This is a tutorial about the correct way to ship plants to friends or customers.
First, watch this video I made about shipping plants. It shows how to properly package plants for shipment.
How to Ship Plants.
There are few things to take notice of in the above photo. The shipper recycled an old fan box to ship these plants. That’s fine. The box took some abuse so you have to know that you and the person on the other end that are going to handle your box of plants with tender loving care. Everybody in the middle will treat your package a little on the rough side. If not really rough. Pack them so they can withstand a drop kick!
Notice multiple priority mail stickers on the box. Priority mail is usually a good way to ship plants, but make sure it’s obvious that the package is priority and not parcel post. The packages get treated differently, especially when it comes to speed of delivery.
Notice that the roots are wrapped in plastic and the tops are nice and dry. You can’t see it from this photo but below that plastic are paper towels that are quite wet to keep the roots of the plants hydrated.
Shipping plants via priority mail.
The above photo is a “Large Flat Rate Priority Mail Box” provided by the post office free of charge. The U.S. Postal Service will give you free boxes for you to use for shipping things priority mail. Using the boxes for any other purpose is against the law, but if you use their service that’s a huge benefit from them. Flat rate boxes are good because if you can fit it in the box it ships for one price. If your shipment is really light you might be better off to use a “Non Flate Rate Box” and just pay by weight and distances. In many cases it costs less.
A Great Big Call Out to the United States Post Office.
Yeah, yeah I know. They are a government agency and they are clumsy and inefficient.
I’m here to tell you it ain’t so.
I love the U.S. Postal Service and I think they do an incredible and commendable job. We ship with them five days a week and seldom do we have any problems at all and our packages are delivered on time, in good condition. We use their Click-N-Ship Service and only have to visit the post office with orders going out of the country. They are very dependable and pick up our packages daily at the front door.
They are hard working people who care. And the agency overall does a great job. I’m sure they have their flaws as do we all, but I beg of you to support them and use their service as often as you can. They are struggling because of changing times, but if they go away, we will all miss them desperately.
Shipping plants safely.
To me this is one of the prettiest sights in the world. A bundle of small plants, lovingly grown by a person who cares, shipped to a person that is excited to receive them.
When it comes to shipping plants there are four things that are really important. Get these four things right and your plants will arrive safe, sound and happy.
1. Moist roots.
2. Dry tops.
3. Good packing. Don’t allow the plants enough room to slide around in the box.
4. Speed. Use the fastest method possible. However, you don’t have to pay those high overnight charges. 3 to 4 days is usually acceptable.
Plants both large and small can be shipped across the country. Smaller plants are easier to ship than big plants, but here in Perry, Ohio it’s not at all unusual to see trees that weigh 500 to 2,000 pounds loaded on a semi trailer waiting for delivery. I’ve seen trees so large that it takes a complete 40′ semi trailer just to deliver one tree! That’s a big tree. And believe it or not, when trees that big are dug and sold they are almost always hand dug because nobody has a hydraulic tree spade that size.
Moist Roots.
Most plants are shipped bare root for two reasons. Being bare root makes them lighter and easier to ship and in most states, if not all, it’s against the law to ship soil from one area to another. Soil can contain all kinds of things like Japanese Beetle grubs and other harmful pests that hide in the soil and nobody wants a problem they don’t already have.
If your plants are grown in a soil less mix, and if you have My Backyard Growing System you know what that’s all about. You can usually ship plants with root balls in a soil less mix.
Getting plants ready for the trip.
When I am preparing bare root plants for shipment I put them in bundles of five, ten or twenty depending on the size of the plants and tie the bundles with light weight nursery twine. Then I wrap the roots, only the roots, in paper towels and dip the roots with the towels in a bucket of water wetting the towels and the roots thoroughly. I squeeze out all the excess water leaving me with wet roots and wet paper towels.
I slip the bundle into a plastic bag, often a plastic grocery bag, pull the bag up tight around the root ball and put a string or rubber band around the bundle, right at what would have been the soil line in the nursery. Right where the roots and the top of the plant meet. I then pull the bag down so the top of the plants are exposed and dry and simply place them into my shipping box.
Packaging small plants for shipping.
In the above photo you can see the paper towels through the clear plastic bag. Notice that the tops are dry. Dry tops are essential during shipping. Plants with wet tops will rot and overheat while in transit.
Pack the plants tightly so they can’t move around in transit.
Once you have the plants in the box use crumpled newspaper as filler so the plants can’t slide around in the box. When plants move around in the box you end up with broken tops and an unhappy person who is receiving the plants.
Properly tagged plants is extremely important when shipping plants.
Properly tagged plants, properly tagged plants, properly tagged plants!
Oh me, Oh, My Oh!
There are two things that are extremely important when shipping plants to others. One is knowing what in the heck you are growing. You can’t guess at what variety of plant you have. And if you have My Backyard Growing System, you know All about My Rant about properly tagged plants. Secondly, tag the plants in such a way that they cannot possibly be mixed up and make sure the tags and the ink are water proof so they don’t smear, smudge or disappear during shipment. Got it? I cannot even begin to tell you have important that is.
