Moving orchids

[flanso]

We're moving from Tampa to Houston and the three moving companies who have quoted are declining to move potted plants. I have about 30 phals and would appreciate suggestions how to get them from here to there.

[rcb]

Are you going to be flying or driving?

If flying, you can pack them up and ship them to yourself. Or pack them up and take them as extra luggage.

I've moved my collection twice, from Pittsburgh, PA to Charlotte, NC in 2004 and from Charlotte to the Florida panhandle in 2008. Both time I drove them. I just set them in boxes, and put them in the trunk and backseat of the car. Was careful when we stopped to make sure the car didn't overheat (both times were in August). I had watered them well the day before the Florida move, so that I had some time after we arrived before I had to deal with them.

The PA to NC was only a 7 hour drive so I didn't have to worry about overnight issues. The NC to FL was a one night stopover, and I just left them in the locked car. Didn't have any problems. I did have to put the bigger plants in the moving truck though. But as we were doing it ourselves, they were no issues.

[flanso]

Thanks, Renee, We'll be flying so I think the orchids will need to be packaged. I am considering removing them from the pots and boxing them all together with the roots still in the sphagnum in which they are planted. Then I would check the box as baggage. Do you think they would survive? Is there a better method?

[rcb]

well, you would be able to fit more into a box without the pots, but I would be sure to wrap each one individually in newspaper first. I would personally be wary of contamination, if you don't put them all back into the exact same pot they came from. But thats me, if you don't mind, then should work.

Yes they will survive. They survive us don't they?

A couple days in a box is not a problem. I would probably in that case dry them out somewhat beforehand. Wet spag/wet roots in the dark can be a problem.

And if you have a couple favorites, then you can take them as carry on as well. I've carried orchids in a bag on planes before, many times. I just tuck the bag under the seat in front of me to make sure it wasn't abused in the overhead area. And I warn the TSA people before it goes through xray so they aren't surprised. But make sure there is no metal hangers or stakes or anything like that if you choose to take any through security.

Yes I get a few stares, but I find it amusing. I remember one time, I had a bag of orchids, orchids sticking out of my computer bag, and a few smaller ones tucked into my coat pockets - all taken on the plane. Got lots of stares that time.

[Ray]

Like Renee, I have moved my collection a few times (Atlanta GA > Louisville KY > LaGrange KY > Georgetown SC > Jackson NJ > Doylestown PA), plus I have shipped thousands over the last several years, and I do this:

1. Anchor the medium in the pot with masking tape (obviously not if you're shipping them "sans pot")
2. Surround each plant with shredded paper or "easter grass"
3. The wrap them with several layers of newsdpaper (it's pretty good insulation)
4. If you're moving in cold weather, put a couple of heat packs in the bottom of the box.
5. Stack the plants firmly in the box, so there will be no movement while in-transit.
6. Seal it up and it's ready to go.

Ship by FedEx or UPS Ground service - if they go by air, they can get exposed to cold while in flight.

If shipping in hot weather, follow Renee's advice and go ahead and water them first. If it's cold weather (even with heat packs), you're better off to ship them dry.

[orchids4me]

I always wondered how others did this . I was concerned if I move to oregon up north and if I had to move back. At the border of california they have that stop you have to make they ask where your coming from if you have fruit, plants, animals that are illegal in the state. What do you do with orchids in that situation ? Will they take them from you? I'm sure other state lines have these check points. I think I recall one in texas somwhere too back in 2000 when I was visiting the area and on my way to PA.
I figured if ii moved ot oregon and had to come back I'd have to ship them all back because of that check point at the state line

[Ray]

Originally Posted by orchids4me

I always wondered how others did this . I was concerned if I move to oregon up north and if I had to move back. At the border of california they have that stop you have to make they ask where your coming from if you have fruit, plants, animals that are illegal in the state. What do you do with orchids in that situation ? Will they take them from you? I'm sure other state lines have these check points. I think I recall one in texas somwhere too back in 2000 when I was visiting the area and on my way to PA.
I figured if ii moved ot oregon and had to come back I'd have to ship them all back because of that check point at the state line

Arizona, California, and Hawaii are the "PITA" states in that regard, and you have a couple of options:

1) Go through all of the inspection and treatment processes in order to get the appropriate documentation that will allow you to carry them across the border.

2) Wrap them and ship them to the new address, and DO NOT indicate the contents in any way.

[rcb]

Emm, no the other states don't have this checkpoint.