Moving Orchid Collection Across Country! yikes!

[Rivka]

Ok we will be moving from the Seattle Area to Washington DC.
28,000 Miles in the heat of July or August.
I have about 40 orchids, all windowsill grown, all in Semi/Hydro plastic pots. (i have mostly glass cache pots but those can get packed separately)

I will probably use the move to pass on, to others, any orchids I'm not in love with. That still will probably leave 25.

How the hell am I going to move them???!!!!!

• If we drive it at some point, it will take at least a week, in a hot car. I can't see then surviving very long once I turn the engine and A/C off to so much as eat lunch.
• I can give then to the movers, I might as well throw them in the trash myself.
• Am I crazy to be thinking about mailing them??

[tansyflower]

I would leave them with a friend for a couple of weeks, and then get them to mail them over.

[kmarch]

I like Tansy's idea the best. You could even prepare them (wrap the pots so the mix doesn't fall out - or perhaps show a friend/family how to unpot them) for shipping then have someone wrap them up and post them. You might even be able to find a nursery to do it for you. You'd probably have to agree that they're not responsible if some don't survive.

[berkeleysgr8]

Shipping them out seems to be the best thing. I think of all the orchids I've bought over the years and had shipped to me... it can certainly be done with very little harm to the plants. Best yet, a little less stress on your long move!

[Rivka]

how do you think they would do with a few days in the mail in the hottest part of the summer?

if i mailed them i would probably have to do it myself, We're in the army and kind of in the middle of nowhere with few friends and no orchid buddies close by.

but i'm sure that if mailing them is the way it goes, i could mail them the day before flying out and beat them there.

[Rivka]

do you think that it would be better to tape up the S/H pots or maybe just take them out and mail them bare root?

here's my thinking:

In S/H Pot:

Pro's

• posibly still providing moisture to plants in transit
• evap of moiture posibly providing cooling in heat
• might be better at holding the roots in a safe position/shape

Con's

• heavyer bulkeir and therefor costlyier to ship
• possible abrasion of roots due to vibrations during transit.
• possible too much moisture trapped around leaves

Bare Root

Pro's

• careful wrapping or roots provide better protection
• fewer cheeper packages

Con's

• plants might dry out or over heat
• possible breakage of roots when moving them or changing their shape.

[kmarch]

The potted/bare root question, in my opinion, depends on what kind fo orchids they are. In my experience cattleyas and dendrobiums seem to fare quite well shipped bare root. Paphs and phrags do not; it sets them way back.

[Julez]

1st option:You could always pack the roots in moist Sphagnam Moss in a plastic bag, sealed with packing tape, this would allow you to pack (depending on how large your chids are) several in one box. Use shedded paper, rather than the poly packing peanuts as this can cause the plants to sweat. Using the shedded paper will provide insulation against the heat and should the little bags split or leak the paper will soak up the water. Clearly mark them as live plants.

Depending on what day you move will depend when you ship but if you posted them on a Friday and you flew Saturday you would possible receive them in your new home Monday, unless of course you sent them by courier overnight.

2 option: contact a courier service. The larger couriers should have a "flower service" this is how they move flowers for the international fresh flower market.
or
The airline carrier you will fly with and see if you can ship them as excess luggage or perhaps as carry on luggage. If you packaged them as above but instead of a box use a suitcase.


3 option: Sell them them you can go shopping and buy more chids.

[berniep]

G'Day Rivka

This site tells how the experts do it, hope it helps Orchid Packing and Shipping Orchids

Cheers
Bernie

[Julez]

Excellent article Bernie!

[Stitz]

Bernie, THANK YOU for the outstanding reference link !

Rivka, in which part of the DC area do you plan to settle? There are orchid clubs/societies scattered all around!

[rcb]

I think the idea of extra baggage is a great idea. I have put plants on planes many times.

[jerrymeola]

Commercially we ship every week of the year without problems.

USPS two day delivery is perfect if you are flying out. It will arrive the day after you and is reasonably priced. Don't waste your money on overnight (at three times the cost.)

Unless you have a plant that likes to be wet all the time then bare root is easier.

The article mentioned is how a commercial nursery will prepare an oder, but you can do a better job.

If you have flowers it is probably easier to cut them off. If you really are attached to the flowers then using stakes like in the article will work well.

The article uses standard size boxes for all orders as this is the only way a commercial house can do it. You should instead try to find a box that will hold the plants tight with minimum filler. Peanuts are easy to use with a commercial drop system like in the article, but they tend to shift and crumpled newspaper is easier and cheaper for a hobbyist. Again use as little as possible.

