You bring a plant home, you plunk it on the sill and that's where you'd expect it to stay forever. But the need for plant shipping is more common that one would think. While transporting a plant by hand from one location to another is usually the preferred way to move vegetation, it is not always logical or possible to do so. Fortunately, it is possible to safely ship plants by utilizing a few special techniques that you might not otherwise think of, but most importantly by using a expert shipping provider. Plant shipping can be easy as long as you know what you're doing and take your time.
The first think you should do before attempting to ship a plant is to determine whether or not it is legal to do so. In the United States, plant shipping to either California or Hawaii is strictly illegal, and many countries have tight laws regarding the intake of foreign vegetation. Be sure that you check applicable laws where you live and where you are shipping to in order to ensure that you aren't breaking any laws.
Whenever possible, it is best to ship a plant with a bare root. This will not only prevent any soil-burn diseases from spreading, but will also aid in keeping the cargo healthy for the duration of the its trip. When choosing a box, be sure to choose one that best fits the shape and size of the plant. You will want to use a good amount of light-weight packing materials such as bubble wrap and plastic bags to cushion the vegetation, but you don't want it floating around in a large box. Choose on that fits the shape of the plant and gives it just a few inches of breathing space.
The way that you actually package the plant will depend specifically on what type it is. For example some vegetation need only to have their roots wrapped in newspaper, while other plants benefit from having a moist plastic bag wrapped around their roots. For most houseplants, secure wrapping with both newspaper and a moist plastic bag is usually all it takes to allow the plant to stay well during its trip.
As with food transport, perhaps the most important aspect of shipping plants is how long it will take for them to arrive at their final destination. The general rule of thumb with shipping plants is that the less time they are in transit, the better. Shipping vegetation over a period of a week or more can sometimes kill it, and will almost always result in the cargo arriving in less-than-ideal state. Make efforts to ship your plant from one location to another in three days or less.
Shipping plants isn't always foolproof, as foliage is fragile and can easily become damaged during shipping. However, so long as you take the proper precautions and package the cargo correctly, the chances of them getting damaged will be relatively low. Just be sure that they ship in under three business days.
ShipAlmostAnything.com will allow you to list the plants you want to move and connects you with experienced shippers who will bid on the job of moving them to your destination quickly and safely.
