Posting plants

Not being good at wrapping things I find putting plants in the post to be a bit of a nightmare, most soft growth gets damaged. and when you actually look at the price of the postage you start to wonder if it is all worth while.

I usually find buying plants online is a non starter because of carriage costs.
I dont mind spending money on a good quality plant, but somehow the delivery charges always put me off.

 

Post 1st class on a Monday/Tuesday, arrange with the recipient that someone is available to receive them so they don't get taken to the sorting office, especially over a weekend. Send them whilst as small as possible, remove the pot, support the neck of the plant with a collar of some description and avoid delicate, easily bruised species.

If you were selling on ebay you would need to be quite fussy about this, if it was a surprise for a friend/relative it might not matter if they looked slightly battered when they arrived as they would probably still grow away fine.

I wonder if it's possible to buy those little folding plastic plug cages that nurseries use to post cuttings? They'd be perfect.

 

I send little bits and pieces to GC members sometimes FC I line a small plastic cup with damp kitchen towel,put plant/rooted cutting in and wrap it gently in cling film. I reuse a Jiffy bag I've had something delivered in previously and just write a fresh label for it. Just pop it in. Usually about £1.50 - £2 to send. And there's something extra special about growing on something from a friend,

 

Some cuttings, like penstemon, osteospermum, etc can be taken, popped into polythene bag and slipped inside jiffy bag to post. Lightweight and likely to arrive in pristine condition. Just received a shrub in 3 litre pot priced at £8 99 plus £5 postage. Would not have got this variety from GC and it would likely cost as much or more even allowing for postage. If I had purchased more plants the postage would have remained the same. Like everything, it pays to shop around, to identify delivery costs and seek value for money.

 

My plants were in deep enough not to see over the top of the pot FC. I think that into a further box may be belt and braces...? If you send them off 1st class, they seem to survive the trip OK. I'm sure they wouldn't be kicking around in the system as long as a Commercial enterprise's would be.

 

I have sold a number of plants that I have grown from seed via ebay, last year I grew approx 500 petunia and sold around 250 via ebay. I used plug plant tray's which are easy to get hold and are the type used by major retailer's.

I frequently buy from ebay and have had various methods of packing plants. I put the plug trays in a cardboard box and tape them to bottom so doesnt move. I suppose it depends on the size of the plant and what it has been grown in.

You can get the folding blister packs but they are quite expensive. I certainly think having plants delivered is inexpensive in comparison to garden centre prices!

 

I've sold lots of 3-5 inch lemon and orange seedlings on Ebay and pack them as follows;

• tape newspaper over the pots around the seedling to stop compost spilling.
• use a toilet tube to slide over the seedling and tape to the pot.
• construct a box out of cereal box or the like and pack out the voids with screwed up newspaper.
• et voila

I've sold over a hundred seedlings over the last 2 years and not had a single negative feedback , all arrived safe and sound. The packaging above still keeps the weight within the lowest price range for a 1st class packet too - £2.70

 

Always amazes me when plants I buy online arrive in one piece!

I think a pot the size of a plastic vending cup, and then put in a cardboard tube (the sorts posters are sent in) would work best for small plants.