When we ship we like to keep the plants tight enough that they hold themselves in place. Too difficult to have employees do in a shipping room but reasonable for a few boxes. When you make multiple layers of plants tape, the plants in place for each layer. The newspaper protects the plants so it is easy.

USPS charges volume pricing for boxes over 1 cubic foot. You might find 2-3 boxes under a cubic foot to be cheaper than one large one. 48x6x6 is an excellent size for maximum packing at minimal cost and the plants pack tight easily. I can easily get 10-12 blooming size plants in this box. Two will cost you about $20-30 each to Washington.

Most orchids can take a week in a box without a problem. I use USPS two day mail to Seattle so you should easily get reliable two day from there. Very few areas take longer and three days is the worst I have had.

Mark the boxes live plants and "Keep out of sun". The biggest danger is the post to leave them in the sun on delivery. You could require a signature if you are worried, which will force them to hold the package an additional day if you are not at the delivery. Or probably easier is to request the package to be held at the post office to be picked up by you.

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by rcb

I think the idea of extra baggage is a great idea. I have put plants on planes many times.

GREAT idea! I have also transported orchid plants as "carry on luggage" several times. It's the ONLY way to fly! No worries about freezing temps in the cargo area....

[jerrymeola]

I had not seen the post on an extra carry on bag before I posted, but have used it before the high prices started being charged for luggage.

Depending on the airline this could be easy and the size limit for luggage is bigger so you might get away with one box. A large suitcase may take all you plants.

Airlines are not the Friendly Sky's anymore and if they realize they are plants they may insist on putting it on as cargo that could run 100-150 dollars. Most times this will not happen and you can get away with one baggage charge. Here I would not put live plants on the box. They will not give it any special care anyway.

You may not be able to use carry on. And if you can not then putting it in baggage is not a problem. All commercial shipments go in cargo.

[rcb]

When i mentioned i have had plants on planes, I meant as carry on and in checked baggage.

Most major airlines charge about $25/bag for checked luggage each way and as you are moving it would be one way right? - and southwest is still free. I've packed orchids in my luggage before, just wrapped them in newspaper and stuck them in amoung my clothes. They were fine.

I've also carried orchids on planes hanging out of my purse, hanging out of my computer bag etc - you get a lot of funny stares but hey?

One thing to consider, if you carry them on, I don't think s/h will get through - the whole liquid thing, but I would bareroot them to take them anyways.

[rcb]

Jerry disagree - most major airlines charge $25/bag each way of checked luggage. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it is under 50 pounds and fits the size. With her having 25 orchids, especially if she bare roots them, then she isn't going to exceed the 50 pound rule.

Rivka, I've carried on orchids and they were visible to anyone what they were, and I've put them in checked luggage. Never had any problem whatsoever. When I've carried them on, right before they go through x-ray I just warn them they are plants and that's why it looks funny in x-ray. Never been stopped over this. I've carried them on boxes, in bags, hanging out of my purse, hanging out of my computer bag. Never any trouble.

When I've checked them, I just wrapped them in newspaper and put them inside the luggage, with my clothing as filler.

Rivka, it's really up to you to compare the cost and trouble and what works best for you. Only thing is if you ship or carry on a plane, you will probably have to bareroot them. the plane cause of the liquid restrictions.

edit - oops i had thought I lost the first post sorry for double posting

[dounoharm]

i have carried plants on the plane in my luggage, its great....and you can unpack them right away, less stress on the plants.....mailing them is ok, but they will be traveling in the heat for two days..or more,.....if you decide to ship by usps, then go to the usps site and order boxes....you can get shoebox size and long tubes that will ship 4-5 inch pots well....they run about 8 bucks each to post, depending on weight....you will be cheaper and less hassle to pack em in your luggage....

[koshki]

Rivka, I would definitely ship them. Tape the medium into the pot with masking tape, then wrap each plant in pillow battan and then the whole thing in newspaper. Put them all in a large box (or however many it takes) and then ship them for two day delivery. Be sure to mark the boxes "Live plants---do not expose to heat or cold".

Depending on how long they've been in the s/h, they might not like being unpotted. If you've just recently put them in s/h, then they might not mind going bare root, but I'd spare myself the extra work, both before and after the move, and try to send them just like they are, even if it costs more due to the weight. You are going to be really busy, and mandatory immediate repotting of your orchids is probably something you'd be glad to skip!

Good luck!

