Since they can survive for extended periods of time without water and are typically extremely hardy, succulents and cacti are excellent mail-order plants. Professional nurseries routinely and without many issues export their plants across the nation and beyond the world.
Sending succulents and cacti over the mail is a secure and simple way to move your plants from one place to another, whether you’re moving and need to deliver your collection to your new home or you want to share your love of succulents with a distant friend.
How long does a succulent last when it is shipped?
The element that can give a house envious curb appeal, paint the brightest hues in the drabbest of spaces, and give the air we breathe vitality is plants. They are a necessary and in-demand item, and contemporary delivery techniques have increased accessibility to them.
A plant can travel for a full 7 days in the mail without any issues. Some plants have a two-week lifespan. Keep shipment under 7 days to prevent dehydration and leaf loss in your plant. You can go over 7 days if your plant requires less water or sunlight.
In addition to being an essential aspect of our environment, plants are also essential to many people’s interests. Without the aid of contemporary shipping techniques, the general population would not have access to a large number of plant species found around the world. Plants are often more durable than they may seem, despite the fact that sending them in the mail could seem a little risky.
How should I mail my succulents?
Succulents need to be packaged whether they are being sent bare root or in a container because they are delicate plants that can easily break with the least impact. Wrap the naked root of the succulent in paper or tissue and place it in a container. Add more paper as needed. The additional paper provides more security.
A succulent can survive in a plastic bag for how long?
There is always an issue with watering houseplants when you are away. Even if you ask a friend or family member to water the plants for you, you’ll undoubtedly find one or two plants that have been neglected or overwatered when you arrive home. Unfortunately, there is a very simple way to water houseplants while you’re away, even if you’re gone for weeks or months!
Just give the plant a regular watering before you depart, draining any water that is still in the saucer. Remove any dead or dying leaves or fading flowers—anything that might fall off and rot while you are away—so that your plant looks nicer when you get home. A little bit of rotten plant tissue won’t hurt anything in and of itself. The plant should now be placed in a transparent plastic bag; a dry-cleaning bag works well for larger plants. Another option is to group numerous plants in a big bag. Then, just twist-tie the bag closed and relocate the plant to a location with indirect light. The latter is crucial because a plant encased in plastic placed in a sunny area will literally roast!
Your plant will be able to go for months without any water at all inside a plastic bag. This is due to the fact that the majority of the water you typically provide to your plants just evaporates through transpiration; inside a sealed bag, the humidity level will be close to 100%. Because there won’t be any transpiration or evaporation, your plant will consume essentially no water.
Just now, I hear you saying: “Yes, but if my plant is enclosed in a bag, how will it be able to breathe? You may rest assured that it will breathe properly. Keep in mind that during the day, plants release oxygen while also consuming carbon dioxide. However, they act quite differently at night. Plants do indeed provide all of the “For their own survival, they require air. They are completely content within a plastic bag.
How long can you maintain your plants in this enclosed state? Probably 6 months, although it might be longer. There are locked terrariums with plants inside that haven’t been opened in years. Your plant’s growth will eventually be limited because it needs part of the water and carbon dioxide for growth, but it will take months or even years before that happens. Your plant will still be healthy even if it does; it will just grow more slowly than usual.
Try to think! You’ll have time to go on a globe cruise if you have a year of independence! The thing that really irritates me is that usually your plant will be in better shape when you return than when you left!
One word of caution: the majority of plants from arid climates (such as cactus and succulents) won’t enjoy the high humidity found inside a plastic bag, but they are even simpler to take care of while you’re away. Simply give them plenty of water, relocate them away from a sunny window (to impede their growth), and then depart on your journey. Even though they could appear a little shriveled when you get back, they’ll be excellent for at least six months.
A plant can be sent through the mail.
Even though you should package each plant separately in bags, if the box is big enough, you can ship multiple live plants at once.
Verify that the plant you wish to transport complies with USDA regulations. Some plants could be acceptable in one state but illegal owing to invasiveness or insect issues in another. If you have any questions about forbidden plants, contact your local cooperative extension group or one close to the destination.
Trading live plants over a distance with a friend is simple and doesn’t call for any specialized tools. In fact, as long as the USDA does not forbid them, most plants can be mailed within the United States, according to the USPS postage code. Just be careful not to harm the plant when you take it out of the ground. To avoid damaging the plant’s roots, dig far enough away from the plant. Remove the roots’ soil by loosening it, then give them a good rinse. As soon as you can, pack and mail the plant.
Five newspaper sheets should be soaked in a jar of water until they are moist but not drenched.
- Trading live plants over a distance with a friend is simple and doesn’t call for any specialized tools.
- Just be careful not to harm the plant when you take it out of the ground.
Place the live, recently dug-up plant, with the roots and stems in the center and the foliage outside the edge of the paper, after folding it in half.
Keep the greenery protruding from the top of the roll as you carefully roll the paper around the roots.
The bottom of the newspaper should be placed into a small produce-sized plastic grocery bag. Don’t secure the bag’s top shut. To remain alive, the roots require both moisture and air.
To further insulate the entire plant, encircle it with three to five additional large plastic grocery bags. One at a time, wrap the plant in each bag, then roll the bags shut.
Gently remove any extra air from the bags. Afterward, put the package in a cardboard box of a comparable size.
Give the receiver a label or care instructions so they know what the plant is and how to care for it. Write instructions on a piece of plastic or an ice cream stick rather than a piece of paper that might collect moisture.
Label the box with the recipient’s address and your return address before taping it shut. The longer zip code should be used for faster delivery.
Once packaged, send the package as soon as you can. Avoid sending live plants when shipping times may be lengthy owing to national holidays or major mailing occasions, such as Mother’s Day, even though the plant should arrive just fine with normal delivery times.
- Gently remove any extra air from the bags.
- Avoid sending live plants when shipping times may be lengthy owing to national holidays or major mailing occasions, such as Mother’s Day, even though the plant should arrive just fine with normal delivery times.
Can I send cactus throughout the winter?
Your succulent plants are not receiving enough sunshine. Relocate them to a location with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. When temperatures are low (mornings or evenings), most succulents prefer direct sunlight, and when temperatures are high, they prefer filtered sunlight or partial shade (mid-afternoon). Succulents are difficult to overlight when grown indoors since ambient light levels are low and windows act as solar filters. Find out more about this subject here.
How are succulents transported?
Succulents should be transported in plastic bins when it’s time to move out, especially if they are in small pots or containers. In addition to allowing the plants to remain upright, this will also keep them in place, preventing them from shifting or moving during transport.
Additionally, it’s crucial to mark each plant as you put it in the box. This will enable package handlers to handle them with care.
Succulents—can you leave them for a month?
In general, succulents that are grown indoors or outdoors during the cooler months will need less water. They can go without water for one to three months.
Indoor succulents will be less exposed to the weather outside because the soil dries out more quickly outside than it does indoors due to the wind and sunlight.
The soil remains moist for extended periods of time in milder climes, typically fall and winter.
To avoid overwatering indoor plants during the cooler months, read more about our toothpick test here.
To avoid root rot, it’s crucial to examine the soil before watering indoor succulent plants and to make sure it is completely dry between waterings.
Succulents prefer small pots, right?
Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.