Shipping orchids in the dead of Winter. Good idea?

[Rex Anglorum]

I'm new to the board, but have been growing orchids for many years since I was first bitten by the orchid bug during high school in Utah.

Miltoniopsis seem to grow and bloom especially well for me at home in upstate New York and I'd like to expand my collection. It may seem strange, but I've never ordered orchids to be shipped to me in the dead of winter and so I wanted to ask the collective wisdom of this board whether you have found it safe enough to receive orchids during January/February, or whether I would be better off waiting until later this spring? (I'd kind of like to get some now while they are in spike if at all possible.)

Also, I'm having a terrible time finding a good selection of awarded Miltoniopsis for sale. Theresa at Hillsview Gardens doesn't have any listed for sale at the moment, so the other major possibility would be Ivan Komoda in Hawaii. Any other vendor suggestions for Miltoniopsis that I might be overlooking?

All the best,

C.J.

[Erce]

its not good to ship in the winter - wait for spring to order - then you know your chids will be ok when you get them

good luck and welcome to the board

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Don't have any Miltoniopsis at the moment. Never really had many of these anyways. So, I can't say anything about where to get awarded clones.

As far as shipping in the winter where it snows...

While I don't live in an area that snows at all. I'm aware that others here do live in areas that snow in the winter. And I've read their horror stories about ordering from out of state during the winter.

What I've got to say is...order at your own risk. Heat pack or no heat pack, expect anything to happen. Some sellers will not want to be responsible for any mishaps that occur. In fact, I'm sure that a few vendors mention this situation on their websites under their policy section. If not, it's your responsibility as a buyer to be aware of the risks and assume those risks should you take them.

The courier services will not always step up for being responsible for anything that goes wrong either.

Ordering during the holidays is also in my experience not a very good idea. Packages and mail usually get backed up. I'm experiencing this issue right now...

I suggest ordering locally so you can pick the plant(s) up.

That's my .

Maybe the people who've got first hand experience about ordering during the winter snow, will step up and tell their tales...

Welcome!

[flhiker]

Hi and welcome to the OB. Have you tried
Home - Orchids In Our Tropics

[SOS]

Pay for a heat pack or two and ask to have well insulated. You should be fine.

Most growers should have experience when shipping out plants in cold weather. They normally wont ship them wet, as that would be their biggest demise. If the grower youre ordering from doesnt, you might want to monitor the weather and wait for a week of better weather and get on it.

[Mini Mad]

Hi, I am a new poster too. I have purchased all of my orchids in winter. I am an irrational optimist? 80 plants two Issues.
First issue, Rangaeris amaniensis 2008
someone dumping their orchids on ebay. They sent the orchid by donkey to save a buck. Plant got frostbite and dropped its leaves. Now has a spike and a second plant. See Photo. I love this baby. Fretted allot over it.

Second issue. Icky and the squidletts. Long story. Post is in "vendors" and is live now!!!! Plant and flask from Singapore during this holiday hoopla. Am I dumb or what?

I like the species plants. Harder to find. E-bay works for me. STUDY the FEEDBACK!!!
Nothing cooler than getting that box and running to the greenhouse! Good Luck, Lori

[peeweelovesbooks]

Wouldn't recommend getting plants shipped right now. SBOE just sent me an e-mail stating they won't ship my order now bcs. it's too cold in Tennessee, which I'm assuming it's one of the stops. I love that!!--totally unexpected.

[Becca]

In 2008 I had a shipment arrive, one in November, and one in February of 2009. The one's in November were Phals, and they were fine although they had heat packs. The ones I received in February if I remember correctly, were a few of my Neofinetia's, which can tolerate cooler temps, but were shipped with heat packs as well and arrived healthy but a little on the cold side. They all were fine, but I generally try not to order 'chids in the winter months, it's just not worth the risk for me with all the money put into it!

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Mini Mad

First issue, Rangaeris amaniensis 2008 someone dumping their orchids on ebay. They sent the orchid by donkey to save a buck. Plant got frostbite and dropped its leaves. Now has a spike and a second plant. See Photo. I love this baby. Fretted allot over it.

Can't wait to see bloom pictures of this one!

[Ray]

I ship all winter - and have even shipped to Alaska in winter - and I imagine it's pretty cold up there!!!

Heat packs are essential, but are not the sole protection needed. Just like what your mother taught you - layers help a great deal.

I usually surround the plant with shredded newspaper, as it is mechanical padding and thermal insulation in one. I then wrap that bundle in more paper, thereby enclosing the plant in a "cocoon". That, in turn, is wrapped in closed-cell polyethylene foam, along with a heat pack, and in most cases, that can be placed in a box and shipped as-is. I use 2-day service, unless the recipient is in a warm region, then the heat pack serves to get it safely out of my weather, while it's still safe to use a less-expensive delivery mode.

If, on the other hand, the package is going to be exposed to really cold temperatures, I'll put heat packs (one per cubic foot) in the outer box, as well.

Another technique I've seen (but mostly for small shipments like flasks) is to seal the warm plants in a thick Styrofoam box. Those with inch-thick walls will hardly lose temperature over several days. Don't forget though, you cannot use a heat pack in a sealed-up box, as the oxidation process that generates the heat will consume the oxygen and shut down.