Thanks to the generosity of many members here, I have many cuttings in various stages of growth.

I am asking all you experts because this is the first year I have so many cuttings to ship!  The receipient of the Negretta wants me to bare root it.

This is a Negretta with one little visible root.  It is not growing a rose!  That's from the bush behind it in the photo!



This is a Calabria with many more roots.



Should I stick them in the fridge prior to shipping and let them go dormant, or should I wait till more roots appear?

Looking forward to your advice.

Suzi

1) I don't bare-root anything.
2) No way would I bareroot something so young and tender.
3) How much are you going to save on weight? vs. losing the whole thing?

Big no on the bareroot anything like that fella Jon says and wait for many more roots before shipping anything similar to your pictures .

What he said, plus don't put it in the fridge.

OK!  Thanks Jon and all of you!  The member is paying shipping, and also reads the forum threads, so your advice is welcome and will be taken!

So if you ever bare root, when should that be done?  Like when they are ready to go from one gallon to more?  But NEVER while in their cups?   I don't even know how to bare root, except to maybe just gently soak till the dirt is gone.  I only received a gallon size bare rooted, and it arrived with every leaf dead, but it came right back with a little water and shade protection.

Thanks again!

Suzi

I wouldn't bare root until the cutting fills out the 1 gal pot. It's about $15 to ship good size 1 gal using 5-7 day shipping. That's soil and all watered few days before to drain for shipping. Priority mail is very expensive, and too heavy for 1st class. I haven't heard anyone saying my air layer died due to shipping yet.

Suzi, I shipped with cuttings just a bit stronger.  I dumpped most of the soil, and made a ball with soild and roots inside of a newspaper, and roll it tight so the roots dont dance, take the cutting to a cardboard or the box, those bubble wrapping plastic work also, tape to it, tape the cutting, tape the bottom newspaper ball also. roll it and put inside of a plastic bag, and ship the quickest - they can survive 3-4 days bandled up, but should not take longer. those small dental higiene cups work as a minor cup for the roots and soil also. 

those cuttings of yours are in a bad time to travel... very iffy.   I received an exploded plant, so I don't suggest sending soil. with it, unless absolutely necessary.

if you shake the soild out, you can put styrfoam in and tape the soil inside the cup they are in. an make a tight roll- shipping should be $6-8.

If you must, bare root when dormant and out growing a 1 gallon pot. I have received barerooted plants that were not dormant, and they go through a lot of shock. Even the commerical nurseries don't bare root figs, even in bare root season.

Suzi,
   I'm glad you asked that question about: "How do you bare root a tree", I've been wondering about that myself.  The bare root trees that I have seen for sale from Dave Wilson Nursery, are way more advanced than anything that we grow in our little dining room nurseries.  Theirs have very strong root systems ( thick roots and very sturdy). You could probably use a garden hose to wash off the soil and still do no damage, but our little delicate trees.....I don't know....I feel we would do severe damage to an already fragile plant....???

Suzi, I don't bare root ship. But I do downsize the container tree to fit the box I'm shipping the tree in which is usually 18x6x6 or 24x6x6. plus my container mix is pretty light so shipping cost is all about the box size. hope this helps.