What????????? Cotton Easter?
There is no such plant as “Cotton Easter” so before you give me a tongue lashing use your energy to grasp how important this lesson is. I bought these plants from a small grower who obviously is learning the ropes. Somebody that helps me around the nursery read the tags on the plants and simply copied what the tag says. And this is how things get all messed up. When you send out misinformation it gets perpetuated. That tag should say Coral Beauty Cotoneaster. And you should know, Cotoneaster is probably one of the most commonly mispronounced plants in the industry. So this is a pretty common mistake.
The nursery tag safely and prominently displayed on a bundle of plants.
Notice how the tag is wrapped right in the bundle of plants? That’s pretty good, but an even better option is a strip tag that slips around the stem of the plants and can be pulled tight. What really matters is that whatever method you use, make sure it’s secure and legible.
This is a Wonderful Way to Make Extra Money from Home.
Grow a Few Plants, Pack them in a Box, and Off they Go to Your Happy Customer!
You Can Make Up to $93.60 in One Square Foot in Your Backyard. Take a Peek.
Hi Mike Debbie here. I just moved from nj to Montana and I would like some of my beautiful plants that I had to leave back home in nj. Now, I would like to get my son to mail some of them to me in Montana. Does he have to uproot them from their pots which some are clay pots some plastic. I wanted to bring them but my youngest son who came to help me said there was no room. I was heartbroken as they were in bloom and absolutely beautiful, Christmas cactus and jade. Should I ask my son to take a portion to ship or the whole thing? Thanks Mike
Debbie
Debbie,
Shipping them with the soil could be against Montana laws, I don’t know but suspect they don’t want soil from the east coast. Bare root is not a great option of succulents. If you did ship with soil they would have to be packed really, really well to keep the root ball from crushing the rest of the plant. I’m probably not the best person to answer this.
Hi Mike,
I’m moving from Massachusetts to Washington state and hoping to ship ~25 houseplants. From your experience, do you have any insights on WA state policy for receiving shipped houseplants? I searched the WA state Dept of Agriculture website & only found general requirements for commercial greenhouses, and couldn’t find any guidelines for private individuals. Would appreciate any recommendations or insight.
Thanks so much,
Anjeli
Anjeli, Washington is kind of strict and I’m guessing that they don’t want any soil from other areas shipped into the state unless it has been treated with insecticides. That’s all I can really offer. They also want any plants coming into the state inspected as is all nursery stock grown in the country.
I am needing to ship some fresh cut Smilax vines. Do I need to prep them the same way you recommend for a potted/rooted plant? Moist cut ends and dry leaves and vines?
Yes.
What advice for taking 2 mini dwarf potted fruit trees with us from Tennessee to California? We are moving in late May and they won’t be bare root, but California is very strict on agriculture. Not sure if we could mail them or drive them in- but what do I need to get them there?
Katherine,
You could do either but you are right, Calif is very strict and if shipped and labeled properly the packages might be opened, inspected, or disposed of. Not really sure. In other words, for most people to ship to calif they have to be fully inspected and the soil must be drenched with an insecticide.
I am moving to Cali and looking for how to pack and found your website very informative.
Talking about labeling, could you please give some advise please?
Anita,
Plants being shipped should be marked on the outside of the box, live plants. But shipping plants and or soil into calif is not easy and your package might be opened and or disposed of. California is strict about what comes into their state.
How about bare root rhubarb crowns? I cant find any information on how to safely pack up a crown.
Anne,
Me? Just put them in a box with some damp paper and ship. Tell buyer to soak them for several hours before planting.
I’m wanting to purchase some miniature roses from Canada and ship them to the US. Is this doable?
Scott,
Yes and no. It’s doable, but there are inspections and paper work involved. For a small number of plants it’s not usually worth it. I’m sure you can find miniature roses in Texas. Lots of rose growers there.
I’d like to offer “free” shipping on 7 gallon camellias. 1. How do I get rid of the soil and wrap in wet paper towels? If I hose soil off will it damage the shrub? 2. How do I know shipping costs or weight of tree to ship?
Patricia,
It would be far easier to simply bill the actual shipping amount after the package has been prepared. At least until you learn how much it’s going to cost to ship them. The soil should shake off unless it’s sticky clay, then you’ll probably have to rinse it off.
I’ll also point out that you have to know what is required for each state that you plan to ship into. http://www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html
I am moving from Hawai’i to Texas as a military move. I would like to ship some orchids and a pitcher plant to some friends in Texas to retrieve at a later date. Is this legal? If so, how can I best prepare the plants for shipping. All of the orchids are in dormancy right now.
Nix,
It’s probably border line legal. Texas is not a super regulated state, but it depends on where the plants are coming from and what might be hiding in the soil. Check the U.S. Plant Board website.
We are moving from Utah to Illinois, it’s winter but I want to take some of my raspberries with me. Since they are in hibernation will they survive ? And how do I move them?
