Will my Sabal survive shipping?

[TropicsEnjoyer]

So a few days ago I sold a sabal palmetto seedling online. I watered it that day and today I actually packed it. It’s in one of those small 4inch pots and i wrapped the top of the pot with cling wrap so that dirt doesn’t escape. Shipping time can be around 5-7 days. I’m a little worried since it’s my first time shipping a palm and I’m wondering if anyone has experience doing this. Should I be worried or will the sabal be able to survive more or less a week without light and added water? 

 

Also, I have another little pot that has 2 sabal seedlings in it. Could it be possible to safely separate them and pot them as individuals or is that risky? They have 3 strap leaves each and have been in their pot for about a year. 

 

[JohnAndSancho]

They're tough little plants. I guess there's a lot of first timers going on - a friend shipped me a bunch of philodendron cuttings and she didn't know you needed to get the moss wet. I'm getting ready to split up some whale fins, repot them, and send them to Miami. There's a company called Pirate Ship that does deep discounts for priority mail and UPS, and I might need to borrow my friend's account for this. But these are sansaveria and I could stick them in my pocket and walk them down there and they'd be fine. 

As far as splitting up, I think you'll be fine. I sprout my seeds in baggies and I'm constantly moving them and checking them and flipping the baggie so the moist side is down which means a big freaking tangled mess of sideways growing roots and they're fine. Pulling them out of the community pots next year is gonna suuuuuuuuuuuck though. 

[happypalms]

Give me a look at it. Packaging is the key but it will most certainly survive. This lot in the picture are of to England from Australia , so fear not your little Sabal should survive! 

[Fusca]

16 hours ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

So a few days ago I sold a sabal palmetto seedling online. I watered it that day and today I actually packed it. It’s in one of those small 4inch pots and i wrapped the top of the pot with cling wrap so that dirt doesn’t escape. Shipping time can be around 5-7 days. I’m a little worried since it’s my first time shipping a palm and I’m wondering if anyone has experience doing this. Should I be worried or will the sabal be able to survive more or less a week without light and added water? 

Also, I have another little pot that has 2 sabal seedlings in it. Could it be possible to safely separate them and pot them as individuals or is that risky? They have 3 strap leaves each and have been in their pot for about a year. 

I have shipped Sabal seedlings bare root with no problems.  The way you're doing it is perfectly fine.  Like John said they're tough palms.  One thing you can do is to soak some shredded paper in water and add to top of your pot before you use the cling wrap.  That will act like mulch and keep the planting medium moist during shipment.  You can also dampen some shredded paper to use around the fronds to protect them and give some extra humidity.  No worries about separating seedlings from community pots.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

I have shipped Sabal seedlings bare root with no problems.  The way you're doing it is perfectly fine.  Like John said they're tough palms.  One thing you can do is to soak some shredded paper in water and add to top of your pot before you use the cling wrap.  That will act like mulch and keep the planting medium moist during shipment.  You can also dampen some shredded paper to use around the fronds to protect them and give some extra humidity.  No worries about separating seedlings from community pots.

Crap. I didn’t think of the wet paper and I had already packaged it by the time I made the post. Good to keep in mind for next time though. Thanks