Air plants are extremely hardy and low-maintenance. We’ve seen them live for up to two weeks without light or water in a shipping box (Do not try that at home). You’ll want to open the package as soon as your new air plants arrive. We ship our air plants via Priority Mail, which takes 2 to 3 days to arrive, however they require light, air, and water just like any other plant.
Soak your air plants in room temperature water for 20 to 60 minutes to help them cope with the stress of transportation. Simply fill a bowl halfway with water and completely submerge the plants. Chlorine and/or fluoride are commonly found in municipal water. Your air plants will like well water, pond water, creek water, or rain water. You can also use spring water that has been bottled. Use tap water instead of distilled water since distilled water lacks the natural minerals and nutrients that air plants require. Because air plants do not exist in soil, they rely only on their leaves for moisture, light, and nutrients.
Your air plants’ leaves may have a white, fuzzy film on them, particularly after a good soaking. These are referred to as Trichomes. Trichomes are tiny outgrowths on the leaves that help the plants absorb water and nutrients. They aren’t a fungus or mold.
Remove your air plants from the water after their soak, carefully shake out the excess water, and lay them out on their side or upside down to dry completely before displaying them. A sunny window sill is ideal for drying them and soaking up some sunlight. Keep your air plants out of direct sunlight. They prefer indirect sunlight that is bright. If you’re going to put your air plants in a glass terrarium, a wall hanging display, or any other enclosure (or in a hole to stand them up), make sure they’re absolutely dry first. Allowing your air plants to completely dry decreases the chance of their decaying.
Within one to two hours, your air plants should be completely dry. When they’re dry, hang them in a place where they’ll get plenty of bright, indirect light. Avoid exposing them to direct sunshine as this may soon dry them out. Your air plants will usually just require a 30-minute soak in water once a week. In addition to the soak, you may need to spritz them with water once a week if they are in an extremely dry or heated climate. If the leaves start to curl, you know they’re getting too dry. If you notice this, give them a nice bath. Keep in mind that, despite their name, air plants require a little more than just oxygen to thrive.
If you can’t soak your air plants in a bowl of water because of how they’re displayed, you can spray them with water two or three times a week instead.
How do you ship air plants for shipping?
Also, find one that is just big enough for the plant to fit within, leaving no room for it to move about while being handled. If there is any spare space within the box, more cushioning is a nice idea. Fill any pockets with newspaper, shredded banknotes, or foam. If you’re concerned about the box’s handling, use strapping tape to reinforce the edges. Finally, don’t forget to include a tag or label inside with the plant’s name.
Use bubble wrap to protect the pot and the roots if you’re sending potted plants over the mail. A cardboard collar over the soil and around the base of the plant, followed by a plastic bag tightly wrapped around the base of the plant, will assist keep the soil contained in the container. If feasible, stand the plant upright in the box and pack around it, making sure to write “This End Up” on the box. However, keep in mind that shipping the container and soil would significantly raise the plant’s shipping cost.
Labeling
Put a label on the outside that says “Live Plant” and “Perishable” to remind them to handle it with care. While there’s no certainty that this will keep the box from being abused, it might persuade a few package handlers to take extra precautions.
On the outside of the package, you must additionally include a return address in addition to the shipping address. If you’re recycling a shipping box, ensure sure any old labels are removed or blacked out so the shipment doesn’t end up in the wrong place.
When and How to Ship Plants And Choosing a Shipping Company
Plants are shipped efficiently by the post office. A private shipping firm is also an option. The trick is to figure out who can accomplish it the fastest and in the safest way possible. At the absolute least, choose priority mail from the postal service.
If you ship regularly, have the plants picked up by a service so they can be kept cool until they are ready to ship. This will make it easier for them to travel.
Remember that, depending on the service you select, many shipping providers do not deliver on Sundays and potentially not on Saturdays. Plan on shipping early in the week, such as Monday or Tuesday, to ensure that the shipped plant spends as little time as possible in the box. This will prevent the transported plant from languishing in the box unnecessarily over the weekend.