Korin,
They should be fine, just dig them up and stick them in a bag and plant as soon as possible.
I have a giant lily, probably 4 feet tall and about 6 feet in diameter. We are moving due to a military move from Northern Alabama to Northern Virginia in about 3 weeks and want to know the best way to ship this beautiful plant. Please help.
Chris,
Box or crate it then fill the box with paper or packing peanuts.
I would like to send a well established dish garden from CA to South Carolina. The dish is 18″ and it’s round. There are about 15 different succulents and cacti in the garden. The center has a mini tree that’s about 10″ tall and it’s surrounded by a wide variety of plants of different shapes & sizes. Seriously, this thing is gorgeous and took a lot of time & effort!. How can I ship it without it being completely destroyed? If it gets flipped or dropped and kicked it would be ruined! There MUST be a way to ship it safely so that it arrives intact?
Patricia,
It sounds risky to me no matter what you do. Place it in a box and fill all of the voids in the box and the dish garden with packing peanuts and hope for the best is about all I can say.
#1 use a heavy duty box at least 200 PSI and at least 4 inches larger than item each way
#2 only ship by Fedex
#3 place like an oatmeal box or heavy rolled cardboard around mini tree in center
#4 place the item in a black heavy duty garbage bag securely tied
#5 use spray foam outside of bag to fill space between dish and box and on top of dish . but allow space for foam to expand
#6 securely seal box but allow enough space so when foam expands it will fill box but not overfill
Be aware that item will arrive intact but will require a lot of work to safely unpack !
Spray foam is VERY messy. It stains and clings to everything. Wear gloves and protective goggles and read the temperature guidelines. I had a trip to the emergency room to get it off my hands. I recommend you cut firm foam to fit the empty space instead
I am planning to sell a plants online nationally, do i need to get a permit or should i go to Ag inspection every time i ship plants? Im shipping bare root, i don’t know where to start or what is the proper way to ship bare root plants..
Rosalie,
You need to be licensed by your state, have a conversation with your local nursery inspector, and review this http://www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html
I am leaving for the Philippines in September and would like to bring my lucky bamboo plant with me. Is it ok to ship them or bring it with me on the plane or in the luggage
Becky,
Anytime you ship a plant with or without soil there is a good chance it will not make it through customs because of concerns regarding plant pest. Leaving the U.S. might be easier than getting something into the U.S. ?????
Hey I’m trying to send from Illinois to Alabama a maybe one half foot bout height of a two year old rose bush stems I cut off from the bush here and I’ve had it in a bag of Potting soil from the store and it’s down in water inside the bag in a trash can and I’m needing to asap mail it to my friend so it can be replanted it’s survived Longer than the ones I put in the ground but it’s time to get it repotted or in the ground I’ve had it a month and he’s down there and he’s super great green thumb but I don’t have a clue how to mail it and I need to after 4th of july so any help I appreciate it thanks
Hi,
I’m newly licensed and I need some help. I’ve heard that when shipping to some states you need to send proof of license with plants, can someone tell me how to do this? Do I send a long a copy of my license or attach it to the outside of the packaging somehow?
Renee,
It’s best that you discuss this with your inspector. But you do need to send your certificate of inspection with each order.
Hi, what a wonderful post and so useful! I’m currently in California and someone gifted me a 2 foot tall avocado plant. I would like to ship cross country to New Jersey, but it’s in a big pot even though the plant itself is not very huge. I’m very concerned about digging it out and wrapping it up as you suggested but also more so wondering where I can find a tall box to fit the plant so that it doesn’t bend over
Even if I did get out it would still be about 2 feet tall but really narrow, I need suggestions on how I can ensure this plant has the best chance getting across the country? Thanks
JJ,
You might have to get boxes and use more than one and tape them together. Secure the pot to the bottom of the box. Very securely because this box is going to get flipped, tossed and turned upside down. I’d fill the box with packing peanuts once you have the plant inside. Shipping out of Calif is a lot easier than shipping into calif, but shipping plant material into any state requires that you identify on the outside of the box that the box contains live plants. Shipping across state lines is tricky. http://www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html
Wow, thank you for still replying to this post! Someone directed me here and I was planning to move in the summer from CA to IL. Would it be possible to move house plants by leaving them in my car as my car is shipped to IL? Are there some precautions I should keep in mind like watering, boxing, heat, etc.? I’m not sure if it would survive the drive over. I really want to keep my houseplants: monstera, peace Lily, small fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, small pothos, and a bunch of succulents.
Nancy,
I would think that would work fine. I’d water them well because it’s likely to get hot in the car if it’s warm outside. But with no wind on them I think they’ll be happy.
I moved from LA to PA a few years ago to be cargegiver for my mom. Sadly, she died a few months ago and I’m planning my return to LA. I want to take her beloved clivia houseplant with me; it’s been an indoor houseplant for at least 10 years and has been carefully maintained. It would break my heart parting with it. I read all the links you provided – thank you! – but it’s unclear whether that can be done. The moving van could take a few weeks so that isn’t an option. Can I ship it or carry it on the plane with me during one of my advance trips back?
