Shipping in cooler weather

[OrchidTraci]

I was wondering what the *safe* temp is to ship, since it seems to be getting cooler by the day. I ended up not doing a sale (that I probably should have ) because the weather has been so unpredicatable here (NY). I don't think it had hit below 56 here, it that a safe temp if an orchid is wrapped in newspaper and packing peanuts?

[Cinderella]

If it is something that you really, really want and it gets cold, can't they do a heat pack?

[OrchidTraci]

I suppose they could but it was with a board member, and I am not sure if heat packs are readily availible. I wouldn't know where to buy them, or even what they look like .

[kewpie]

traci -
i think that heat packs are just those hand warmers that you put in your mittens (the ones that heat up when theyre exposed to air). ive never received anything over the winter, so i could be wrong.

[orchidaddict789]

I'm not sure how those heat packs for shipping look like, either (because I've never used/received one). One thing I know--be sure the weather *really* is cold before you use one for your orchid. If the temperature is warm and you use a heat pack, then your orchid can get "fried up".

[Gilda]

you can find these "heat" packs in boxstore, etc. in the hunting and fishing dept. You "break" them to start the heat. Be careful though you can "fry" your orchids.

[OrchidTraci]

So I should make an educated guess and say there should be almost snow on the ground before getting all paranoid about plants wilting from the cold?

[LJA]

Gilda's right about this one. We never use heat packs to ship--there have been too many instances of recipients getting burned plants. We insulate heavily with foam during the coldest weather, and insure the plants so that the mail carriers don't leave boxes outdoors on a porch: the shipment needs to be signed for, so boxes go back to the (hopefully warmer) post office if someone's not home.

Knock on wood, we haven't had a problem so far with this method.

[Lance Birk]

OrchidTraci.....

What has happened with your problem with rust on your Paphiopedilum??

This is a VERY SERIOUS disease and it must be dealt with properly.

I don't mean to alarm you, but I'd appreciate an answer ASAP.

Thanks,
Lance Birk

[OrchidTraci]

OrchidTraci.....

What has happened with your problem with rust on your Paphiopedilum??

This is a VERY SERIOUS disease and it must be dealt with properly.

I don't mean to alarm you, but I'd appreciate an answer ASAP.

Thanks,
Lance Birk

Hi Lance,
I ended up just tossing the plant. Wrapped it in newspaper, put it in a plastic bag and threw it away. I wasn't too attached to it and didn't want to infect any other plants. I actually had forgotten all about that incident...