How to Ship Green Pot Plants in a Box
As the popularity of indoor and specialty gardens grows and use of the internet to purchase hard-to-find plants increases, shipping has become a popular method of delivery. It is possible to ship and receive live plants from other states and all over the world. Be sure to know your location's specific import and agricultural laws before you attempt to ship or receive any live plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard box
- Packing tape
- Shredded newspaper or pillow stuffing
- Masking tape
- Newspaper unshredded
- Packing peanuts (optional)
Instructions
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Securing the Plant
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1
Stuff shredded newspaper or synthetic pillow stuffing fibers around the base of the plant. This holds the potting media in if the plant gets tossed upside down. Make sure it is all covered, and squish it down so it holds all the soil inside the pot.
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2
Tape the shredded paper or fibers down with masking tape. Attach one end of the tape to the side of the pot, then run it across the top of the shredded paper; attach the other end to the other side of the pot. Criss-cross the top of the pot like this until all the shredded newspaper is held in place against the soil and nothing falls out when you turn the pot upside down.
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3
Lay the plant on it's side on top of a sheet of unfolded newspaper so that the bottom of the pot is at the edge of the paper in one corner.
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4
Tape the edge of the paper to the side of the pot to hold it in place. Roll the pot up in the paper so that it is a tight cylinder with the pot at the bottom and the plant near the top, like you would wrap cut flowers. For taller plants you may need to do this with a second sheet of paper if the plant sticks out of the top of the cylinder.
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5
Fold over the top of the newspaper cylinder and tape it down so the top of the plant is secure, but not crushed in the newspaper roll.
Packing
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6
Select a box that is a few inches longer than the plant you want to ship, including the pot. Make sure it is deep and wide enough for the plant to fit into with a few inches on each side.
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7
Assemble or reinforce the seams at the bottom of the box with packing tape. Make sure it is secure and that the bottom will not fall out, even with rough treatment.
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8
Line the bottom and sides of the box with a few sheets of newspaper. Add a handful of shredded paper or packing peanuts to the bottom of the box to make a cushion.
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9
Lay the newspaper wrapped plant in the box on it's side, and stuff any voids with shredded paper or packing peanuts, all the way to the top of the box. Cover all the packing material with a sheet or two of newspaper.
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10
Tape up the top of the box like you did on the bottom, label it and ship.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Let the plants almost completely dry out before shipping. Water adds weight and makes postage more expensive.
The U.S. Postal Service provides several sizes of priority mail and express mail boxes free of charge that work well for shipping plants.
Use express mail for very delicate plants or when there is a chance of bad weather. Priority mail takes two to three days and works well for most needs.
If you hear anything move when you shake the box, then you need to fill more voids with newspaper or packing peanuts.
Check the five-day weather forecast at the plant's destination to make sure it will not be too hot or cold to ship that week.
