What Materials Do You Need to Ship a Plant?

Introduction

Shipping a plant successfully isn't just about wrapping it up and hoping for the best. It requires the right materials — each one serving a specific purpose in protecting the plant, containing the soil, maintaining moisture, and ensuring the package survives the journey from your hands to your customer's door.

This guide covers every material you need to ship plants professionally, why each one matters, where to source it, and how to use it correctly. Whether you're shipping your first plant or scaling up to hundreds of orders a week, having the right supplies on hand is the foundation of a successful plant shipping operation.

The Complete Plant Shipping Materials List

1. Corrugated Cardboard Boxes

The box is your plant's primary protection against the outside world. Choosing the right box is one of the most important decisions you'll make.

• Single-wall corrugated: Suitable for small, lightweight plants under 5 lbs. Less expensive but provides less protection.
• Double-wall corrugated: Recommended for most plant shipments. Provides significantly more crush resistance and insulation. Essential for medium and large plants.
• Triple-wall corrugated: Used for very heavy or fragile shipments. Overkill for most plant shipments but useful for large specimen plants.

Box sizes to keep on hand:

• 6x6x6 — small succulents, cuttings, air plants
• 8x8x8 — small potted plants, 2–4" pots
• 10x10x10 — medium plants, 4–6" pots
• 12x12x12 — medium-large plants, 6–8" pots
• 12x12x24 — tall plants, 8–10" pots
• 18x18x24 — large plants, 10"+ pots

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, your local box supplier, or recycled boxes from grocery or liquor stores (free but variable quality).

2. Packing Paper / Kraft Paper

Packing paper is your primary void fill and cushioning material. It's inexpensive, lightweight, and recyclable.

• Use crumpled packing paper at the bottom of the box as a cushioning base.
• Fill all void space around the plant and pot to prevent shifting.
• Wrap loosely around foliage to protect leaves from bruising.
• Use as a layer between the plant and the box walls.

How much to buy: A 10 lb roll of kraft paper will handle dozens of shipments. Buy in bulk for the best price.

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, office supply stores.

3. Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap provides cushioning and impact protection for pots, especially fragile ceramic or terracotta containers.

• Wrap the pot (not the plant) in 2–3 layers of bubble wrap before placing in the box.
• Use small-bubble wrap (3/16") for most applications — it conforms better to pot shapes.
• Use large-bubble wrap (1/2") for heavier pots that need more impact protection.
• Secure bubble wrap with packing tape so it doesn't unravel in transit.

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, Walmart, office supply stores. Buy in rolls for the best value.

4. Plastic Wrap / Press'n Seal

Plastic wrap is essential for securing soil in pots and retaining moisture around roots.

• Use to cover the soil surface and wrap around the pot to prevent spills.
• Use to wrap sphagnum moss around bare roots.
• Press'n Seal is preferred over regular plastic wrap because it clings to itself without tape.
• Keep a large roll at your packing station at all times.

Where to buy: Any grocery store, Walmart, Amazon, or restaurant supply store.

5. Sphagnum Moss

Long-fiber sphagnum moss is the gold standard for shipping bare-root plants, cuttings, and moisture-sensitive tropicals.

• Rehydrate before use — soak in water, then squeeze out excess until barely damp.
• Wrap around bare roots to maintain moisture during transit.
• Provides natural antimicrobial protection against rot.
• Lightweight even when damp, keeping shipping costs low.

Best type: New Zealand or Chilean long-fiber sphagnum moss.

Where to buy: Amazon, garden centers, orchid supply stores, ULINE. Buy in bulk bags for the best price.

6. Plastic Bags

Plastic bags serve multiple purposes in plant shipping and are one of the most versatile materials in your kit.

• Place the entire pot inside a bag and tie around the stem to contain soil.
• Use to loosely seal moss-wrapped root balls for moisture retention.
• Use small bags for cuttings and air plants.
• Use large bags for medium to large pots.

Types to keep on hand:

• Zip-lock bags in multiple sizes (quart, gallon, 2-gallon)
• Clear poly bags in 6x10", 10x14", and 12x18" sizes for larger pots
• Produce bags (thin, clear) for small plants and cuttings

Where to buy: Amazon, ULINE, restaurant supply stores, grocery stores.

7. Packing Tape

Heavy-duty packing tape is non-negotiable. Weak tape fails in transit and can result in boxes opening and plants being damaged or lost.

• Use 2" wide heavy-duty packing tape for sealing boxes.
• Apply tape to all seams — top, bottom, and sides.
• Use the H-taping method: tape across the center seam and then along both edges of the seam.
• Use tape to secure bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and drainage hole covers.

What to avoid: Masking tape, painter's tape, or scotch tape — these are not strong enough for shipping.

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, Walmart, office supply stores. Buy in multi-packs for the best value.

8. Foam Peanuts / Packing Peanuts

Foam peanuts are excellent for void fill around plants, especially for irregularly shaped packages.

