Packaging for shipment

[From0to10in2weeks]

Recently, I ordered for the first time cacti online from a very reputable cactus nursery here in Germany. I chose the option to ship them in pots thinking that this would avoid the stress of having to repot them. But when I opened the individually wrapped pots I quickly realised that this was a bad idea. A lot of the soil had spilled out of the pots and in some cases the cactus itself just fell out of the pot as well. The reason was that the pot and soil surface were only loosely wrapped in cellophane.

Is that normal? How do other nurseries ship and package their plants? Or is that problem one reason to ship them bare-rooted?

Thanks. Best.

[jerrytheplater]

I think I only purchased one plant in its pot. It is not usually offered as an option. They did me a special favor. The shipper put a foam ring around the top of the pot to hold the soil in. It was securely taped to the pot. Then something was placed over the pot to protect the plant. It may have been another pot. Then that was boxed up. It arrived fine.

All other purchases have been bare root. I think that is most likely the most common way for plants to be shipped over here.

[From0to10in2weeks]

I think I only purchased one plant in its pot. It is not usually offered as an option. They did me a special favor. The shipper put a foam ring around the top of the pot to hold the soil in. It was securely taped to the pot. Then something was placed over the pot to protect the plant. It may have been another pot. Then that was boxed up. It arrived fine.

All other purchases have been bare root. I think that is most likely the most common way for plants to be shipped over here.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Best.

[madkactus]

I've orderd a few cacti from ebay in the past. Always with the pot. The shipper always surrounded the base of the cactus with tape to the top rim of the container to keep the soil from spilling out. If you said you got your cactus from a reputable nursery I'm surprised. What kind of half azz shipping is that ? You should consider calling them out on it. Maybe and inexperienced employee handled your order.

[From0to10in2weeks]

I've orderd a few cacti from ebay in the past. Always with the pot. The shipper always surrounded the base of the cactus with tape to the top rim of the container to keep the soil from spilling out. If you said you got your cactus from a reputable nursery I'm surprised. What kind of half azz shipping is that ? You should consider calling them out on it. Maybe and inexperienced employee handled your order.

Good to know that others manage to do this properly. Not going to buy another set of potted plants from this vendor.

Thanks. Best.

[Download]

I've never been offered the option of keeping a cactus in a pot when ordering online. Bare root was always the only option and I've ordered 30-40 cacti online.

[DaveW]

Unless the parcel is coming by specialist carrier I would never trust potted plants by post since the weight of the pots is likely to damage the plants as parcels get thrown about in transit, as you found out. Also the extra weight of the pots and soil can often exceed the cost of an extra plant. Anyway you will probably need to re-pot when you receive them as they are usually ready for re-potting having largely filled those pots in the nursery before shipping.

[luddhus]

I have often ordered plants from German nurseries, and many have not bothered to remove the soil before shipping, and at least two do not even unpot them. It has worked surprisingly well, no plants have been damaged. Other European nurseries that I have bought from have always sent the plants bare-rooted.