Check the weather in your area as well as the location of the person to whom you are shipping. If you or the recipient are expecting severe weather, don’t send plants. It would be a tragedy to lose a plant because it froze to death on someone’s front porch while waiting for them to get home from work, or because it was stranded in a broiling shipping truck during 100 F+ (38 C+) conditions.
Plant swapping is a fun and cost-effective approach to obtain uncommon specimens or rare cuttings. If you pack your plants properly, they will arrive ready to brighten someone’s day.
Can you mail plants USPS?
First and foremost, you’ll need to determine whether or not you can send your plant in the first place. You can’t ship your plant if it’s endangered or protected! The Baja rose, the Santa Inez goldenbanner, and the Yreka phlox are examples of endangered plants.
Search this database of the United States Department of Agriculture to see if your plant is endangered or protected.
The Parcel Needs to Identify that Live Plants and Vegetation Are Inside
If your plant can be sent, one of the most critical things you’ll need to do next is mark the package as containing a plant. Due to the Terminal Inspection Act of 1916, the USPS requires that any parcels containing plants be properly tagged. Fortunately, you won’t need to order any particular stickers, such as the shipping case for ORM-D goods. You can simply write on the box with a marker that the shipment contains plants. It’s simple enough!
Properly Preparing Your Plants for Shipment
When shipping live plants and flora, adequate packaging is essential to ensure that they survive the journey. To keep moisture in the plant’s roots, the USPS always demands waterproof material, such as waxed Kraft paper. This will also help to keep your package dry during transit. Every plant, though, is unique, and you’ll need to wrap each one according to its requirements. Thorny plants like cacti, for example, must be wrapped in puncture-proof paper.
Here are some simple measures to follow while transporting plants as a general checklist:
- Fold the papers in half and lay the plant in the center with the roots and stem (if your plant has foliage, make sure you place the foliage outside the edge of the paper)
- Cover the bottoms of the plants with waxed Kraft paper to keep moisture out of the roots (don’t seal the paper—your plants need oxygen to survive).
- To protect the plant and avoid moisture damage to your box, wrap it in at least two large plastic grocery bags.
- Place the plant in a new corrugated cardboard box (make sure it fits your plant well but isn’t too constricting).
- We recommend sending a letter inside the packaging that explains what type of plant it is and how to care for it correctly (paper will get wet with the moisture from the plant, so laminating the note is always a good idea).
Which USPS Mail Class Should I Use?
The USPS mail class you select for shipping your plants will be determined by the weight of the plant and how quickly you want it to arrive. Because many plants weigh less than 16 ounces, First Class Package is likely to be the most common method of delivery. This is the most affordable option, and the plant will arrive in 1-3 business days. Priority Mail will be the default option if your item weighs more than 16 ounces (sometimes this is the case if you end up including soil).
While certain plants, such as desert vegetation and succulents, do not require a lot of water to survive, others must. As a result, you may want your plant to arrive at its destination as soon as feasible. Priority Mail Express will be the best option in this instance. Although Priority Mail Express is more expensive, the Postal Service assures delivery within one day (2 days if the parcel is going to a rural area).
When you use shipping software to buy postage online, the lowest shipping provider will be chosen for you automatically! Simply input the total weight and dimensions of your package correctly, or the USPS Automated Package Verification system will charge you extra postage.
You May Not Be Eligible for Insurance
When shipping plants, keep in mind that you might not be able to acquire shipping insurance through your shipping software provider or your carrier. Plants are classified as “perishables” by all carriers and insurance firms, which means they are not covered.
Pay Attention to Individual State Guidelines
Keep in mind that importing some types of plants is prohibited in several states. Citrus plants, for example, cannot be shipped to California from any other state in the country. The Mauna Loa plant and fresh jade vine blooms cannot be shipped from Hawaii to the United States mainland or Alaska. As a result, we recommend conducting preliminary study. A simple Google search of your plant and the state to which you’re delivering should suffice!
Most Countries Also Have Restrictions for Importing Plants
This is where things get a little more tricky if you’re exporting a plant internationally. Some countries impose restrictions on the kind of plants that can be imported. The United Kingdom, for example, requires an import licence for any plants entering the country. As a result, before purchasing any postage, you should examine the criteria of the country to which you desire to export your plant. On the USPS website, you may discover a list of various nations and their import limitations.
