There's a lucky lady in Maryland!

Colleen,

I certainly hope so. It's my first time sending cold-hardy succulents (as well as non-,) so I get to notch the belt again.

Good grief! Is that a photo of the plant that's rolled up on your monitor??? The color is gorgeous! I hope whoever gets that plant takes good care of it. Funny, when you see something on the monitor like that, I think it's a huge plant even though I know it can't be that large.

One has to have inspectors. Warm fuzzy ones are especially nice.

That's a mighty big spliff you've rolled up there, Jeff. Your friend is going to be very happy, unless law enforcement intercepts your clandestine shipment of botanical wonder. I can hear you now, plaintively pleading with unsympathetic, irrational authority: "but, but officer, it's just an antidote for Euphorbia poisoning, really..."

Ya, sure buddy.

And that ain't no shwag, neither! ;-)

Josh

Ha! My children warn everyone about our Euphorbia tirucalli in the front yard. One day as we were walking past it my youngest son said, "Grandad touched the Pencil Cactus, mom"... and my oldest chimes in with, "And he didn't die."

I think it would be nerve-racking to ship plants! But, so far, I have not been dissapointed by any of my EBay purchases.

So how does one mail these plants across the border without any problem?

I just take my chances....

Josh

Penny,

No, it's a small piece of a shrubby Aeonium that's wrapped (don't even get me started with thinking about laying down a rap...). The plant on the monitor is a regular Pachyphytum that was close-upped.

Brad,

I'll have to flame it up if that were to happen, but we'd both know that it's not the real antidote, won't we?

Sara,

Brad writes of a not-known-well-enough truth and E. tirucalli can be a nasty one. The juices of the crushed leaves of Aeonium lindleyii are a known palliative to Euphorbia sap, even the dreaded E. abdelkuri (personal second-hand knowledge, so don't try it at home).

Josh,

I'm just true to myself
It's not about the pelf

Ron,

One doesn't mail them across the border - one brings them to the other side and mails them. If one were bringing them via aeroplane, it's a temporary holdup at the airport (since one has, of course, declared agricultural products on the custom form) - just make sure the cuttings are completely free of soil and that you sound like you know what you're talking about - it's just a bureaucratic hindrance then.

I have taken a lot of plants and cuttings across the border both ways, but never mailed them. I usually get plants sent to my family in Walla Wall WA. and then pick them up when I'm down there. Of course I have to time the shipments to arrive shortly before I'm down there because nobody in the family is able to care for them. They are not plant people to say the least. LOL

The last cuttings I I got were Opuntia pads from California. They rooted quickly and about a year to the day they are showing new pads starting.

Cactus: I found this thread while searching for tips on how to mail plants, and I find I have two questions for you:

2. I'm mailing several plants out to Erin (to help her rebuild her collection). They're store-bought, and already potted. Should I un-pot them? Should I clean the roots off? (She'll have to re-pot them anyway, since the soil is not appropriate for them.)

   {{gwi:652707}}{{gwi:652709}}

   {{gwi:652711}}{{gwi:652714}}

   {{gwi:652715}}{{gwi:652716}}

3. What is that plant on your computer screen?? Colleen and I both have some of what looks very much like that plant, and neither of us can nail down a proper ID:

   {{gwi:652718}}

   {{gwi:652720}}

   {{gwi:652722}}

   {{gwi:652724}}

   We've narrowed it down to a Pachyphytum but aren't sure about species. Do you happen to know?

*CG*

Maybe Pachyphytum oviforum?

I had to laugh at the subject line. I thought you've had enough of winter and resorted to smoking your plants, lol. The way my eyes are anymore I bet it would look like a plant rolled up in newspaper.

Are we sending plants to Erin, I offered but I didnt hear back from her?

Denise

CG,

It pleases me that you ask about that plant (it was one of my first, I think). It's certainly a Pachyphytum, so good on you - it could be P. oviferum, but maybe P. amethystinum, , IIRC - the leaves on your plant aren't as round as I would have thought P. oviferum are.

Yes, send it soilless - it's better for the plant and there's no need for it in the box, anyway.

Denise,

I am almost all about the yucks in life. AFA plants to Erin, I'd not heard anything about it. I would ask her if she's determined what's killing them before any more plants are added to her collection, though the thought's a very nice gesture.

Denise, I emailed her twice. She didn't get the first one? Also she is sick and has her hands full. Try again. I have a small package, I have to wait till next week here. Just too cold to ship.
I can't get over how wonderful all you are. Nice to have friends.

Thank you, Stush, for reminding me of the other thing I wanted to mention about mailing plants - it's not a good idea this time of year (I'd wait a few months). I must be affected mentally with the cold that we're having (-20 C this a.m. - coldest day of the year thus far).

Cactus: Awesome, thanks for the tip. I'll get those babies de-soiled and packaged up nice and proper. :)

Colleen and I were thinking possibly P. oviferum. But something didn't feel quite settled on it. But I'm glad we're not the only ones thinking in that direction. :)

It took some time for Erin to get back to me, but she did eventually. (Somehow her email ended up in my Spam folder.) I know pregnancy has laid her up quite a bit. Not sure if she's started school again yet or not. She did express an overwhelming enthusiasm over the prospect of getting more plants. So I'd say keep trying her.


*CG*