Whether you are a seller looking to ship plants internationally or an individual trying to transport your precious plant babies to a new city, you should know how to go about the process correctly to save time and costs.
To go about it the right way, you must prep your plants and pack them properly so that they can be safely transported to any destination. With the US plant market alone generating revenue of over $20 billion in the past five years, there has never been a better time to understand how to ship live plants—big and small—to different corners of the world.
With that in mind, let us look at the preparation that goes into shipping plants domestically or internationally:
Preparing Your Plants for Shipping
Preparing your plants for shipping, whether locally or internationally, requires careful attention. As such, here are some of the primary aspects you must cover at this stage:
Understanding Local and Destination Regulations
Depending on your origin and destination location, you might be required to comply with policies and laws that limit or regulate the shipment of plants. For instance, in the United States, every state has specific regulations for shipping plants to prevent pests or diseases actively. So, if you are shipping plants to the US, you must check the USDA guidelines to ensure that you are shipping an approved plant species.
Many countries also restrict the import and export of certain types of plants, making it important for shippers to understand any quarantine or packaging rules that may factor into the process.
Determine the Plant’s Condition
If you are shipping live plants, they may need to be watered a couple of days prior to shipping. While succulents may not require much water and be packed with semi-dry soil, watering any plant excessively before shipping can cause mold or root rot due to excess moisture.
Depending on the length of the shipping journey, you can include corrugated cardboard boxes and polymer crystals to manage moisture levels for the plant so that it is neither overwatered nor dry.
Aside from watering, you must also ensure that you prune the plant by trimming any damaged or dead leaves, stems, and branches. Doing so reduces the risk of damage during shipping and removes any part of the plant that is about to wilt or break, making it more presentable when the plant is being shipped as a gift or commercially.
Once you take care of watering and pruning the plant, you must conduct a thorough check for any pests and diseases. Such issues must be identified and removed before shipping so that you don’t end up delivering infected plants to customers.
Double Down on Your Packaging
Depending on the type of plant you are shipping, consider using different kinds of packaging materials and deploy varied procedures to ensure their safety during transit. Utilise plant ties and rubber bands if needed, especially for delicate plants, and prevent shipping or tipping the plant during transit. If you are shipping a large volume of plants that don’t fit into standard containers, consider using the break bulk cargo method for shipping.
Packing Your Plants
While we just discussed a brief overview of the considerations that go into packaging plants for shipping, you may still be wondering whether it is safe to ship them. Rest assured, with the right approach to packaging, shipping plants can be as simple as shipping anything else.
Before understanding the process in detail, let us take a look at some of the essential and sustainable packaging materials you must consider when shipping your plants:
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Cardboard or Corrugated Shipping Boxes
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Plastic Bags or Ties
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Packing Paper
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Bubble-Wrapping Paper
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Air-Filled Cushions
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Plastic Pots
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Twine or Thread
While these may seem like common packaging materials that you can easily acquire, if you are shipping plants for the first time, it is best to consult a professional shipping company. They will guide you with the materials that would best protect the plant you are sending in transit.
For instance, if you are sending a floral arrangement instead of having to ship plants as a gift, you may pick a floral arrangement box that has a dedicated space to hold the vase so that the flowers are secured. You can then tie the stems with twine ties and pack them tightly.
More often than not, it is indoor plants or flowers that hold emotional value for the shipper, and are trickier to pack and ship. If these plants are large, they must be carefully removed from the ground with roots and soil intact, and placed on a custom pallet to prevent them from moving. In this case, the base part of the plant containing the roots is wrapped in plastic and placed directly on the shipping vehicle.
Lastly, remember to tag and label your plants before even thinking of shipping. While this might seem like an obvious point, the importance of doing so cannot be overstated. You must understand the current condition and the exact species of the plant you are sending, and put it down clearly on a tag or label. This helps your plants get through customs unscathed and helps people handling it understand the protocols to follow.
How to Ship Plants that are Potted?
While there has been quite a bit of debate about whether it is safe to ship plants bare-rooted or potted, the verdict is pretty subjective. While potting plants can increase the shipping costs, it is often perceived as the best way to ship live plants, even though many believe that plants are just as safe if shipped bare-rooted.
If you are shipping a delicate or large plant, transporting it in a plastic pot is undoubtedly a better alternative. Pack the pot in plastic wrap or a biodegradable bag to successfully contain and control the loose soil and moisture. If you are sending plants or arrangements in a vase, opt for corrugated boxes with an internal divider similar to the ones used to pack wine bottles.
