding to. A small box sent 1st class up to 8oz should only cost $2.60 through paypal online. Sending moss priority mail IMO is a waste of money. '
A small package 1st class many times will arrive just as fast as priority and even if it's a few days longer the moss will be fine as long as it's not left out on the receiving end for a long period of time.
OP can do whatever, but when I order plants, I have them shipped Priority as I know how the post office can be sometimes. I also have limits in regards to where I'll buy plants from in terms of where they are coming from.
I paid for Priority shipping for a plant order from CA once and I'll never do it again. The person I ordered from wasn't the problem. It was the post office. The package got tied up for 2 days at a processing plant in CA, then when it finally got to the east coast, it sat in Hew Hampshire for another 2 days. By the time it got to my local PO, the plants were DOA.
The seller wasn't happy with me when I brought this to his attention, but what can a person do. It wasn't his fault and he had the ability to put in a insurance claim. Whether he did or not, who knows but I learned my lesson and I was given a refund.
Thanks for all the good advice and proper.noun's offer. The heat combined with distance makes it a big challenge. I don't want to see your effort goes to waste. If you were in the East coast, it might work. Thanks again.
Someone took me up on my offer via PM so I dropped an envelope full of some in the mail today, destined for the East Coast. I wrapped it in a damp paper towel, put that in a ziplock bag, folded it in card stock, and finally put it all in an envelope. Weighed in at just under 1 oz thus requiring a single 49 cent stamp.
Cost me very little time, money, and effort I'm just curious/anxious to see if it'll result in a viable culture.
Its no problem sending in a envelope/padded mailer doesn't really matter but some just don't like receiving their moss all smashed up. Thats why i go box
There is that, but a well packed box also protects the plants from heat and cold.
My last plant order came in fine, but the Creeping Charlie I bought is still recovering from the heat it endured. It has all new growth, but it is taking awhile.
The plants came packed in wet paper which were in plastic to retain moisture, which was wrapped in wet newspaper and that was wrapped in insulation. I don't think the plants would have survived 100 degree weather if they were packed in a padded bag.
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