[Rivka]

Originally Posted by kmarch

The potted/bare root question, in my opinion, depends on what kind fo orchids they are. In my experience cattleyas and dendrobiums seem to fare quite well shipped bare root. Paphs and phrags do not; it sets them way back.

i have mostly Phals, Dens, Milt, Oncid and similar items.
I have only one small prize Phrag that i may think about dealing with separately.

Originally Posted by Julez

1st option:You could always pack the roots in moist Sphagnam Moss in a plastic bag, sealed with packing tape, this would allow you to pack (depending on how large your chids are) several in one box. Use shedded paper, rather than the poly packing peanuts as this can cause the plants to sweat. Using the shedded paper will provide insulation against the heat and should the little bags split or leak the paper will soak up the water. Clearly mark them as live plants.

i would think that using spag moss is just introducing another random environment to them and deprives them of air. not sure , just thinking out loud. I am thinking that the best thing is to error on the dry side for those 2 days in transit rather than risk a lot of moisture settling on the leaves?

Originally Posted by Stitz

, in which part of the DC area do you plan to settle? There are orchid clubs/societies scattered all around!

no idea, as close in as possible, I have already looked up the National Capital Orchid Society and plan to go to first meeting I can. They look like a amazing active group.

Originally Posted by rcb

I think the idea of extra baggage is a great idea. I have put plants on planes many times.

this is a thought, but i might be really bogged down on a flight there and cant fly back and forth all summer.

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Commercially we ship every week of the year without problems.

USPS two day delivery is perfect if you are flying out. It will arrive the day after you and is reasonably priced. Don't waste your money on overnight (at three times the cost.)

Unless you have a plant that likes to be wet all the time then bare root is easier.

The article mentioned is how a commercial nursery will prepare an oder, but you can do a better job.

you bring up tons of great things for me, thanks for writing! I agree that that article was more to assure a buyer than to teach a how to. and yes i'm sure with my love of these plants and intimate knowledge of their every growth, i can pack them like no body else can. I have tons of things like packing peanuts and bubble wrap and newsprint, i am one of those dorks that save packing stuff for later use, so all i would need to get is the perfect boxes.

Do you recommend that i work on leaving air flow and holes in the various layers to help dampness not build up or seal it all up tight to protect against harsh temp changes and fumes?

Originally Posted by Stitz

GREAT idea! I have also transported orchid plants as "carry on luggage" several times. It's the ONLY way to fly! No worries about freezing temps in the cargo area....

probably have way too many for that and i may have a kitty on that final move with me in the cabin. Kitty hates cargo area even more than orchids do!

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Airlines are not the Friendly Sky's anymore and if they realize they are plants they may insist on putting it on as cargo that could run 100-150 dollars. Most times this will not happen and you can get away with one baggage charge. Here I would not put live plants on the box. They will not give it any special care anyway.

just ead my airlines baggage rules and it says nothing about plants at all, i am thinking that i have one large very very hardsided suitcase that im guessing everything will fit into very well, that may be my best bet if flying with them is the final choice i make.

Originally Posted by rcb

I've packed orchids in my luggage before, just wrapped them in newspaper and stuck them in amoung my clothes. They were fine.
One thing to consider, if you carry them on, I don't think s/h will get through - the whole liquid thing, but I would bareroot them to take them anyways.

remember again im not talking about one or two plants here and some tee shirts for a vacation, im talking about 25-30 plants and moving a whole house for good.
and as for the S/H and water, i can drain any pot fully without any problem at all. i am leaning towards bare root, but just as a fyi s//h pots can be drained.

Originally Posted by rcb

Rivka, I've carried on orchids and they were visible to anyone what they were, and I've put them in checked luggage. Never had any problem whatsoever. When I've carried them on, right before they go through x-ray I just warn them they are plants and that's why it looks funny in x-ray. Never been stopped over this. I've carried them on boxes, in bags, hanging out of my purse, hanging out of my computer bag. Never any trouble.

yeah my only worry is that they would xray the checked bag and want to take a better look and wreck the good packing. I'm guessing i may be able to walk my bad thru check in and avoid that hassle, i'll look into that.

Originally Posted by koshki

snip><Be sure to mark the boxes "Live plants---do not expose to heat or cold".

snip><Depending on how long they've been in the s/h, they might not like being unpotted.
snip><You are going to be really busy, and mandatory immediate repotting of your orchids is probably something you'd be glad to skip!

