A word of caution about shipping plants in Summer south of the Parallel 36°30′ north - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

ukamikazu · 06-03-2011, 08:13 PM

It's Summer and depending on where you are, it's hot!

If you are shipping plants in the US from below the parallel 36°30′ north, please consider a cold pack or your plants will parboil before making their destination.

Similarly, if you are shipping plants to anywhere below the parallel 36°30′ north, put in a cold pack, please.

Cold packs are less than a $1.50 at Staples or whoever your preferred vendor is will likely have them cheap.

I mention this because I just received a package from a fellow hobbyist that arrived as boiled brown mush and I just sent a package to a fellow hobbyist who informed me they stewed in transit. Both gentlemen are in the north, Michigan and New York. What do they have in common? Me, in the hot, hot South in the middle of a state famous for its oppressive Summer heat and humidity that is currently going through the worst drought in its history.

Please consider either suspending trading to and from the South either until a cool front or early Autumn and if you don't want to do that, cold pack every time, please. It's cheap insurance.

Thank you. I'll be re-posting this advisory in other forums.

Big Dog · 06-04-2011, 02:20 PM

Great info.

ukamikazu · 06-25-2011, 04:42 PM

Okay! Fellow hobbyist and S&S Tycoon© Joraan helped me figure out a low tech, low cost way for shipping plants safely in the hot, hot South that has been working for me real well lately.

First, go up to the next largest sized USPS priority box you would use. This is the only down side.

Next, do not add extra water or the traditional paper towel. In fact, no more water than what is covering the plants.

Now put them in the old zip-loc bag as usual, but this time inflate it with air just barely to the point where it is only somewhat difficult to seal, then tape the little flap over on to the rest of the bag.

Put this bag into another bag like a garbage bag for a really small garbage can or even a plastic shopping bag. Partially inflate this bag just enough to take up the rest of the room in your chosen shipping box and tie or tape it off.

Seal the box as normal, affix the shipping label.

Finally, and this is the most important part, do not schedule a pick up. Instead take it to the post office where it is air conditioned and it has a better chance of going out sooner. This part is especially important because if your house or office is the first stop or in the middle of the mailman's route, then it will sit in his hot truck until he gets back to the post office. This was my initial, fatal mistake.

I hope that helps!

sajata · 07-01-2011, 11:53 PM

in the winter in the north, i live almost exactly on 40'N, taking your USPS frb to the post office, where it is heated, will also get your plants there alive. also if you can have them shipped to a business address where they can be tossed on your desk and sit there for a day or two at 70 deg or so is also a great way to improve survivability

06-03-2011, 08:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
ukamikazu Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Posts: 3,263	A word of caution about shipping plants in Summer south of the Parallel 36°30′ north It's Summer and depending on where you are, it's hot! If you are shipping plants in the US from below the parallel 36°30′ north, please consider a cold pack or your plants will parboil before making their destination. Similarly, if you are shipping plants to anywhere below the parallel 36°30′ north, put in a cold pack, please. Cold packs are less than a $1.50 at Staples or whoever your preferred vendor is will likely have them cheap. I mention this because I just received a package from a fellow hobbyist that arrived as boiled brown mush and I just sent a package to a fellow hobbyist who informed me they stewed in transit. Both gentlemen are in the north, Michigan and New York. What do they have in common? Me, in the hot, hot South in the middle of a state famous for its oppressive Summer heat and humidity that is currently going through the worst drought in its history. Please consider either suspending trading to and from the South either until a cool front or early Autumn and if you don't want to do that, cold pack every time, please. It's cheap insurance. Thank you. I'll be re-posting this advisory in other forums. __________________ "You are much better off with no numbers than meaningless ones. The minute you believe numbers uncritically, that is, without understanding how they're calculated and how well they measure whatever they're supposed to measure, you will generate a breed of employee who will produce numbers and not results. Your data-processing system will then serve not to describe reality but to lie about it." -Micheal S. Montalbano Last edited by ukamikazu; 06-03-2011 at 09:13 PM.

06-04-2011, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Big Dog Planted Tank Guru Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ann Arbor MI Posts: 718	Great info. __________________ Mr. Miracle Grow" for aquarium plants.

06-25-2011, 04:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
ukamikazu Moderator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Posts: 3,263	Okay! Fellow hobbyist and S&S Tycoon© Joraan helped me figure out a low tech, low cost way for shipping plants safely in the hot, hot South that has been working for me real well lately. First, go up to the next largest sized USPS priority box you would use. This is the only down side. Next, do not add extra water or the traditional paper towel. In fact, no more water than what is covering the plants. Now put them in the old zip-loc bag as usual, but this time inflate it with air just barely to the point where it is only somewhat difficult to seal, then tape the little flap over on to the rest of the bag. Put this bag into another bag like a garbage bag for a really small garbage can or even a plastic shopping bag. Partially inflate this bag just enough to take up the rest of the room in your chosen shipping box and tie or tape it off. Seal the box as normal, affix the shipping label. Finally, and this is the most important part, do not schedule a pick up. Instead take it to the post office where it is air conditioned and it has a better chance of going out sooner. This part is especially important because if your house or office is the first stop or in the middle of the mailman's route, then it will sit in his hot truck until he gets back to the post office. This was my initial, fatal mistake. I hope that helps! __________________ "You are much better off with no numbers than meaningless ones. The minute you believe numbers uncritically, that is, without understanding how they're calculated and how well they measure whatever they're supposed to measure, you will generate a breed of employee who will produce numbers and not results. Your data-processing system will then serve not to describe reality but to lie about it." -Micheal S. Montalbano

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07-01-2011, 11:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
sajata Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chester Springs PA Posts: 1,234	in the winter in the north, i live almost exactly on 40'N, taking your USPS frb to the post office, where it is heated, will also get your plants there alive. also if you can have them shipped to a business address where they can be tossed on your desk and sit there for a day or two at 70 deg or so is also a great way to improve survivability