Tips for mailing orchids

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yep, you have to remove the pots to make it lighter. Sounds like there may have been a bit of extra packing material as well. The prices really jump if if the box is “large”

Oh yeah an epiphyte can survive with out medium (dirt) for quite a while. That is how they shipped them overseas in the 1800s too.

Cellular death through freezing or boiling is more of a problem that is why I suggested insulation. That chicken bubble pop insulation "sheeting" is how I just got 2 Phrags. A really good packing job.

[Orchid Whisperer]

In 1985 I shipped my orchid collection from Puerto Rico to Athens, Georgia, in December. Never mind the ground-level temperatures, it's the cargo hold temperatures you need to worry about.

I removed every plant from it's pot, removed all growing media (the few mounted plants stayed on their mounts). Wrapped each plant in newspaper. I packed them in the largest, sturdiest styrofoam cooler I could find that would fit into a cardboard box. Two coolers/boxes like that. They went through USDA inspection with no problems.

The trip took one or two WEEKS. I had some broken leaves, but the plants survived the trip. I still have a few of those surviving plants today!