I am traveling, and my host offers me a last year runner from a hybrid strawberry plant I really like from last visit and they are not available for sale. The problem is I am traveling not by car but by plane with very minimum space in the luggage available, so I can’t take it in a pot. What I am thinking is to take it bare root, covered in wet towel and packed in plastic bag whole thing or roots only. Other option would be just paper bag, and let it to dry out a bit. And it will be traveling stashed between the clothes in the bag. I will have to keep it for 18 hours without taking it out of the bag, then I will have a night in a hotel where I can take it out to breath, or may be refrigerate(not sure if there is a refrigerator) and then it has to be 15 more hours in the bag.
What do you think, does it even make sense to try it, or poor guy will not have a chance? Right now they are in the ground ready to bloom, so not exactly best time to transplant. If you think it has a chance, what option is better - wet or dry? Also, how much should I trim the leaves before the travel? Thanks in advance!
I would put the bare-root plant in a ziplock with a MOIST (not dripping) paper towel around the roots–you don’t want the roots to dry.
Given a chance, I would put that in carry-on, but if push really comes to shove, I’d be more worried about dried roots than crushed leaves, by far, and wouldn’t lose sleep over slipping the bag in between laundry…
Thanks you, carry-on is not an option unfortunately, I had experience when they took Rhodiola rosea root out of my carry-on at security point with explanation, that it can cause allergy to somebody in the plane. And you can’t argue this nonsense if you want to fly)
I take it that you’re traveling within the U.S. Have you considered just mailing the plant?
I just came back from a trip with plants, most of which had to spend 3 days between when they were prepped and when they arrived at my home. I don’t think that plants with leaves like strawberries will appreciate having their leaves kept in a plastic bag with a moist environment and squished between clothing.
What is important to the strawberry is the crown and roots. I suggest keeping the roots damp, but not wet. Perhaps your best bet would be to use a damp paper towel around the roots and cover that bottom portion securely with plastic wrap. Then put the plant, minus most leaves and the flowers, into a small and sturdy box so that it does not get crushed between clothes.
The very best option would be to have your friend ship you one or more runners next winter after the strawberries go dormant.
like I said, failing carryon I would be entirely comfortable stuffing it into a suitcase, my concern would be for the roots and keeping them moist more than anything else
It depends on the flight whether the cargo hold is heated or not. Learned that on a flight last winter when we flew to Hawaii. The heater malfunctioned in the cargo hold and we taxied back to the gate for it to be repaired with several hours of waiting. They had dogs and cats below and it had to be repaired. The pilots told us that it wouldn’t matter most times but for the animals.
Just on the off chance that you are traveling to or from another country and trying to get by, I just wanted to caution you. I’ll leave it others to explain the potential harm that illegal plants can cause to an agricultural system and the moral implications of smuggling a potentially harmful material. What I want to tell you is how serious the customs folks will take it if they do happen to find it. A couple years ago I made an absolute, honest to goodness mistake and left an apple in my suitcase. One Apple. And seriously, it really was an honest mistake. Anyway, when we landed in the U.S. and I was in line at customs they started calling my name. I went to the front and they had 2 armed agents escort me to a back room and put me in a holding cell. Someone from the Dept of Agriculture came in and interrogated me. They were all serious and told me I might get fined $10,000 and so on. It was insane. And all that was for an apple- something I’m pretty sure they even believed I had just forgot about. If they found deliberately smuggled plant materials I’m almost certain I’d have been arrested and charged and fined and so on.
Anyway, I’m not trying to be your mom or your preacher and you’re a grownup and can make your own decisions. And I’m sure you are probably just flying within the U.S. anyway (but you mentioned an 18 hour time frame which sounded like a long time for domestic flights, even with layovers). My point is just to make sure you know that even if its just one small plant, don’t think they won’t take it seriously because they will- very. Good luck with your travels and your plant.
I do travel inside US, 18 hours is not a plane time, it is just day time when I will not have my luggage available for unpacking as I it will be just stored an I will be on my two feet. Mailing option is not possible as well, my host is not a close friend, I can’t ask her to mail it- too much trouble for her. And I hate to kill plants. I guess I will have to skip on the offer. Thanks all!
I have collected cuttings and put them in a water bottle with an inch of water left in it. Even sitting in a hot car all day they seem to hold up really well. I left some rose cuttings in one for several days accidentally and they still looked fine.