Aquarium enthusiasts are always on the look out for high quality fish, aquarium plants, and decorations. The decorations are easy to order from any number of quality aquarium shops across the country. But what about aquarium plants? With the growing number of aquarium plant sellers using ecommerce and online auctions to find buyers, shipping aquarium plants has become more popular. To keep customers happy, the plants must arrive alive and healthy. This article explains how to ship aquairum plants the right way.
Shipping Aquarium Plants – Temperature
The first thing you should do when shipping aquarium plants is to research the temperatures of your location and the location the plants are going to. If the temperatures are very cold, it might be a good idea to wait to ship the aquarium plants. If the package is left outside, the plants will die. You could also opt to offer priority or overnight shipping with signature confirmation. Be sure to inform the customer that they must be there to accept the package.
Shipping Aquarium Plants – Mail Service
Priority mail service from the United States Post Office is great for shipping aquarium plants. Use one of their flat rate boxes or a padded envelope depending on the size and fragility of the plants you are shipping. Long stemmed oxygenator plants can be packed well in an envelope. Any aquarium plants with a pot should be put in a box.
Be sure to get delivery confirmation on the package. This prevents troubles with unscrupulous buyers and gives you peace of mind as well.
Shipping Aquarium Plants – Packaging
In order to ship aquarium plants, you will need plastic bags to hold them in. You can purchase aquarium plant bags from a reputable vendor online, or use untreated plastic food storage bags, like Ziplock bags. You must be able to tie off or seal the bags in some way.
You will also need something that retains water such as paper towels or floss-type filter media. You must give your plants a supply of moisture or they will die in transit.
Shipping Aquarium Plants – Easy Steps
Remove the aquarium plants from the tank and prepare it for shipping. Remove all dying leaves. Be sure not to damage any roots or the stem of the aquarium plant.
Get a considerably length of paper toweling wet. Do not squeeze out much of the excess water. Lay the lower end – the root end – of the plants on this paper toweling and carefully wrap it loosely around the bottom end of the plants. You can wrap the leaves some as well.
Slide the plant and paper towel into one of the plastic bags. Use a bag that the plant fits in without bending or squishing. You do not want to damange your plants before they get to the buyer’s house. Seal or tie off the top of the bag without trapping air inside the bag. Slide the bags into the box or padded envelope and fill in all remaining spaces with packing material. Reducing the plants’ movement will help them ship without damage.
Send the box or package out with Priority Mail. Telling the post office clerk to stamp them “Fragile” is a good idea, but not usually necessary. Careful packing and quick shipping should ensure the aquarium plants arrive safe and sound.
