FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I'm getting to the point where I'm going to start shipping plants out. I've never shipped anything before so like whats the procces of shopping a live plant. I dont want to screw anything up.

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I used to be an eBay Powerseller, so I was always mindful of margins, expenses and time. I'm going to approach your question from the angle of shipping in general. I assume you're also inquiring about safe shipping for plants specifically. I'll respond with my approach in another post, and i'm sure other members will chime in as well.

First, I highly recommending printing your own shipping labels, rather than going directly to the post office. Not only does it save you the time, it also saves you money b/c you pay a discounted rate on all shipping, whether its 1st class, Priority, Media or whatever. For example:

Shipping costs if you print your own label:

SFRB $7.05
MFRB $12.85
LFRB $17.65

Shipping costs if you purchase at the Post Office:

SFRB $7.20
MFRB $13.65
LFRB $18.90

1. If you want to ship Priority (2-3 day shipping), get flat rate boxes from the post office or have them dropped off at your house for free: https://store.usps.com/store/results/bu ... -supplies/
2. Log into your PayPal account.
3. Go to this link to print your shipping label: http://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/
4. Go here to request a free USPS package pick-up: https://tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPick ... put.action

Print your shipping label, stick it on the box, schedule the pickup, and set the box on your porch. The post office will do the rest. You never have to leave your house.

xanthoparmelia wrote:I used to be an eBay Powerseller, so I was always mindful of margins, expenses and time. I'm going to approach your question from the angle of shipping in general. I assume you're also inquiring about safe shipping for plants specifically. I'll respond with my approach in another post, and i'm sure other members will chime in as well.

First, I highly recommending printing your own shipping labels, rather than going directly to the post office. Not only does it save you the time, it also saves you money b/c you pay a discounted rate on all shipping, whether its 1st class, Priority, Media or whatever. For example:

Shipping costs if you print your own label:

SFRB $7.05
MFRB $12.85
LFRB $17.65

Shipping costs if you purchase at the Post Office:

SFRB $7.20
MFRB $13.65
LFRB $18.90

1. If you want to ship Priority (2-3 day shipping), get flat rate boxes from the post office or have them dropped off at your house for free: https://store.usps.com/store/results/bu ... -supplies/
2. Log into your PayPal account.
3. Go to this link to print your shipping label: http://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/
4. Go here to request a free USPS package pick-up: https://tools.usps.com/go/ScheduleAPick ... put.action

Print your shipping label, stick it on the box, schedule the pickup, and set the box on your porch. The post office will do the rest. You never have to leave your house.

This was very helpful. I ship on Monday through wendsday I'm assuming so the package doesn't get held up on Sunday ehh? Also can I just drop the package off at the post office?


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For shipping plants, there are generally two approaches: Potted or bare root. Shipping potted is less stressful on the plant, but i only ship bare root b/c it's cheaper (less weight and space needed), and i've never had an issue.

I try to minimize the amount of time the plant will spend in a box, so i try to wait until right before i ship to pull the plant. Keep the roots wrapped in wet paper towel or sphagnum, then stick it in a ziplock bag.

If you go to YouTube and look up "carnivorous plant unboxing" there will be some videos of people opening packages from places like Sarracenia Northwest, California Carnivores, etc. That'll give you an idea of how the online retailers ship potted plants.

Yes, you can drop the box off too.

And if you ship Mon-Wed, assuming it's to and from the continental US, it will get to it's destination by Saturday, even with first class shipping. It will definitely get there with Priority.

I can personally vouch for Xanthoparmelia's approach to shipping. I recently received 2 bare root Sarracenia's from him, and they arrived in spectacular condition. I potted them up immediately and neither plant showed any sign of stress whatsoever.
Chef