Shipping live plants is not an easy task. It involves taking into consideration many factors, such as temperature, light, water, and packaging, that will ensure that the plant will arrive safely and alive.
There are also restrictions that regulate the transportation of live plants to prevent the spread of pests, diseases and noxious weeds. Every individual who wishes to ship plants should be familiar about these regulations to avoid problems during transport. Bear in mind that shipments containing live plants are subject to inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and if plants do not meet requirements, they may be subject to seizure and the shipper, to fines.
The cost of packing and shipping live plants can also be quite expensive. So it is wiser to ship plants only if they are absolutely necessary. Remember that buying plants in your new destination can be more practical and cost-effective than transporting your old ones. To help you decide whether or not you should ship your potted beauties, here are some factors to be considered when shipping live plants.
Ship live plants if:
- They have sentimental value, like a gift from a very special person
- They’ve been under your care for a long time and you’ve invested a lot of time and effort cultivating them such as Bonsais
- They are a rare species or would be difficult to buy at your new location
- They are small enough and can be easily packed for quick shipping
Think twice before shipping plants that:
- Are too large and would be costly to crate and move
- Are common species that are readily available at your new destination
- Are too fragile and may not survive the shock involved with shipping
- Will take a lot of time, money and effort to be uprooted, transplanted and transported
- Are included in the USDA quarantine or restricted species list