Transporting orchids--in closed car or airplane?

[MerkyWaters]

Hi--this is my first post! I am wrapping up a year living in Miami, and I took advantage of the abundance of orchids to start a small collection. Unfortunately it is time to go, so I wanted to get some advice on taking my orchids with me. Next week I will be moving to Wisconsin, where I am going to be starting graduate school.

For a few reasons, I am shipping my car on a flatbed and flying to Wisconsin. I can leave anything I want in the car, but it will be closed for the entire trip (at least 3-4 days). I'm not sure the orchids would do well in the car, frying in south Florida then freezing in Wisconsin...but on the other hand, can I carry orchids onto a plane?

My collection is:
2 Oncidium Alliance (Onc. Sharry Baby, Onc. Twinkle)
2 Cattleya Alliance (Enc. cochleata, B. nodosa--in spike)
3 Misc. (Max. tenufloris, Den. lindleyi, Ascda. Memoria tienchai)

Four of those are medium sized (up to 1.5ft tall), two are small (<6in tall), and one is small and mounted.

The car is getting picked up on Tuesday, so I have a few days to decide. Once I'm in Wisconsin I will be growing on a windowsill and under a grow light--I'm looking forward to the challenge!

Thanks!

[Connie Star]

Let me be the first to welcome you to orchid board! This is a fun place to learn about orchids and the wealth of information is amazing.
From your description, I would NOT put them in the car. If you were driving it yourself you would have to be careful every time you stopped that it didn't get too hot or too cold. I'm not sure about the plane. Another possibility would be shipping them. Since you can order orchids on line and have them shipped I'm sure there is a way to do that.

[Gail]

I would be worried about leaving them in the car, too. How about shipping them to Wisconsin? (I've heard of people shipping their personal baggage due to the additional costs the airlines now charge. Apparently, it's cheaper in some cases.)

If you would like to ship, but have no one in WI to accept the package, I'll bet UPS will hold it at one of their facilities.

---------- Post added at 12:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:04 PM ----------

Oops, I see Connie beat me to it.

[camille1585]

I was going to suggest the same, ship them to Wisconsin. I've flown with orchids multiple times, but they are all miniature orchids that fit in a shoebox in my carry on luggage. At least in Europe the airlines have no issues with the plants (but they don't like the metal hooks on the mounts). I've also flown with larger orchids once, well wrapped in newspaper and that fit in a carry-on sized plastic bag. Obviously I could have no other carry-on luggage with me other than my maptop, but that was only a minor problem. Note that my experience is in Europe though!

I would most definitely NOT put them in the car.

[Pilot]

Definitely ship them and if possible send to a place you know they'll be picked up and taken inside. Nothing shorter than priority mail.

[cbuchman]

Depending on how large the bundle is, you can carry them on the plane. I carried several back from California last fall quite successfully.

[Gail]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Definitely ship them and if possible send to a place you know they'll be picked up and taken inside. Nothing shorter than priority mail.

And, perhaps, someone who will unpack them carefully. I'd just ask that someone to unpack them and put them a bit of light and warmth until I could take care of them myself.

[MissB]

I don't have as much experience as most on this board, but for what it's worth, I have transported plants, including a small orchid, via plane. They were in a bag with handles that could keep with me at all times as my "small, personal item." The orchid made it through unscathed, but I do not know that I would recommend that means of transport after seeing the number of situations where they could get bashed around. Then again, it may be better to stick with the devil you do know (your own aptitude for dodging tight, orchid-smashing situations) as opposed to the devil you don't (jostling during shipping). If it were me, I would at least ship the one with the spike. If shipping cost is no issue, ship the other two as well. If it is, carry them with you through the airport.

[stefpix]

what do you think the vendor ecuagenera does? all bare root, wrapped in newspapers and on a plane from Ecuador. I would not worry too much. if the car is sitting in full sun in FL it may cook the orchids. A week in a box will not really do much damage. you could ship yourseld a large flat rate USPS box the day before you fly north.

Anyway - what will make it actually harder for the plants to bloom profusely is leaving subtropical FL!

[Gail]

Plants do remarkably well when shipped if packaged properly and moved quickly in mild weather. MissB, as you alluded to, keep the precious one(s) in your possession and ship the others.(?)