bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post

You have a great question here, Alex,

Let's start with the easy part, packing the trees for shipment.

PACKING BONSAI FOR SHIPMENT

There are two concerns in packing your bonsai. 1) protecting them from damage, and 2) making sure that the trees don't dry out during shipment.

The following method was learned from Sharon and John Muth at Bonsai Northwest in Seattle:

PREPARATION

Contact your airline to get information on their shipping requirements. There are usually maximum size and weight restrictions for boxes checked as baggage. You can expect to pay extra for oversize or overweight packages. Also inquire about insurance.

PACKING

Plan to pack your trees the day before they're to be shipped, but ensure you have enough time to complete the process. Pack the larger trees individually. Select strong shipping cartons from your neighborhood U-Haul shipping center. While you're there, also get some of the packing grade cling wrap used to secure boxes on pallets. You'll also need some strong cord, enough poly peanuts to fill each box, and a few rolls of strapping tape.

WATER THE TREES

Soak the trees. Don't just sprinkle with water, but by completely immersing the pot to its top edge for five to ten minutes the night before packing, and allow the trees to drain for a couple of hours with their pots tilted slightly. You don't want the trees dribbling any water that could soften your shipping carton! Next, wrap the pots with the cling wrap, covering the soil and container completely up to the base of the trunk.

TIE EACH TREE TO A BOARD
Cut thin plywood or pressboard panels about the size of the carton bottom. drill a few holes through the board and strap the pots directly to the boards using the twine.

PACK THE TREE
Place about 2" of packing peanuts in the bottom of the box and then Slip the board-mounted tree into the box. If the tree is particularly heavy, you may want to secure it to the bottom of the box as well with additional holes and twine. Fill the box completely to overflowing with styrofoam peanuts (don't use the biodegradable type. Those are made of cornstarch and will soften and shrink when wet. Shake the box a bit and add more peanuts as things settle down.

Tape a copy of your name and address (and phone number!) in the top of the boxlid as a precaution. Close the lid and secure with additional tape. Now add an exterior label and wrap the box generously with additional strapping tape in each direction.

You should now be able to invert the box and have the tree remain in place. Mark the box with some "Fragile", "Live Plants" and "This End Up" labels, but expect that the carrier will stack and tilt the containers any which way.

SUMMARY
Taking these precautions should help prevent breakage and dehydration. Packing this way should keep your trees in good condition for up to a week, depending on the season. Tip generously at the airport and ask for extra care in loading!

27-Aug-2001	#2
Past_User bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Aug-2001 Posts: 17	Re: Moving Bonsai You have a great question here, Alex, Let's start with the easy part, packing the trees for shipment. PACKING BONSAI FOR SHIPMENT There are two concerns in packing your bonsai. 1) protecting them from damage, and 2) making sure that the trees don't dry out during shipment. The following method was learned from Sharon and John Muth at Bonsai Northwest in Seattle: PREPARATION Contact your airline to get information on their shipping requirements. There are usually maximum size and weight restrictions for boxes checked as baggage. You can expect to pay extra for oversize or overweight packages. Also inquire about insurance. PACKING Plan to pack your trees the day before they're to be shipped, but ensure you have enough time to complete the process. Pack the larger trees individually. Select strong shipping cartons from your neighborhood U-Haul shipping center. While you're there, also get some of the packing grade cling wrap used to secure boxes on pallets. You'll also need some strong cord, enough poly peanuts to fill each box, and a few rolls of strapping tape. WATER THE TREES Soak the trees. Don't just sprinkle with water, but by completely immersing the pot to its top edge for five to ten minutes the night before packing, and allow the trees to drain for a couple of hours with their pots tilted slightly. You don't want the trees dribbling any water that could soften your shipping carton! Next, wrap the pots with the cling wrap, covering the soil and container completely up to the base of the trunk. TIE EACH TREE TO A BOARD Cut thin plywood or pressboard panels about the size of the carton bottom. drill a few holes through the board and strap the pots directly to the boards using the twine. PACK THE TREE Place about 2" of packing peanuts in the bottom of the box and then Slip the board-mounted tree into the box. If the tree is particularly heavy, you may want to secure it to the bottom of the box as well with additional holes and twine. Fill the box completely to overflowing with styrofoam peanuts (don't use the biodegradable type. Those are made of cornstarch and will soften and shrink when wet. Shake the box a bit and add more peanuts as things settle down. Tape a copy of your name and address (and phone number!) in the top of the boxlid as a precaution. Close the lid and secure with additional tape. Now add an exterior label and wrap the box generously with additional strapping tape in each direction. You should now be able to invert the box and have the tree remain in place. Mark the box with some "Fragile", "Live Plants" and "This End Up" labels, but expect that the carrier will stack and tilt the containers any which way. SUMMARY Taking these precautions should help prevent breakage and dehydration. Packing this way should keep your trees in good condition for up to a week, depending on the season. Tip generously at the airport and ask for extra care in loading!