Can you ship air plants in the winter?
Please don’t hate us, but the weather in our hometown of Tampa, FL has been quite pleasant. Even in the Southern regions, many of our clients have been enduring a winter of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. While air plants are the ideal all-season house plant since they are so easy to care for indoors, the cold weather makes exporting the plants difficult.
Because of the colder weather, we’ve made some changes to our shipping processes. We ship all items Priority to assure the quickest possible delivery, although we try to avoid delivering orders near the end of the week because the package has a higher possibility of sitting in a chilly warehouse over the weekend. As a result, some of our customers may suffer a little delay in receiving their orders. Please realize that if you place an order with us at the end of the week (i.e. Thursday or Friday), we will try our best to deliver it to you as soon as possible, but we may decide to keep the shipment over the weekend for the plants’ health.
And, as we’ve learned the hard way, even with the most meticulously arranged shipments, the weather en route to some of our Northern customers can be too cold for the plants. If you live in an area where temperatures have been below freezing, we strongly advise that you track your shipment and ensure that you will be ready to bring it inside as soon as it arrives. The plants will not thrive if they are left in the snow, ice, or cold for an extended period of time. Working and can’t get home in time to bring your air plants inside? Instead, have the box delivered to your office or job, or bribe a neighbor to keep it warm until you return home.
How do you care for air plants after being shipped?
Tillandsias grow in a different way than most other home plants, making them difficult to understand for beginners. They are extremely hardy and require far less care than other indoor plants. The following instructions are simplified; however, you can scroll down for much more detailed information.
- They can thrive with water misting and the occasional bath as long as the environment isn’t too dry.
- If you’re growing them inside and the air is dry, you’ll need to immerse the plant in water for 2-3 hours every two weeks at the very least.
- In a shaded or unheated residence, a soaking mist can be used once or twice a week in the summer and once a month in the winter.
Will UPS ship plants?
The cost of shipping and the time it takes to arrive are determined on the service you choose, the weight of your shipment, and its final destination. However, you should be aware that round-the-clock services are costly. Overnight and 1-day delivery services are more expensive than typical shipping services. When it comes to perishable things such as plants or flowers, however, you want them delivered as quickly as possible.
Also, avoid mailing on weekends or holidays, as your box will be delayed in transit, potentially destroying your plants.
To send to other nations, you’ll need the appropriate licenses, so gather all of the papers before dropping off the product for shipping.
Plants must be correctly labeled on the packaging, according to the Terminal Inspection Act. This does not necessitate the use of a particular label or stickers. Simply place it on top of the box or item.
Shipping Plants with USPS
If you decide to ship your plants through the USPS, there are a few things to bear in mind before making your decision. Different states have different regulations on which plants can be delivered, so double-check before attempting to relocate.
- Priority Mail Express: Delivered in 2 business days. Rates for 1 pound or less start at approximately $20.
- Priority Mail: Delivered within one business day. Flat rate boxes start at roughly $7 for 1bl or less.
- Medium Flat Rate Priority Mail: Arrives in 1-3 business days. Flat rate boxes start at roughly $12 for 1bl or less.
Shipping Plants with FedEx
FedEx provides excellent plant transportation services with no extra packing or labeling requirements. You’ll have to obey the state-by-state rules, just like the USPS.
FedEx Overnight services are recommended for plants because of their perishable nature.
- Priority FedEx Arrives by 10:30 a.m. if staying the night. Rates for 1 pound or less start at roughly $30.
- Overnight FedEx Standard: By 3 p.m., he arrives. Rates for 1 pound or less start at roughly $28.
Shipping Plants with UPS
UPS provides a number of useful services for shipping companies, none of which necessitate specific packaging or labeling. You’ll have to obey state-by-state limitations, just like the other couriers. Because plants are perishable, UPS suggests using their Next Day Air service.
- UPS Ground: Deliveries are made by the end of the next business day. Rates for 1 pound or less start at roughly $14.
How Long Can plants survive in the mail?
