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Bare root shipping-need tips

9 years ago

I know this is last minute so few are likely to have an opportunity to reply... but I'm stressing....

left my 200+ plumeria in FL when I moved to the midwest earlier this year and it has been torture. I miss them and worry about them. They are temporarily being housed by a friend, but will get no winter protection and would much rather be living with me... even in the midwest...

I am going to attempt to transport some tomorrow (back in town for a very brief work trip). One large suitcase full of the little guys, and a priority mailing a 40" box with a few of the mid size. All the larger ones will have to stay and I hesitate to even take cuttings as rooting season is a long way off... I am wondering what I need to do with the roots. For the large suitcase (packed only with plants - but likely reinforced with cardboard), they will only need to be 'bare' for 24 hours or so; guessing the mailed plants are closer to 72 -96 + hours. The plants are mostly dormant now, but I have read mixed info on the bare roots. Based on your personal experiences, either sending or receiving (possibly even winter storage), what do you recommend? Some say bare roots = lots of lost plumeria, others say no problem completely bare, and others recommend packing roots in either moss, wet paper towels, etc. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

I have desperately miss my plants feel the risk of not moving them is currently greater than leaving them.. and not sure I"ll have another retrieval opportunity.

Thanks for any advice!

PS If I'm making a mistake on not taking cuttings from the larger plants (even thought they won't have a chance of rooting until june or july in midwest, let me know)!!!

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Comments (4)

joanr
9 years ago
Because you don't know what the weather might be like this time of year, I would definitely wrap the roots with paper towels and then heavily in newspaper. I would not wet the paper towel cause you do not want to take a chance of freeze. Wrapping in newspaper will also help to insulate the plant. Once you get them home and since you are in the midwest I would suggest putting them in a large tote with mulch on the roots. This will really help protect the roots till you can plant in the spring.
jandey1
9 years ago
When I've received domestic bare-root plants they've been packed in damp moss and I've never had problems. I've also gotten quite a few sent from Thailand completely bare and dry. All of those also bounced back and grew just fine.

At this time of year you have dormancy going for you so you should be okay either way as long as they don't get below 40 degrees for several hours. Good luck!
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MidWestPlumi
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the replies! The transporting in suitcases went OK. about 80 made it between 1.5 and 3 ft in height in 2 large suitcases (with only 4 broken tips and one branch that broke.

UPS faired well also for another 40 or so; but I'm afraid those may have gotten cold. Only time will tell I suppose.

Jandey, do you know what the first signs of freezing would be? I was able to get the 80 lb box inside within 40 mins of delivery, but have no idea how cold the inside of the truck may have gotten. Especially after reaching the main transport center 24 hours before arrival.... I should have added more insulation. Most of my favorites were in that box....
jandey1
9 years ago
Unfortunately, as I'm finding out myself, sometimes the damage isn't apparent until several weeks later. Just cross your fingers, sometimes they surprise you with their resilience.

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