How to Send Indoor Plants

Learn to ship your indoor plants saftely and easily.

Mailing plants is relatively common, whether ordering them from a mail order gardening website, or sending and receiving them among family and friends. Given indoor plants' often fragile structure, mailing them can be dicey, potentially damaging them. But plants can be shipped so that they arrive safely at their destination. Many mail carriers will help to ensure plant safety during travel, as well.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Plant
• Planter pot
• Soil
• Plastic food baggie
• Plastic grocery bag
• Tape or stapler
• Popsicle stick
• Permanent marker
• Shredded paper, packing peanuts, or other box filler
• Shipping box
• Packing tape

Instructions

1. Choose a box that will allow you to ship the plant standing upright during shipping. You can go to you local post office to get free flat-rate shipping boxes. The flat-rate boxes come in a variety of sizes and ship for one price, no matter how much the box weighs.

2. Water the plant so that the water drips out the bottom of the pot. This will ensure that all the roots received water. Try to water the plant the night before you plan to ship, or wait at least six to eight hours before getting the plant ready to ship.

3. Take the plant out of the pot, and remove as much of the soil as possible. Fill a sink up with water and soak the plant so you get all the soil off the roots.

4. Take the newspaper and soak the newspaper in a sink full of water. Let the newspaper drip until it is just wet, not dripping wet. Lay the newspaper on a counter or table, and wrap the newspaper around the roots of the plant. This will help keep the roots moist while shipping and will keep them protected from damage.

5. Take a plastic food baggie or plastic grocery bag and put over the newspaper. Get as much air out of the bag and either staple or tape the bag shut. This will keep the newspaper moist and will also keep the roots moist during shipping.

6. Place the leftover soil in a plastic food storage baggie. Get as much air out of the baggie as possible and either tape or staple the baggie shut. Place the planter pot in the box, and put the plant in the planter. Put the bag of soil in the pot, on top of the roots of the plant.

7. Fill the box with shredded paper, packing peanuts, or other box filler. This will help keep the plant sturdy during shipping. Tape the box closed with packaging tape. Write on the box which side to keep up and "live plant" so the mail carrier will know to handle the box with extra care.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to ship your plants early in the week, so there's a slim chance of your plant having to sit during the weekend.

• Make sure you check with your local post office before shipping the plant because some states have restrictions on shipping plants.

References

• UShip: How Can I ship Live Plants?