Plants are the element that can give a home enviable curb appeal, paint the most vibrant colors in the most drab of spaces, and breathe life into the air we breathe. They are a necessary and much coveted item, and current shipping technologies have increased their accessibility.
A plant can survive in the mail for up to seven days without any issues. Plants can live for up to two weeks. Keep shipments under 7 days to prevent your plant from dehydrating and losing foliage. You can go beyond 7 days if your plant requires less water or sunlight.
Plants are not only an important aspect of our ecology, but they are also a popular hobby for many people. There are many plant species around the world that would not be accessible to the general population if not for modern shipping technologies. Although sending a plant in the mail may seem risky, they are usually more durable than they appear.
How much does it cost to ship plants?
Everyone has been curious about the expense of shipping live plants. So, to make things easier, I’ll give you an example package. We’ll be working with 15 drops across the country for this example. Picking up in San Francisco, CA and dropping off in Houston, TX (1 Pallet), Rogers, AR (1 Pallet), Jackson, MS (1 Pallet), Birmingham, AL (1 Pallet), Montgomery, AL (1 Pallet), Columbus, GA (1 Pallet), Atlanta, GA (1 Pallet), Savannah, GA (2 Pallet), Charleston, SC (1 Pallet), Charlotte, NC (1 Pallet), Greensboro, NC (4 Pallet), Raleigh, NC (1 Pallet), Emporia, VA (1 Pallet), Petersburg, VA (2 (2 Pallet). Pallets are all the same size and are single stacked. To carry live plants, we’ll use two drivers and a 53-foot Reefer.
Let’s say the shipment weighs 25,000 pounds, is properly palletized and wrapped, has a constant temperature of 50 degrees, and we can only employ a team reefer. A typical reefer team journey from San Francisco to Richmond, Virginia costs $8500 (as of December 23, 2020). It’s worth noting that the loaded miles on that direct conveyance are 2,899, bringing our rate-per-mile to $2.93. If we add all of these extra stops and optimize the route, the total distance is 4,417 miles. That’s a total of 1518 miles. Not to mention the time spent at each site attempting to execute a successful delivery. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll use $100 each stop and $2.93 per mile for the extra miles. This comes to $1500 for 15 drops and $4,447.74 for the additional miles. Our total expenditure is $8500 + $5947.74 (Stops + Extra Miles), for a total of $14,447.74. We are spending $3.27 per mile to move live plants, or $687.99 every pallet of plants, according to simple math.
We can’t predict whether the math will be the same for all carriers or in every circumstance. Each driver pair is unique, and each will place a value on their time and the danger of making several drops. We can’t calculate those things.
Other Things To Consider
The $2.50 to $3.00 per mile requirement for 53 Reefers may not apply to all ships. There are a few limitations to think about.
Price is heavily influenced by distance. Local runs are more expensive per mile than cross-country shipments. It’s crucial to realize that whether you’re traveling a large distance or only 50 miles, you’ll still be paying for the driver’s time.
Another aspect that influences the price is the location. We receive a large number of shipments from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and other states with sparse populations. Because drivers tend to cluster around larger cities, where cargoes are more likely to materialize, this can raise the rate. We’d have to practically pay them to drive out and pick up the shipment (deadhead). This restriction applies to delivery in rural areas as well. If you’re more than 200 miles from a major city, expect to pay a little more than usual.
The final constraint to consider/understand is capacity. Drivers are continuously on the move around the United States. When there is a surplus in one city, the price drops. For loads, the drivers will compete. When a city has a lack of drivers, the price rises since the drivers will have their pick of the bunch. The freight that pays the most will be moved first.
Will air plants survive shipping?
Many times, we have to buy plants online since we can’t find them in our local plant store. The plant’s ability to live will be determined by the plant and the shipping conditions.
Small, water-loving plants such as Anubias and Java ferns can live in the mail for 7 to 12 days, while larger, more established plants such as Air plants and Jasmines can survive for much longer. Packaging, handling, and shipping time all have a factor in how long a plant can thrive after being purchased online.
Only if the circumstances within the packaging are favorable for the plant will it survive for longer periods of time during shipment.