How to post a chilli plant

[HeyWayne]

Does anyone have any tips?

I've promised someone on here some chilli plants, but given that I'm little ham-fisted when re-potting, I don't fancy my chances of being able to pot, package and post aforementioned delecate plants.

I tried a few ideas at the weekend, but couldn't come up with a way of packaging them that protected the stems and leaves whilst keeping the soil in the pot, but couldn't reach a satisfactory end.

[TPeers]

My best suggestion is don't pot!

Get the plant and lift it out of its pot, shake off a little of the soil and place gently onto cotton wool - or failing that several thicknesses of kitchen roll. Fold the cotton wool/kitchen roll over the roots and dampen to give the plant enough water to survive a few days in the post.

Put the wrapped and dampened rootball into a pastic food bag and then lay the whole plant/bag thing onto bubble wrap. Wrap loosely. Encase said bundle in a box or several layerd of fairly rigid cardboard.

Lable and post.

[Flummery]

Could you overwrap the pot and contents in a food bag, catching it round the neck of the plant with an elastic band or a bit of string. The plant will then stick out of the pot but the compost won't fall out. (Don't water beforehand - water's heavy to post!) Then wrap the whole thing round gently with bubble wrap ( Sorry, not YOU Bubblewrap!) secure with sticky tape and put into a suitable sized box. It works - I've done it.
Good luck lad!

[HeyWayne]

My best suggestion is don't pot!

Encase said bundle in a box or several layerd of fairly rigid cardboard.

Lable and post.

You've just given me an idea!! We have "pizza" boxes at work - they'd be ideal to post the plant sans pot, and I've got some pillow-wrap that I could use.

Thanks people!

[Two_Sheds]

Wayne ... this is the definitive best way to post plants. Cut the top halves off two pop bottles and discard.
Wrap the rootball in clingfilm or a little polythene bag to keep it tidy (I keep all my pots to reuse). Put plant inside one of the bottoms, and slot the other bottom over it. Wiggle them together until tight...the package is fairly rigid; I've never had a plant damaged this way.
Then wrap the whole lot in brown paper, label and post.

You don't have to use just the bottoms, but they wrap easier this way.

[areia]

oooooooooooooo wrap as suggested up there^^^ and post in a tube maybe

[kiwirach]

Wayne ... this is the definitive best way to post plants. Cut the tops halfs off two pop bottles. Put plant inside one, and slot the other pop bottle over the top. Wiggle them together until tight...the package is fairly rigid; I've never had a plant damaged this way. Then wrap the whole lot in brown paper, label and post.

just got some soapwort off ebay sent like this....the plant was well protected in the bottle.

[Seahorse]

Thanks for that Two Sheds, great idea!

[HeyWayne]

Wayne ... this is the definitive best way to post plants. Cut the tops halfs off two pop bottles. Put plant inside one, and slot the other pop bottle over the top. Wiggle them together until tight...the package is fairly rigid; I've never had a plant damaged this way. Then wrap the whole lot in brown paper, label and post.

So, are the two bottle tops facing the same way, or the two cuts ends together? Sorry, being a bit dense this morning...

[Two_Sheds]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I've edited the original post now.

[HeyWayne]

So you leave the plant in there as a bare root?

[Two_Sheds]

Bare root, yes. I'm too tight to give away pots as well as plants! Wrap the rootball in clingfilm or a little polythene bag to keep it tidy.

[moggssue]

This is getting interesting..... !!!

[HeyWayne]

This is getting interesting..... !!!

Bet you can't wait to see how your chillis arrive!

[moggssue]

Bet you can't wait to see how your chillis arrive!

TO be honest I was going to say it's too much palava so dont bother hon, but now I'm totally intrigued and just HAVE to see how you decide to package them ...