Shipping Plants

[Aulonocara_Freak]

So i'm trying my first real attempt at shipping and what advice can you guys give me?

As of what I've researched it's a debate to wrap in paper...

So here's what I know

Take the plants out of the tank
Dip them in the tank
"Shake" the extra water off the plant
Put the plant in a bag
Fill the box, or whatever your shipping with, with newspaper as insulation and stuffing
Put the bag in the box
Ship the package

is that all right or have I missed a step?

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Aulonocara_Freak,

Here you go!

[greenman857]

I've had good luck shipping in the cube postal box, not prepaid. Keep it under 1lb and I think it'll go anywhere in the C.U.S for about $6.

I use zip lock bags with a little water and a little air so the plants aren't crushed. I line the box with bubble wrap and wrap each bag in so insulating foam but I'm in NE so things can get cold.

I don't usually wrap in paper, but do sometimes if they're are more that one plant in a baggy.

Label the baggy before you put the plant in as it gets hard to do after.

Be super careful bags are sealed and don't use too much water pretty sure the USPS hates leaky boxes and probably freaks them out as well.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Aulonocara_Freak]

Originally Posted by Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Aulonocara_Freak,

Here you go!

Thank's for the link but I've already read through that.

I just wanted to make sure that my steps were the right way to go.


As far as bulb plants go, should I wrap them in a paper towel or no, and what about plant's like val's?

[junglefowl]

Here is what I do everytime:
- Trim the plants
- Take the plants off the tank and put on newspaper immediately!!!
- Wrap the newspaper gently to cover the plants
- Put that newspaper into a ziplock bag then seal it
- Put the ziplock bag in the shipping box...make sure there is no movement for the ziplock bag in the box (put in newspaper or bubble bag as needed)
- Then ship.

P/s: every step is done at the same day, if the newspaper is not wet enough from the plants, spray some tank water to it...

[Aulonocara_Freak]

So I should wrap all plant's in newspaper, I though it was only stem plant's?

[junglefowl]

Everyone has their own way...I use newspaper for all of my plants but others use paper towel as well...

[Knotyoureality]

Originally Posted by Aulonocara_Freak

So I should wrap all plant's in newspaper, I though it was only stem plant's?

The absorbant material--newspaper, papertowel, etc--keeps the high humidity level needed to keep the plant moist without having water sloshing around or, if there's a problem, leaking out. Any plant you ship is going to benefit from this, stems or otherwise.

I ship terrestial plant cuttings the same way.

[Aulonocara_Freak]

Alright so

Take the plants out of the tank
Dip them in the tank
Wrap them lightly in newspaper/paper towel
Put the plant in a bag
Fill the box, or whatever your shipping with, with newspaper as insulation and stuffing
Put the bag in the box
Ship the package

Does that seem right guys?

[talontsiawd]

I have found that I get the same results from doing the following, or so it seems, obviously I don't receive the plants I ship...

1. Trim plants, put into bag, blow some air in.
2. Trim plants, shake off, wrap in newspaper/paper towel with little moisture, blow into bag.
3. Upon request, trim plants, leave about 1/4 of bag with water in it, try to keep everything submerged, leaving not so much co2/oxygen so plants don't have a way to get out of being in water (not recommended).

I have had almost all good experiences, a few bad with each. I attribute most of my bad shipments (nothing dead, just rougher than the buyer/ROAK person wanted) to poor temperature and long shipping times. Think Christmas time (lucky this year) and summer heat waves. d

I personally like #1, from a seller and buyer aspect. It's easier on both sides, seems to be consistently good, and the plants just look better.


However, if someone is buying/receiving a ROAK, I tend to ask them how they want shipped. That way their is no issue in the end. If they don't know or care, I do my first way.