On the plane would probably be an issue, you’d have to check with TSA. I’d box it up in it’s pot, fill the box with packing peanuts then ship via UPS and hope for the best. Legally? I’m not sure, shipping soil is always an issue. Nobody wants soil from another state. You’d have to check with the department of agriculture on that.
I live in California and want to ship plants in the lower 48 states. What are some regulations and or permits I need to follow/get to comply with regulations?
Matt,
First you need to be a licensed and inspected grower. Fortunately for you, shipping out of Calif is far easier than shipping into California. Visit the National Plant Board for state by state details. Or join us here for easier to follow info; http://backyardgrowers.com/join
How can I ship silver dollar eucalyptus ? What’s the best and cheapest method ? I’m in California. These would be bunches
Carmen,
When shipping plants you don’t want the cheapest method, you want the fastest method. But you also need a copy of a nursery inspection on the outside of the box. It must state live plants on the outside of the box.
I’m shipping String of Hearts in a 4” pots. Any advise would be greatly appreciated
Josefa,
The big thing is where are you shipping to and are you shipping soil? Shipping soil is a huge red flag for postal inspectors and ag inspectors.
Thanks so much for the info! Do you ship every plants bare root? Are there anything that should not be shipped bare root?
Mura,
Most things are shipped bare root while dormant. Or in a soil less mix like peat/perlite. Things rooted in a plug tray ship nicely that way.
Hi there-
I was hoping to move/ship house plants from New Jersey to California. they have always been indoors, is it legal or is there regulations?
Lindsay,
Shipping plants to California is not a good idea. There are a lot of restrictions, especially to California.
Thankfulness to my father who shared with me about this webpage, this weblog is
really awesome.
How old or minimum height should the plant be before shipping?
Ashley,
Many plants are sold and shipped that are only weeks old. I just purchased 150 Hydrangea from one of our members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join
, that were only about 8 weeks old.
Hey mike! I’m moving from the US to Australia. Is it possible to ship my 26 succulents (in little pots) and my spider plant or would it be illegal?
Kristen,
It would likely be against the law.
I will answer because I have a sister in Australia. Australia is hyper-careful about bringing in anything alive. They have a unique ecosystem, and want to keep it that way. You will not be able to move to Australia anything alive like your succulents or spider plant. They are also very careful about anything made out of wood unless it is clearly old. they will check everything, and if you are caught trying to sneak stuff in, you will be in big trouble. Give your plants away and start fresh there.
Sell them in the us and start your collection again in Oz. I have friends there who are happily collecting succulents. You should be able to get most of what you already have.
Is there an effective way of transporting an avocado plant (4-5 feet tall) from NYC to Tampa, FL?
Elizabeth,
Inside of an enclosed vehicle is the best option.
I would loooovvee some advice on shipping eucalyptus would the same rules apply?!? Thanks so much!!!
Brittani,
Most roots, dry tops and do not ship when it’s really hot or freezing.
Hi, these are great tips. Thanks. I’m looking to ship 4 baby montsera plants from the Netherlands to the US. Do you think it would be easy to ship them without the phytosanitary certificate and label them as home decor? I’d follow your advice on packing and shipping, but just wanted to check if this is doable.
Bart,
I’d consider it close to impossible and without disclosing what they are would be illegal.
I want to send horse radish roots starts to family in Alaska . What would be the best way to prepare it to ship ?
Tom,
Roots? I’d say wrapped in moist towels wrapped in plastic and ship when cool outside.
Hello! I’m planning on shipping a small succulent from California to Texas. Do you know if there are any laws preventing me from doing so, or any suggestions for shipping? Thank you!
There are all kinds of laws about shipping plants but I’ll say this. It’s a lot easier to ship plants out of California than into California. See this; http://www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html
I cannot find the average shipping rate for a 12 foot tall birds of paradise plant. Do you have an average price on that or even what ball park that price is in? If you don’t mind me asking what is the price you would charge for that plant?
Holly,
Honestly I have no idea. 12 foot tall anything would command a pretty stiff price I would think.
Hello!
I’m writing to ask if it’s possible/suggested to send a single bare root plant in a flat rate envelope? I have a bunch! I’m in Arizona. Also, can I just put a stamp on it and send it in the mailbox? Thanks in advance!
Alexis, as long as you wrap the roots in a damp paper towel and then place in plastic. Techincally the box should be marked live plants. It could be illegal to send to certain states. Shipping to the west coast is the most difficult.
Bad link
Great article, I’m in the UK andd need to send some seedlings? Do you have any idea, which postal service is best to use?
Luke,
The one that can get them there in a day or two.
Hi there,
I am currently moving from Georgia to Arizona and I have a three-foot fiddle leaf fig tree that I love dearly and would love to bring with. We are taking a one way airplane ticket there. Any suggestions on how I can ship this overnight?
Thank you!
Just box it up and send it. But it could be against the law to do so. Shipping plants across state lines requires that you know the laws.
