If the plants were sent in a priority mail box then there should really be no issues with squishing. However, if they were sent by a bubble mailer then that is definitely a possibility. If you're afraid of the plants getting squished it's safer to send them by priority mail.
How to properly ship plants?
I got some plants which were wrapped in a damp paper towel, bubble wrap, a plastic foam, then put into a small bag, then a big bag, then a brown pouch.
They were squished to death
So I figured I should find out: Whats the proper way to send plants for future reference.
They were squished to death
So I figured I should find out: Whats the proper way to send plants for future reference.
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Sounds like "brown pouch" was the deal breaker.
I ship in USPS priority boxes and so far no crunched plants. Most stuff goes in a damp towel in a zip lock and that in a plastic bag.
Very delicate stuff like Downoi, I send in a deli container , then in a zip lock.
My vote for best packaging goes to Speedie408, Nick's shipping mgr. is the best. Also, very good at shipping is ohbaby.
I ship in USPS priority boxes and so far no crunched plants. Most stuff goes in a damp towel in a zip lock and that in a plastic bag.
Very delicate stuff like Downoi, I send in a deli container , then in a zip lock.
My vote for best packaging goes to Speedie408, Nick's shipping mgr. is the best. Also, very good at shipping is ohbaby.
Yeah ive gotten plants from newer shippers in the old bubble wrap and theyre squished and cooked to death. Priority is the only way. I ship them just like fish in a bag, rubber band to make a nice little pouch
Sent from my DROIDX
Sent from my DROIDX
Sounds like "brown pouch" was the deal breaker.
I ship in USPS priority boxes and so far no crunched plants. Most stuff goes in a damp towel in a zip lock and that in a plastic bag.
Very delicate stuff like Downoi, I send in a deli container , then in a zip lock.
My vote for best packaging goes to Speedie408, Nick's shipping mgr. is the best. Also, very good at shipping is ohbaby714. They should write the sticky on the topic.
I ship in USPS priority boxes and so far no crunched plants. Most stuff goes in a damp towel in a zip lock and that in a plastic bag.
Very delicate stuff like Downoi, I send in a deli container , then in a zip lock.
My vote for best packaging goes to Speedie408, Nick's shipping mgr. is the best. Also, very good at shipping is ohbaby714. They should write the sticky on the topic.
Shipping in bubble mailers, even if priority, is iffy at best unless it's moss or you splurge on rigid plastic containers.
What I do is wrap plants in damp paper towel, put it in a plastic bag with a small cushion of air, seal the bag, wrap that in newspaper or styrofoam, put it in the box, stuff wadded paper in the spare spaces and seal the box.
Don't put a lot of water in the bag.
What I do is wrap plants in damp paper towel, put it in a plastic bag with a small cushion of air, seal the bag, wrap that in newspaper or styrofoam, put it in the box, stuff wadded paper in the spare spaces and seal the box.
Don't put a lot of water in the bag.
I use wet paper towel sealed with good heavy duty plastic sealer.
Does anybody knew if a small priority box can be place inside a clear plastic bag and sealed to prevent water leak? Is this OK with the USPS?
Does anybody knew if a small priority box can be place inside a clear plastic bag and sealed to prevent water leak? Is this OK with the USPS?
I've done this as a side business for about 3 years now, 100's of shipments and I've only ever used bubble mailers and I've never had a bad shipment. I use the plastic ones similar to a UPS bubble mailer. What I do is put the plant in a zip lock bag, squeeze all the air of it, then put all the zip locks into a big zip lock bag and close it without squeezing the air out of it so as to create somewhat of a bubble. Someone would have to stomp on it for it to crush, which could happen I guess but hasn't yet...Shipping boxes priority post in Canada is alot more expensive. This keeps the costs down and works very well...
Of course. What Im trying to say when the bag inside leaks, the box gets messed up. Even if the outer box is sealed with clear tape.Put bag inside box
Double bag it. Almost every plant delivery I've got from this site has been a small priority box with the plants in a single ziplock bag with a tiny bit of water or a slightly damp paper towel. Every single time it has worked. If you are concerned about the bag breaking open, put another bag over the first one.Of course. What Im trying to say when the bag inside leaks, the box gets messed up. Even if the outer box is sealed with clear tape.
The guy charged me $10 for 6 small stems because he said he was putting them in a box. I feel completely ripped off. As soon as I opened it I was like... why is it triple wrapped?
Thank you for the tips though. I figure if anything maybe I can give people tips on how to do it.
I should also add in that the package took 4 days to get here. I was over to get them about 2 hours after they were dropped off, and they weren't outside.
Thank you for the tips though. I figure if anything maybe I can give people tips on how to do it.