Do you folks think that marking them when shipping actually gets them treated any different?
Why do you say that they wont like to be unpotted? because of the attaching to the clay balls? (i would not pull off any balls, anything that was attached would just be left attached i think)
I dont have kids to move its just me and my husband, so i think the house and items are really my only concern (my cat is a very seasoned mover and once safely in a new place will be just dandy) So repotting and fussing over orchids seems like a cheery task either way.

[dounoharm]

i bought a big footlocker to transport my orchids in last time i moved across the country...it went as checked in baggage on the airplane and everything arrived nicely packed.....whether by plane or mail, pack only in newspaper, if you have to use a baggie because of wet roots then leave it partially open....you dont want mold and rot to develop....drying out the plants for one day before shipping is best....i ship all the time for ebay sales, and have never had a problem even tho the plants are in the mail for days, sometimes after getting lost, a week....tape newspaper around the roots of the plants, and fold it carefully over the growths, tuck in shredded paper around buds or flowers....really, considering the number of plants to transport, i would pack for the airplane....

[Rivka]

i wanted to let you all know how this went, sorry for not updating sooner, but the actual moving,
then finding a home,
then driving across country,
then being way preggo with twins (found out i was preggo the week i posted this thread, didn't know it was twins till a while later in the middle of the move prep!)
then finding a house,
moving in,
having said twins,
and ,
and ,
and...

anyway, its now almost a year after the start of my move, so here's the update:

• i sorted my orchid and decided to give away any that were not doing great and not worth fighting for, and 2 that were very large and not a favorite of mine
• i then moved the remainder into the secondary container for long term watering set up that i had figured out the year before for a summer vacation
• drove them to the next state over and moved them to a low light, hopefully cooler part of my mothers house for save keeping while i then drove across country
• came back 3 weeks later, watered then all super well, waited 2 days then dry rooted them all (sadly it was suddenly raining and moist when i was trying to dry root them ,so they never dried out as much as i would have liked)
• packed the whole collection in newspaper and then into a large hard plastic trunk
• flew with a kitty as a carry on and my entire orchid collection as checked baggage!
  
  on the other side:
  
• bought a brand new bag of hydroton and all new to-go cups
• then proceeded to assembly line repot nearly 40 orchids (couldn't give up as many as i should have, and others needed dividing when i repot)

it was a blast to see 40 orchids take up every flat surface in a long stay hotel we had to live in while house hunting in DC (a past time i never would recommend! the house hunting in DC that is, the orchid on every surface is great!)
i did fall prey to being to tired and to preggo to unpack the very night i got in and i do think that waiting till the next evening was a bad thing, but thankfully not too bad

well most all made the move, and the only wide spread damage was that any very young shoots did not make it thru the packing, they seem to be just to susceptible to the humidly of the packing and not unwrapping fast enough. but pretty much all of those sent out more shoots soon after.

they had a very very harsh winter of neglect as i birthed and cared for said twins, drying out badly time and time again as life consumed me and i would a few times not water them for a month. i know sad and lame of me
but i now have everyone on large wire shelving in my SW living room windows and out of what i think was 36 orchids i started the move with, i have 28 still. (plus a large handful i have acquired since the move) some were a battle before i left, still dealing with their miss timed s/h change or there just to teach me i should not own cattelyas. but most everyone is doing great now.

one thing i know is that any orchid i have now have in my collection is a amazing super trooper all the way!! heck a few bloomed for me over the winter despite what i know can only call my "attempt to kill off a good hobby" period

[Reg22]

CONGRATULATIONS on your twins!! Good job with the orchids too.

[Daethen]

Congrats on the twins and the successful move. I'm sure your chids have forgiven you. What did you have BTW?

[Rivka]

Originally Posted by Daethen

Congrats on the twins and the successful move. I'm sure your chids have forgiven you. What did you have BTW?

well i have mostly dens phals and oncid types, but have added a few more interesting ones since i have settled down....


oh you mean the twins?

both human shown here at 2 weeks and 6 months

[Daethen]

Ok, I flat out love your sense of humor. They are just adorable. The pic at 6 months is just too cute.

[dounoharm]

they are gorgeous!!! you are really a super mom caring for twins and all those orchids!....good job!!

[Smokerfamily]

28,000 miles! How many times are you going around the earth to get there! Cant't tell if this is sarcasm or not. I have moved from the east coast of Australia to the west coast and couldn't take any of my orchids with me because of border restrictions. Good luck working it out.

[lmartiny]

Ooohhh. Cute babies. Forget everythng else. They are the bomb. Everything else is fluff. Good job. Hard work. but it pays off in the long run.