Why don’t you just donate it to a city park then grow another?
Hi Mike,
I want to ship a chocolate daisy plant to Hawaii from California. a small 3″ plant. Do you have any suggestions for the best way to protect the flowers during shipping?
Briana,
Moist roots, dry tops and good packing material.
Hi Mike! I would like to ask we are moving out of state. And I have a money tree housplant which keeps on growing. Is it okay if I do ship it? Thank you.
Abby,
If it’s packed properly it should be fine.
I’d like to ship a fiddle leaf fig approx 5ft tall to my daughter. What are your recommendations shipping from Central Texas to Avon, Colorado? Would it be safe to ship now or wait until it gets warmer?
I would ship when it’s warm in Colorado.
Hi, I live in Guam (US Territory) and buy a lot of plants from the mainland US. But I was wondering if I can ship plants from here in Guam to the Stateside? Thank you in advance!
Emily,
I’m sure you can but there are inspection requirements. I’d take those up with your local nursery inspector. If you are licensed, and you should be, you’ll know who your inspector is.
Help! We have huge rosemary plants in our Central Texas yard. I have been asked to provide 100+ 6″ rosemary cuttings to be used as wedding table decorations in Colorado next week. Could you provide suggestions for getting the rosemary clippings there…alive and in time? Would shipping on a Wednesday before a Saturday wedding be safe?
Patty,
This will be really tricky but you’ll have to put cold packs in the box but not let them touch the cuttings.
Thanks for your suggestion. Much appreciated.
Hi,
Im selling houseplant cuttings on my etsy account. How do i know which plants can and cant be shipped into California and Hawaii? Or is it no plants can be shipped there?Are there any other states that have restrictions?
Thanks!
Angela,
This is truly a question for our members area, just too complex to adequately answer here. Or take it up with your local inspector. there are a lot of things to be aware of and consider.
I have a 50 year old Christmas cactus. I am moving from Ma to CA . I want to ship this to my daughters house in CA a head of time is this possible and will it survive.
Marcia,
I guess that depends on the size, it would have to be packed really well to prevent breakage.
Dear Sir/Madam, I am moving to Florida from NY. I have a new fig tree growing, hardly 9 months 1 ft tall, in a pot. Please explain to me how to carry it and wrap it. I am taking it in the plane. I heard sometimes they don’t allow soil to go from one place to other – please tell me how to do the transportation.
Many thanks.
Jul,
I’d remove it from the pot, wrap the root ball in newspaper and make sure that is damp, then wrap in a plastic bag so water can’t escape the bag. Transporting soil is an issue so you have to figure that out.
Hello. Thank you for making such a great article! I do have a question,though. I have a patch of maple tree seedlings, about four inches tall, in my back yard. I am looking to be rid of them, but would rather rehome them to someone instead of just ripping them out of the ground. What would be the best way to ship them, if it is needed? How should I prepare them? Thank you much for your time.
Brandy,
What kind of maples? Are you a licensed grower? These things matter.
I am most definitely not a licensed grower, and I truly did not know that there is more than one kind of maple tree (other than Japanese Maple, obviously). I just have a yard full of seedings where there should be only grass.
Hi Mike,
Would it be possible to ahip plants from the Philippines to US?
Mac,
Probably not impossible but expensive and not practical. Special inspections etc. would be required and in the end it may not be allowed. It would have to be thousands of dollars worth of plants to even consider it. A small amount of uninspected plants would likely be illegal.
You forgot to mention you have to be certified to ship plants in the mail.
DJ,
We cover all of those details in our products and in the members area. Anybody serious about doing this, needs to invest in those educational resources to be successful. At this.
Thanks for pointing that out. I’m a novice trying to figure out how to get my plants to where I’m moving to.
I love this article! It’s giving me hope – I have been trying to figure out how to not part with my favorite plans when I move from Ca – Florida … could a money tree and palm varieties survive a shipping? They all vary 5-7 feet tall.
How do we protect the leaves of the money tree since it grows out a bit?
Ashley,
The plants would need to be inside an enclosed trailer or tarped really well. And of course they would have to be dug when dormant.
Hi! Thanks so much for this post!
I’m looking to mail an aloe plant to a friend in a neighboring state. I’m totally clueless about shipping laws/plants crossing borders, etc.
I went to the link you provided about your rant on tagging plants, but it brought me to a sketchy site about making money.
Could you please elaborate on this? I’m reading over the USPS guidelines and it’s totally confusing and in a language I really don’t understand.
So when you say “tagging” the plant, do you just mean writing on the outside of the box that there’s a plant inside/what type of plant it is?
How can I find out if the state I want to ship to isn’t going to throw it in the trash if it’s done incorrectly?
Thank you so much!
Hi how can i ship my boxes of refrigerated plants to florida. Today.
