I always encourage the plant vendors I buy live plants from to send these live items via FedEx or UPS.
USPS will not guarantee that plants sent via them will arrive safely and, in my experience, this has proved true about 30% of the time. Even USPS's 2nd day priority often has arrived to me after more than five days. Or the parcels frequently arrive feeling very warm to the touch! And this problem of warm parcels can be significant, especially due to the very high temperatures we experience here in Florida during the summertime months, what with a parcel often sitting in a USPS mailtruck for upwards of six to eight hours before being delivered to me!
I try to convey this USPS situation to plant vendors and ask that they ship to me using UPS- or FedEx 2nd Day. With the two of these latter the 2nd day option has always gotten plants to me safely and quickly and seldom do I accept a parcel from either of them which feels warm.
A few vendors seem to be reluctant to use anything other than USPS saying that it costs too much to ship via UPS or FedEx. And that's even though I am willling to pay extra for more prompt delivery so that I can count on receiving plants –especially very rare ones– in healthy, undamaged condition. Even so, some sellers seem loathe to take advantage of these two safe & more prompt shipping methods.
OK – End of rant! Thanx for reading all the way though this.
Best Regards,
Paul M.
Tampa, FL