How to Mail an Aquatic Plant

Contributor

By Brent Saltzman
eHow Contributing Writer

Plants are a beautiful part of many home aquariums; they often bring a greener, more natural ambiance to any tank. Many online retailers have steady supplies of aquatic plants that they can ship to almost anywhere in the world---even to your front door. Because they are living organisms, however, the process by which they are shipped, including the packaging involved, is very different than normal shipping and requires a great amount of care to ensure the health of the plant.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Newspaper
Dechlorinated water
Plastic bag large enough to house plant
Styrofoam box with lid
Cardboard box approximately the same size as Styrofoam box
Knife
Packaging tape

Shipping Aquarium Plants

Step 1

Soak a bit of newspaper in some dechlorinated water, and place it at the bottom of the plastic bag.
Step 2

Place the plant in the bag, with its roots buried in the damp newspaper.
Step 3

Slip the Styrofoam box into the cardboard box so that it fits snugly.
Step 4

Use the knife to cut some slits in the side of the box to allow for proper ventilation and airflow. The slits should cut through both the cardboard and the Styrofoam.
Step 5

Place the bag with the newspaper and plant into the Styrofoam box, and place the lid over top of it.
Step 6

Close the cardboard box, and seal it with packaging tape.
Step 7

At your local parcel delivery office, make sure it is sent "overnight," as the fragility of the plants may not allow for extended trips.

Tips & Warnings

To transfer plants a short distance---maybe to a neighbor's house or a convenient drive away---instead of shipping them, simply place the plant into a plastic bag with a little bit of water from the tank the plant came from at the bottom. Then tie off the bag, securing the plant inside. The plant should survive healthily for over two hours in this state, allowing you to transport it. This method is commonly used by pet shops that sell aquatic plants. However, if you are thinking of sending plants vast distances (taking more than one day to arrive at the intended destination), consider purchasing a cartridge of CO2 from a local hardware store and injecting some into the plant bags. Injecting CO2 and then sealing the bags with a rubber band may extend the life of the plant while in transit.
Make sure that the customer or any other person receiving the plants is given a delivery schedule by the parcel company. This is to ensure that the recipient is there promptly when the plants arrive and can get them into their new aquarium immediately to prevent any potential damage.