Hey Mike, I’d like to start sending plants around the place, but I’m a worry-wart. My concern is, do I need some type of certificate from the USDA, or whatever, to legally ship plants around the country? I know I have to be careful about some plants I send (like, I know I cannot send Butterfly Bush to Oregon, and there are a tonne of other ones), but I’m really wanting a clear answer about the legalities of sending plants interstate without a license or some type of certificate. Can you enlighten me?
Tilly,
You do need to be licensed, we discuss all of this almost daily in our members area. http://backyardgrowers.com/join
Oh, okay. Thanks for your fast response!
Thank you! I am moving from the Mohave Desert to the Midwest. I was devastated to think I’d have to leave my potted agaves/cacti/succulents behind. Fortunately I am learning that many of them are hardy enough for the winters and plan to pack them as you describe here and put them on the moving truck. Many of the plants are significantly heavier than their pots (due to being, well, cacti) so shipping is not an option. Wish me luck!
Good luck Charmin!
Be aware that depending on the state, they are state line inspectors who will search your u hall and if they find your plants, they will destroy them. California is one of them and it happened to us. Leaving CA is ok but entering CA is tough with plants. The next time I hid mine in packing boxes so they looked like the rest of the boxes.
Kate,
You are absolutely right, there are rules that you have to follow and California is one of the most difficult states to ship into. Especially if you are shipping from the east coast or even mid America.
Great article! I’m excited to try and ship plants now. Where would I get a box or bag for a 3ft.tree? Thanks!
Rebecca,
You can buy boxes in any size you want, or breakdown a bigger box to the size you want.
Out of curiosity looking around Google I was wondering how they ship those giant trees you see out on a big truck on the highway and I ran across your article. It is incredibly informative! I had no idea that you could ship out plants and have them survive their little journey. Great tips and advice!
Do you have any idea about shipping to the U.S. Virgin Islands? I’m moving to St. Croix this spring and have huge houseplants. Among the ones I can part with is a 3-4 ft bay leaf bush, and a 3 ft dia gardenia bush I’d really like to ship. I know I can simply do cuttings but would rather have the plant. I also have sentimental attachment to a tall skinny palm I’d like to finally plant there that would weigh next to nothing but is 6-7 ft tall. I know, I know I can get a palm there. But this was in my dad’s funeral terrarium. Plants can become sentimental attachments plus they are alive. I’m not leaving my pets behind so I’m wondering about shipping 3 or 4 plants?
Shipping plants outside of the U.S. is not impossible but it does require inspections and certifications that can be expensive and if you are not a licensed grower they probably won’t grant them from you. All I can say is call you local department of agriculture and see what they say. I know as a grower that it’s not something I would tackle.
Hello,
Can you please provide info of how to ship a pachira tree and bamboo across the U.S. Safely?
I’m coming from PA to Az.
Should I overnight them?
Envy,
This time of year for sure you do not have to overnight them. They’ll be just fine. Moist roots and dry tops is all that really matters. Just watch the temps. Don’t ship when below freezing.
Hi Mike –
Very informative. Thank you. How would I go about mailing myself 3 ft high weeping maple trees to San Fransico from New York? I’ve read CA has pretty strict rules about outdoor grown trees. Any thoughts?
Thanks –
Chad
Chad,
Shipping plants into Calif is tricky but not impossible. Shipping a small tree is easy enough, just box it up. Keep the top dry and the roots moist. Do not ship it with any soil so you have to do so when it’s dormant.
Thanks Mike. Helpful beyond words.
Hi! I have a nursery in Florida and have been wanting to get into shipping plants to other states. What type of inspections or regulations are involved? How do I find which states I can ship to etc?
Thank you kindly
Cassandra,
Best place to start is the national plant board. They have all the regs on their website.
I ship from plant city fl but the biggest problem is ca they will smash them and open them so don’t ship there…
My experience with the USPS on general packages is that if you ensure it for at least a hundred dollars, the package always arrives and always seems to arrive well handled. Could be coincidence but it has happened far too often for me to believe that. EVERY package I have ever sent insured for at least a hundred dollars has always arrived in excellent shape. About one in ten uninsured packages arrive looking like some postal worker took their rage out on it and kicked it across the mail room then a mailman kicked it out the truck while doing 55mph. The remaining nine of ten uninsured seem to arrive beat up but not terribly bad. With general packages I always pack it so it can be tossed out the truck while going down the highway and not break anything inside. The people who receive my packages “love me” in a sarcastic way lol. It usually takes a half hour to get something unpackaged.
I have never sent live plants though. I have always worried they wouldn’t make it. I really shouldn’t worry though as plants are shipped all the time in the USA and plants are pretty tough. However if someone spends a hundred dollars for a plant, they probably expect it to arrive in much better shape than it would.
Mark,
I’ve been shipping USPS for about 17 years now and I never insure anything and rarely does a package not get there and they always arrive in good shape. With plants I don’t think it’s possible to insure them because they are perishable. But if packed properly and shipped in mild weather, they arrive safe and sound. Our members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join ship plants daily with great success.
