With frigid weather temps...Is it even safe to ship bonsai to northern areas...

[Cadillactaste]

Just thinking...that for us northern folk...shipping bonsai is just not the thing to do...with temps becoming more frigid...those shipping from eBay need to check where their bonsai is being shipped from I would imagine as well.

Tropicals would be to cold...and those native trees wouldn't boxing them up mess up their dormant stage?

But I have one on my spring list...only one. Because I can get away with saying I am using it for cooking.

 

[bonsaibp]

There are chemicals heating pads that last a few days that can be put into boxes with tropicals, cold hardy conifers should be ok and dormant deciduous tree shold be ok if shipped 2-3 days. Though it is best to wait until spring.

 

[lordy]

tropicals and sub-tropicals should probably wait til temps in the shipping path are going to stay above 50 during the trip. Pines and deciduous wont really care as long as they dont dry out. I just took delivery on a small mugo pine that had wet paper towels on top of the (non-bonsai) soil, then covered with plastic and tape. The pot and tree were wrapped in bubble wrap then in a box. It came in the mail, so it was like that for about 5 days, and it appears to be fine. Now I have to plant the pot and all for the winter so it doesnt dry out.

 

[Paradox]

I was worried about this when I ordered my 2 ficus bonsai.

One is coming from Florida and the other from California.

The Florida vendor said they would put heat packs in the box to help keep it warm but that the ficus could go below 50 deg F for a brief time.

The California vendor said on the plant description that they would look at the weather for the receiving area and ship or hold the plant accordingly.

In short: any reputable vendor should take weather into consideration and tell you as much.

 

[Cadillactaste]

There are chemicals heating pads that last a few days that can be put into boxes with tropicals, cold hardy conifers should be ok and dormant deciduous tree shold be ok if shipped 2-3 days. Though it is best to wait until spring.

I forgot about those! That is what they used to keep my snake warm...when the breeder shipped it. Thanks for the info...though...yeah, I would wait until spring now with temps being so cold. Just to keep from worrying.

 

[ChrisR]

With the weather we're having in Texas the only shipping issue outside of tropicals would be getting someone to a warehouse to physically ship a tree.

I was going to go to a gas station earlier for an energy drink and almost face planted in my driveway.

 

[Paradox]

Well now Ive got one that Im worried will be pretty much a dead tree when I get it.

Ficus shipped from California on Monday was supposed to be here today (Friday).
It didnt show up and Ive been on the phone with Fed Ex trying to find out where it was (tracking has not been updated since Tuesday). The last phone call a few minutes ago confirmed that delivery has been pushed off to Monday because of weather delays. I just hope its not sitting in a cold truck somewhere all weekend. I hope it will survive and not shortly be a dead tree.

 

[Cadillactaste]

With the weather we're having in Texas the only shipping issue outside of tropicals would be getting someone to a warehouse to physically ship a tree.

I was going to go to a gas station earlier for an energy drink and almost face planted in my driveway.

You guys got the ice too eh? Nasty stuff...

 

[Cadillactaste]

Well now Ive got one that Im worried will be pretty much a dead tree when I get it.

Ficus shipped from California on Monday was supposed to be here today (Friday).
It didnt show up and Ive been on the phone with Fed Ex trying to find out where it was (tracking has not been updated since Tuesday). The last phone call a few minutes ago confirmed that delivery has been pushed off to Monday because of weather delays. I just hope its not sitting in a cold truck somewhere all weekend. I hope it will survive and not shortly be a dead tree.

Well I believe FedEx will cover your loss...but would be a shame if it died. That sucks...though it may come extremely stressed. I would wait for a good while before giving up totally on it. When it does arrive.

 

[ChrisR]

You guys got the ice too eh? Nasty stuff...

We got hit really bad. I'm hibernating until it all melts.

 

[Cadillactaste]

We got hit really bad. I'm hibernating until it all melts.

I don't blame you...no walks in the woods through the snow with the ice underneath. Just to dangerous...roads are finally clear though...(main roads) lake roads icy...because we use cinder instead of salt (so salt won't get into the lake)...and we're always 10 degrees colder with moisture from the lake as well.