I should also add in that the package took 4 days to get here. I was over to get them about 2 hours after they were dropped off, and they weren't outside.
This question comes up a lot: good time to make a step-by-step instructional post.
I've recieved a bunch a of plants, most were damp paper towel or newspaper in ziplock bag in priority box, all were fine (except one that was returned to the shipper completly crushed, like run over and stomped on)
The BEST I ever received was from FrenchFry, she blew up individual fish store type bags with a plant in each and tied off - everything looked picture perfect, no flattening, no crushing.
The BEST I ever received was from FrenchFry, she blew up individual fish store type bags with a plant in each and tied off - everything looked picture perfect, no flattening, no crushing.
No paper towels, priority box, ziplock bag and shreadded paper---all you need.
I take the plants directly out of the tank and let them drip off for just a second and then carfully place them in a ziplock bag. I then blow a small amount of air into it and then roll up the sealed end till the bag is inflated and then put package tape around the bag to hold it. I then place some shredded paper or packaging nuts in the bottom of the box, place the plants in the middle and more packaging material on top. Tape the box shut, weigh it, print my label and ship. You can ask anyone that has receive plants from me that they arrive in perfect condition...no squished plants, no dead plants...alive and ready to be planted.
I take the plants directly out of the tank and let them drip off for just a second and then carfully place them in a ziplock bag. I then blow a small amount of air into it and then roll up the sealed end till the bag is inflated and then put package tape around the bag to hold it. I then place some shredded paper or packaging nuts in the bottom of the box, place the plants in the middle and more packaging material on top. Tape the box shut, weigh it, print my label and ship. You can ask anyone that has receive plants from me that they arrive in perfect condition...no squished plants, no dead plants...alive and ready to be planted.
It's really better to not use wet paper towels when shipping plants. That just encourages the plants to rot. Just take the wet plant and seal it in a baggie (make sure it really is sealed). That will trap in the moisture, maintaining a high humidity level. Humidity is better than stagnant water from either dripping water or wet paper towels.
This is absolutely perfect. And, yes, I have received plants from you, and they were as good as you stated.No paper towels, priority box, ziplock bag and shreadded paper---all you need.
I take the plants directly out of the tank and let them drip off for just a second and then carfully place them in a ziplock bag. I then blow a small amount of air into it and then roll up the sealed end till the bag is inflated and then put package tape around the bag to hold it. I then place some shredded paper or packaging nuts in the bottom of the box, place the plants in the middle and more packaging material on top. Tape the box shut, weigh it, print my label and ship. You can ask anyone that has receive plants from me that they arrive in perfect condition...no squished plants, no dead plants...alive and ready to be planted.
I do not know why people are using wet paper towels again. This was something I was advised against a few years ago when I first asked how to properly package plants for shipping. It seems somewhere down the line, the information got lost, and people resorted back to using wet paper towels.
I have also received plants from some of those who have posted in this thread who are using wet paper towels, and while the plants arrived in good condition, I have to say they were not in the same condition as plants I receive without the wet paper towels. The heat makes this even worse as it causes the plants to decay faster when they're too wet. One way to think about it is to think about how DSM is done. High humidity creates success while overly wet causes problems.
It is not my intention to criticize anyone's packing method or to complain about any of the plants I have received as they all arrived in great shape and I am very appreciative of the great work you have all done. My intention is only to offer the suggestion that there may be an even better way to package the plants so all the hard work you've put in to growing your beautiful plants will shine through as best as possible after being shipped.
Well said! I agree with the paper towel especially when it starts to warm up. The paper towel acts as a heat blanket and quickly turns the roots or stems to mush. I learned this first hand when I first stated out shipping when I wrapped a bunch of L Aromatica in wet paper towels and when it arrived the stems were mush and all the leaves had fallen off. I am also just trying to help and not criticize :thumbsup:This is absolutely perfect. And, yes, I have received plants from you, and they were as good as you stated.
I do not know why people are using wet paper towels again. This was something I was advised against a few years ago when I first asked how to properly package plants for shipping. It seems somewhere down the line, the information got lost, and people resorted back to using wet paper towels.
I have also received plants from some of those who have posted in this thread who are using wet paper towels, and while the plants arrived in good condition, I have to say they were not in the same condition as plants I receive without the wet paper towels. The heat makes this even worse as it causes the plants to decay faster when they're too wet. One way to think about it is to think about how DSM is done. High humidity creates success while overly wet causes problems.
It is not my intention to criticize anyone's packing method or to complain about any of the plants I have received as they all arrived in great shape and I am very appreciative of the great work you have all done. My intention is only to offer the suggestion that there may be an even better way to package the plants so all the hard work you've put in to growing your beautiful plants will shine through as best as possible after being shipped.
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