Mike and Mark:
I always ship trees priority mail and they are automatically covered up to fifty dollars. I have had claims for damage and they have never turned down a claim. I also had one claim for not arriving in time and they covered it also. When I ship trees in summer I include a cold gel pack to keep cool. However I have had to replace some for free due to extreme heat conditions. I don’t ship other plants just trees and mostly in the fall and spring.
Eric
I am just starting to grow lavender to sell. Would you leave in the pot or remove and package with plastic and paper towels?
There are some rules on potted plants. Some states only allow certain plants and some only allow bare root shipping to their state.
Mike,
Thank you for the information! I am working at a medium sized nursery and we are looking to move into shipping bare-root trees. In this case, would you recommend UPS or Fedex as a more efficient option than USPS?
Thanks!
-CV
Most of our sellers ship USPS!
Thanks so much for this wonderful tutorial. I am about to move across the country and have been pretty upset since discovering that shippers and movers will not handle plants. I have had many of my plants for years and can’t imagine getting rid of them. I now feel confident that I can mail them to myself. Thanks for taking the time to share this important information.
Amy,
You’re welcome, good luck with the move.
Mike,
I am thrilled to read this article that you wrote and I am going to use this information.
We moved from Washington state to North Carolina and I moved plants with our household goods in a rental truck that my husband drove. I have more to retrieve and we did not sell our Washington State house. I am flying back in the beginning of march to dig up more and mail them back.
thank you so much for the information!
Regards,
Sandie
Sandie,
Your welcome, I’m sure your plants will do just fine.
Yes, i just moved my things from SlC & movers could not take my 25 year old indoor lily plant my godmother gave me whan my mom passed away. I see now i can ship it, but must take to out of its pot
Will this shock my plant? Thank you, laurel
Taking a plant out of a pot will not shock it unless roots have to be damaged in the process.
I’m so happy to read this. I’m moving from Ohio to WA and was so heartbroken that I may not be able to get my plant s(sister pass away and grandmother pass away) to move with me. I will try to ship it to myself. I pray they will be ok. They are Pothos/Ivy type plants. any advise on the root? they are not like any of the pictures you have shown. .
Tammy,
They should be fine, just get as many roots as you can without going over board.
Thanks for the info. I sell a lot of cuttings and plants online. I have been a fan of yours for awhile now. Although i did not buy your backyard grower system, I do grow and sell plants taken from cuttings. I enjoy reading all that you write. I live for gardening magazines and any helpful articles I can get a hold of.Thanks again and have a great day.
My Best
Linda Malinowsi
Please do you have any important information on shipping a medium sized to large cactus plant. It has about 4-6 prongs (growths) on it already full grown.
Ship cacti and other succulents bare root and completely dry. It’s best to wrap each plant individually. We are a succulent nursery (Kara Nursery in Portland, Oregon) and always shipped with USPS Priority Mail and in 8 years have only had one problem where the address given to us by the customer wasn’t adequate. Even then, the package was eventually delivered. We also use the Click ‘n ship service (which includes up to $50.00 in insurance and free tracking), but since our contents are usually lighter, we don’t use the flat rate boxes. Instead, we use the also free Priority Mail boxes, which can be ordered at the online USPS postal store and they’ll deliver them to your door (50 in a box). Weigh and send it off. Since we are a nursery, we use the Ag inspection stickers on the outside of the box.
Thanks Luther, great information.
Where do you get the AG stickers? Do you call the inspector that inspected your nursery last?
Angie,
You have to make or have the stickers ordered using your nursery inspection certification that your receive in the mail.
Hello, i just want to ask how do you get Ag sticker? And if you have it it means they don’t need to check your box anymore with the plants on it? Hope you answer my question, thank you
Just answered this in your other question.
Good afternoon, I need help. I’m trying to ship 3 Desert rose plants. They have grown to be 3 feet high by 2 feet.
They used to belong to my sister who passed away a while and mi mom wants to have them.
They are in TALLAHASSEE and I like to send them to Melbourne FL.
I don’t want to drive all the way there.
Can they be cut like the size of an apartment plant (about a foot). Like the one in the picture? I told her, that They will grow again.
Thanks for your time.
Hey Mike,
How would I go about sending a few plants out of the US over to the Netherlands?
Thanks, Chuck
Hey i tried to buy the landscape-marketing-book/ and the shopping cart wasnt working. Its because the landscape-marketing-book comes together with the Small Plants Big Profits from Home package? or they are too different products? but im interested in landscape-marketing-book..thanks. waiting on your respond
Maviael,
The landscape marketing book is a stand alone product. If you can’t get it to work you can always buy it at Amazon. But last I knew it was working fine.
Hi mike
I am really enjoying reading your stories about how you grow your plants. And your videos .
i feel like i ve learn a lot about plants for the past week reading all your emails you sent me
Thank you.
I ve been practicing for the past few months growing cutting of coleus plants. And they are doing well.
But i ve never tried cutting harder plants. I Will read on your book more and watch more of your videos. Thank you
.
