WHEN ORDERING PLANTS BY MAIL ORDER: SHIPPED IN THE CONTAINER OR BARE ROOT? WELL PACKED?

When most people order plants by mail order, they don’t really consider how the plant will be sent to them. But, it’s critical to realize that bare root plants, whether a palm, cycad or tropical plant, have a much higher immediate mortality rate and usually have at least a one year setback. To make things worse, leaf and/or root pruning is also needed when plants are sent bare root. And, specifically with cycads, this means you most likely will get a plant with chopped back leaves that must go into pumice, not soil. It is far from ready for the ground. The leaves are cut back to prevent dehydration of a stressed plant. I would say that the majority of Internet plant providers ship plants to you bare root.

So, why would a nursery do this? It could be to “save money” on shipping, but what a high price to pay for small savings. More importantly, it could be that the sending nursery is not really a certified nursery and is forbidden from sending a plant with its soil. “Certified Nursery” means that a nursery’s state agricultural department checks the nursery and their plants on a regular basis to make sure plants are disease and insect free. If you’ve ever ordered plants by mail and didn’t receive agricultural permits with your order, you bought plants from such a bootlegging nursery. It’s required by state laws that such permits accompany the plants sent.

To comfort you about Jungle Music, we are a California Certified Nursery and almost always ship our plants in their container, soil and all, and do include all required Ag permits. Only when someone demands it will we ship bare root. An example would be shipping plants to Hawaii.

I am going to show you how we almost always ship our plants: in their containers with soil and with a technique to prevent damage during their travel. We feel our shipping policy and techniques are second to none. You decide which way you’d like to have your plants shipped. Also, I’ll show a few photos sent to me by customers of plants received in perfect condition.


Plant readied for being put into shipping box. Notice that the container is wrapped, the top is stuffed to prevent soil leaving the pot and a secure wood post is attached to the container. Alma then checks everything is ok and starts to lower the plant, pot first, into the box.

Once the plant is carefully slid to the bottom of the box, the top is securely taped in all directions with additional securing layers going around the box – top and bottom. If a box is particularly heavy, we add additional layers of tape to the central areas.

Above is shown a heavier, larger plant that is being prepared for shipping. For this plant we are using four stakes for extra strength to prevent slippage or movement inside the box.

For heavier plants we often use two boxes with a large overlap of one box over the other. Circumferential taping is then done with many layers of plastic tape or even duct tape. Notice looking down the box how the stakes go to the top of the box – nice and snug.

Boxes of many sizes and weights outside the entrance to our Nursery –
Awaiting pick up by UPS or FED EXP


We frequently get glowing reviews on the excellent condition of plants shipped by us with “perfect condition” of the plant(s) on opening the box. Shown are a few photos of our shipments after arrival.