• Pour peanuts around the plant after it's positioned in the box to fill all void space.
• Biodegradable starch peanuts are an eco-friendly alternative that dissolve in water.
• Avoid using peanuts directly against foliage — they can stick to leaves and be difficult to remove.

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, office supply stores. Often available free from businesses that receive shipments.

9. Heat Packs

Heat packs are essential for shipping plants in cold weather and are one of the most important materials for tropical plant sellers.

• Use when temperatures along the shipping route will drop below 50°F (10°C).
• Available in 20-hour, 40-hour, and 72-hour durations — choose based on your shipping time.
• Activate the heat pack just before sealing the box.
• Place the heat pack on top of the plant, not directly touching foliage or roots.
• Wrap the heat pack in a single layer of newspaper to prevent direct contact burns.
• For 2-day shipping in mild cold, a 40-hour pack is usually sufficient.
• For overnight shipping or extreme cold, use a 72-hour pack.

Where to buy: Amazon, ULINE, reptile supply stores, plant seller supply shops.

10. Cardboard Dividers and Corner Protectors

Cardboard dividers and corner protectors keep plants centered in the box and prevent them from tipping or shifting during transit.

• Cut cardboard strips and fold them into an X shape to create a divider that holds the pot in the center of the box.
• Use corner protectors on the outside of the box for extra crush resistance.
• For tall plants, create a cardboard sleeve around the pot to keep it upright.

Where to buy: ULINE, Amazon, or make your own from recycled cardboard boxes.

11. Shipping Labels

Clear, professional shipping labels are essential for every package.

• Use 4x6" thermal labels for the most professional look and fastest printing.
• Print labels through Shopify Shipping for discounted rates and automatic tracking.
• Always include both the sender and recipient address clearly.
• Apply labels to the top of the box on a flat, smooth surface — never on a seam or edge.

Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart, office supply stores. A thermal label printer (like a Rollo or DYMO) is a worthwhile investment for high-volume shippers.

12. "Live Plants," "Fragile," and "This Side Up" Labels

Specialty labels alert postal workers and delivery drivers to handle your package with extra care.

• Apply "Live Plants" labels to at least two sides of the box.
• Apply "Fragile" labels to all four sides and the top.
• Apply "This Side Up" labels with arrows to indicate correct orientation.
• While carriers don't always honor these labels, they do make a difference in many cases.

Where to buy: Amazon, ULINE, office supply stores. Available as stickers or stamps.

13. Tissue Paper

Soft tissue paper is used to wrap delicate foliage and protect leaves from bruising during transit.

• Loosely wrap large leaves or delicate foliage in tissue paper before placing in the box.
• Use white or unbleached tissue paper — colored tissue can bleed dye onto leaves.
• Don't wrap too tightly — leaves need some air circulation.

Where to buy: Dollar stores, Amazon, craft stores, office supply stores.

14. Rubber Bands

Rubber bands are a simple but essential tool for securing plastic wrap, moss bundles, and bags around plant stems.

• Use wide rubber bands (size 64 or larger) for most applications.
• Don't wrap rubber bands directly around delicate stems — use them over plastic wrap or moss.
• Keep a large bag of assorted rubber bands at your packing station.

Where to buy: Any office supply store, Amazon, dollar stores.

15. Moisture-Absorbing Packets (Optional)

Silica gel packets absorb excess humidity inside the box, which can be helpful in very humid conditions or for plants sensitive to excess moisture.

• Place one or two packets inside the box (not touching the plant) for shipments in humid weather.
• Do not use with moisture-loving plants or bare-root shipments where humidity is beneficial.
• Best used with succulents, cacti, and other drought-tolerant plants.

Where to buy: Amazon, ULINE, craft stores.

Building Your Plant Shipping Station

Having all your materials organized and ready to go makes packing faster, more consistent, and less stressful. Here's how to set up an efficient packing station:

1. Designate a flat, clean work surface large enough to open and pack boxes.
2. Store boxes flat in a dry area, organized by size.
3. Keep a dispenser for packing tape mounted on the wall or table for easy access.
4. Store sphagnum moss in a sealed bag in a cool, dry place.
5. Keep a spray bottle of water nearby for misting roots and moss.
6. Organize bags, rubber bands, and labels in labeled bins or drawers.
7. Keep scissors, a box cutter, and a marker within reach at all times.
8. Post a packing checklist on the wall so you never forget a step.

Estimated Cost Per Shipment

Here's a rough breakdown of material costs per shipment when buying in bulk:

• Box: $0.50–$3.00 depending on size
• Packing paper: $0.10–0.25
• Bubble wrap: $0.25–0.75
• Plastic wrap / bags: $0.10–0.25
• Sphagnum moss: $0.25–0.75
• Packing tape: $0.10–0.20
• Heat pack (if needed): $0.75–1.50
• Labels and stickers: $0.10–0.25
• Total materials per shipment: approximately $1.15–$6.95

Buying in bulk significantly reduces per-unit costs. As your volume grows, your material costs per shipment will decrease.