Ensure that you pack the pot or vase with enough cardboard cushioning to prevent any movement during transit. This will also prevent any damage to your stems, so long as you place “This Side Up” labels and add any specific handling instructions on the outer packaging.
How to Ship Bare-rooted Plants?
Shipping bare-rooted plants will often involve less packaging, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect it completely. Instead, you can focus on the outer packaging surrounding the roots by wrapping the bare roots with a damp paper towel or peat moss to retain the moisture in the plant soil and prevent them from drying out.
Additionally, if the plant also has protruding branches or fragile foliage, consider securing them with ties or soft strings to avoid damage or breakage. You must also ensure that you add any special handling instructions specific to the plant you are sending in the package, similar to the ones you put on potted plant shipments.
How to Ship Plants Effectively? 5 Tips to Consider
Now that we have looked at the specifics to keep in mind when shipping plants internationally, regardless of the carrier, let us look at some of the top tips to consider following in the process:
1. Balance Shipping Speeds and Cost
The speed at which your plant will travel from the origin to the destination location plays a pivotal role in ensuring its safety and survival. Most plants, other than succulents, cannot survive more than 2 to 3 days in transit, especially if they are thoroughly packed and their access to light and water is restricted.
In most cases, faster shipping speeds translate into higher shipping costs, and slower shipping speeds are less expensive. For instance, you may be tempted to opt for overnight shipping; however, it may prove to be more expensive than a priority shipping method that might deliver the plant in 3 days, more cost-effectively.
This logic may not apply to all plants, though. While delicate or high-value plants can minimize stress during transit, less valuable or resilient plant species can hit the balance between cost and plant health. Compare standard and expedited rates from different providers to select the right one, and try to ship in advance to avoid any unpredictable delays.
2. Choose the Right Shipping Container
Once you have chosen the right shipping method and speed, you should also redirect some of your energy towards using custom-fit boxes having enough ventilation and moisture control. By using proper corrugated boxes with a partition and enough cushioning, you can prevent the plant from moving around much during transit.
In case of potted plants, where you will most likely utilize a cardboard box for packing, go for specialized plant shipping containers commonly used in nurseries that ship plants. Additionally, ensure that those boxes have adequate ventilation holes, and add moisture control and insulation for international shipments.
3. Research Shipping Carriers
All the major shipping carriers in Australia have unique restrictions, policies, and services associated with shipping plants, whether locally or internationally. When researching for a good shipping carrier, also ensure that you compare shipping policies, rates, speed, and the reliability of the service providers before making a decision.
Check each carrier’s guidelines for shipping live plants, and choose carriers that offer shipment tracking and insurance features so you can retain your peace of mind. Prioritize the ones that have adequate experience transporting live goods internationally.
4. Double-check Quarantine and Other Restrictions
Many countries have strict guidelines regulating the import of plants with phytosanitary certificate requirements to ensure that the plants are disease-free and pest-free. Such countries might quarantine your plants if you find pests in them. For starters, U.S. authorities have inspected and cleared over 1.8 billion plant units, identifying 2176 quarantine pests in the process.
Even countries that don’t have a phytosanitary certificate requirement will need you to comply with import documentation and permits. Also, check for any restrictions on certain plant species and soil types during your research, and secure all the necessary certificates and permits before shipping.
5. Add Appropriate Labels
Use shipping labels such as “live plant”, “perishable”, and/or “handle with care” on all sides of the shipments to ensure that your package is delivered properly. Clearly state the scientific as well as the common name of the plant on the shipping label, and use waterproof and durable labels that can withstand moisture.
If you are shipping your plants internationally, consider adding the handling instructions in multiple languages for more clarity. Avoid paper labels as they don’t perform well with moisture, and ensure that you add the origin and shipping address clearly and legibly.
Concluding Remarks
Shipping plants is similar to shipping any other object, except you are dealing with live specimens that require additional care and special handling policies. When preparing the plants, ensure that you pack them using the right materials and container, depending on the specimen and transit conditions.
Follow the aforementioned suggestions to ensure that your plants travel from the origin to the destination in an intact condition, and the process remains seamless.
Get a quote from PACK & SEND if you are looking to ship your plants safely and efficiently within Australia or to other countries.