Are you interested in knowing how to ship plant cuttings while maintaining their viability? Among the best methods of propagating or growing plants is from plant cuttings. With one, you can be assured that the plant you raise will be the exact same one as that of the parent plant.
Whether you’re planning on selling plant cuttings or you’re just sending them to a loved one across the country, you need to understand that not all shipping situations are the same. Factors that include the type of plant or the weather in the place where you’ll ship your cuttings will have some corresponding effects on the quality and viability of your plant cuttings. However, there is a general rule for shipping plants all over the country, and they should be the first ones you keep in mind.
What You Need to Do When Shipping Plant Cuttings
Are you sending some plant cuttings to another state? Unless you make sure that these arrive safely, the person whom you’re sending them to won’t be able to propagate them successfully.
To ensure hydration, it’s best to water the parent plant a day before you plan on shipping it. Doing so will increase the plant’s chances of surviving the trip towards its destination. Here are the things you need to do when shipping plant cuttings in different states:
Tip #1. Take cuttings close to the shipping time
For best results, take your plant cuttings as close to the shipping time as possible. You can do it the day before or on the day of shipment.
Look for a healthy section in your plant and take your cutting from there. Cut that section of the plant diagonally.
Tip #2. Keep two leaves on the top
Remove all the leaves of your plant cutting, but keep two leaves on the top. This will help conserve the water that remains on the stems of the plant, and therefore, with little leaves left, it will be easier for the branch to support itself and avoid dehydration en route to its destination.
Tip #3. Wrap the bottom half with a kitchen paper towel and cling wrap
Once you have your cutting, wrap the bottom half with a kitchen paper towel, then, damp the towel, but make sure that it’s not dripping wet. When you’re finished wrapping, secure it with a few layers of cling film to prevent water loss from the kitchen paper towel. As an added measure, add another layer of separate cling wrap to secure the stems and place them inside a Ziplock.
Tip #4. Use sphagnum moss to wrap cuttings with roots
If you’re sending a cutting with roots, you may want to consider using sphagnum moss. This is usually the best material to wrap the roots with, so it won’t dry out.
Tip #5. Seal wood stem cuttings with warm wax
If you’re sending out wood stem cuttings, dipping its bottom on a warm wax will also help seal the cutting and prevent moisture from coming out during shipping.
Tip #6. Keep the cuttings stable inside the postage box
Place the cuttings on a postage box and make sure that it doesn’t get moved around a lot during transport. You can do this by filling the shipping container box with papers and tissues and securing your plant by placing it in the middle where it’s stable.
Tip #7. Ship them on a Monday or a Tuesday
The best time to ship your plants is on the first two days of the week (that is, Monday or Tuesday). Sending your plants on these days will make sure that they won’t get stuck on the shipping companies’ warehouses over the weekend, thus making them lose more water. As much as you can, use an express post so your cuttings will arrive at your family, friends, or customers the soonest possible time (1-2 days) and ensure a better chance of survival.
Tip#8. Label and track the parcel
You can also label your parcel as “fragile” or “Live plants – no direct sun” to warn the shipping company that you’re sending fragile cuttings. Once you’ve sent your cuttings, give the recipient a copy of the tracking number so they can track the package and get it right away once it arrives.
Growing Plants Inside a Hobby Greenhouse: Should You Do It?
The short answer is yes. There are a lot of benefits that go with greenhouse gardening. Here are three of them:
Benefit #1. Better pest control
Since a hobby greenhouse is an enclosed space, it provides your plants with the protection they need from destructive insects and animals. When one of your plants in your garden is infested with aphids, mealybugs, or other dangerous plant pests, you can separate the uninfected plants and store it inside your greenhouse for the time being. You can also control the temperature and give your plants an optimal growing environment to make sure that they thrive well.
Benefit #2. Extended growing period
Whether you plan on planting warm or cold-season crops, you can trust that your hobby greenhouse will be able to give your plants an optimal environment for survival. You can easily control the environment (making it warm or cold) to support and extend your plants’ growth. This way, you can enjoy your favorite off-season plants longer.
Benefit #3. Stress relief
Yes, greenhouses also offer health benefits for passionate gardeners. With a hobby greenhouse, you’ll have your own personal oasis where you can just forget about the stresses of the outside world. Plus, the color green is also known to affect cultivating calmness inside a person, so there’s that.
How to Ship Plant Cuttings: Conclusion
If you’re planning on selling, sharing, or exchanging plant cuttings to other people within the country, you must learn the process of how to ship plant cuttings correctly. Keep the list of guidelines mentioned above in mind, and you’ll be assured of a healthy cutting that will grow into a beautiful plant soon.