So good to hear someone else doing COLEUS cuttings. I’m also a NEWBIE and looking forward to getting some properly labeled plants very soon. I have 75 – 100 Coleus as well as other house plants plants all in 3″ peat pots an sold about $50.00 worth over the last 2 months(Hey its a start) at my local gas / con. store way out in the country here in So East Az.50 miles north of Mexico.
Curtis,
Good for you! Being only 50 miles from Mexico is proof that this can be done anywhere that a person has the will to do it. Nice job!
Thanks …very informative for your newbies out here. Sometimes I think you read my mind. I do have some things ready to go and was about to ask how to ship. I thought it would be expensive but you make it look simple.
Thank you for your kind words about the USPS. I am a postal employee (almost 20 years) and it is great to read about happy customers. We really do care about delivering the mail on time. And many of us are avid gardeners, too.
Michael, I am delighted to tell the truth. You folks do a great job and are often under appreciated.
One other thing about mailing a package. Just in case the outside address label becomes unlegible or gets torn off, place the address inside the package also, maybe tied onto some of the plants. I work for the Post Office in a processing plant and it does happen that boxes pop open and the contents spill out, or the label can get torn. If the delivery address is also attached to one or more of the plants inside, the stuff can be gathered up and repackaged and still delivered in a timely manner.
May be you can use cable ties instead of nursery twine, to tie the
wrapped plants, cable ties are very strong?
Rrr
Less harmful to where you tie plant is the use of small section of panty hose, or you can use those short hose. Better than a twist tie or something else that is plastic.
Rather than twist ties that can cut into the plant you can use cut up panty hose or the short hose made of same material. This material gentle on the plant stems.
Edie,
Good point, a twist tie should never be tied that tight.
Had to laugh at Pams remark about fire ants. I am in Florida where any object that touches the ground over night is subject to have fire ants moving in under it. But there is a fool-proof defence, and it is organic. Just purchase some food grade diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle it completely around the nest (mound) and the nest will die in a couple days. Any ant that walks through it will take it to the nest. It is not poison. It literally slices their bodies like razor blades. When they loose 10 per cent of their body fluids there is no escape. They die. Any time I see a new mound I treat it. If it rains you must reaply it.
Great article Mike, The free priority mail boxes is a great way to ship but would like to ad that you can actually go to the USPS web site and order the boxes, any size you want and of corse “FREE SHIPPING”. I have only been making babies for about 4 months now after seeing one of your vidios. I keep looking for a downside to this business but so far all I have seen is it is a win win situation
Under Ga. Plant Growers’ regs. it says “Leafed out deciduous plants may not be sold bare root.” Why? More likely to die? So wrap a little medium under the paper towel, I guess? Not legal to send plants through mail in Georgia without a plant grower’s license, so I guess a business license also. Trying to decide if I’d have time to do enough business to be worth the 2 fees, and hassle of inspection. Now, that their website no longer states there can be no fireants on the property, maybe. A 10 acre property in Georgia with never any fire ants? Hah!
Mike
Great information I love all your information always to the point and right on the money
But I would like to add.(from personnel experience). Try not to ship during the hotter parts of the year. I received an order and the order had got caught somewhere over a week end, and the plants arrived parboiled.
But in general most of my plants from the group have arrived in good shape.
Robt…
Robert,
Great point and I need to incorporate that into the article. Shipping plants during extreme hot weather is hard on the plants and if there is a delay in shipping they are sure to die.
Just thought I would let u know. USPS is NOT a governmental company. The government does not pay anything to keep it going. They survive only through the sale of their products.
Eleanor,
That’s sorta true. They are supposed to be self sufficient, but they are run by the government and are not private enterprise. To the best of my knowledge postal employees are employees of the federal government. But I will say this, they are one of the best run government agencies I’ve seen. The mail carriers work hard and are absolutely accountable to be where they are supposed to be and accomplishing what is assigned to them. I’ve seen that first hand many times.
Mike this is off subject. I joined the backyard growers group (have my receipt) but can’t log in. Please help!
Rebecca,
I’d love to but I can’t help you from here without an Email address. Just contact our customer service and Amber will help you for sure. Write to [email protected]
I did once, but will try again. Thanks, Mike
would love for major nursery companies to read and heed this. I got a spruce from one, everyone knows their roots must be kept moist. It was just put into shipping box without any wrapping and no protection. It arrived here, barely green on leaves and roots completely dry. I KNEW it would not survive… I tried but knew it was a waste of time and worry. I told them, lets see how it will be sent when replaced. Why don’t they worry about their plants arriving nice and moist and alive? Is everyone just interested in the mighty dollar?? Our country needs caring people like you and yours…… thanks so much
Very informative. Although I sell on line and ship 20 to 30 packages a week, they are antiques and vintage, I never knew how to ship plants to friends from my garden. I must say I always use USPS for my shipping service and I especially liked your commentary on them. What would we do without the US postal service. Thank you.
Alan,
That’s a darn good question. What would we do without them? They are good people who provide an incredibly valuable service for a very small amount of money. Who else is going to carry a hand written letter from coast to coast for less than a half a buck?