The expert named the most demanding seedlings for transportation

In spring, Russian residents plant thousands of species of plants and flowers in their suburban areas. Igor Koptev, director of the PEC Service Department, told Izvestia on March 13 how to avoid their damage during delivery.

Magnolia seedlings are most sensitive to transportation — the plants have fragile and vulnerable roots to cold air, the expert said. In addition, drafts cause flower fall and root rot in orchid seedlings and interfere with the formation of buds in camellias. Fir and thuja trees are no less susceptible to cold.

"Decorative versions of these coniferous plants can also burn if the carrier leaves them in the spring sun without protective packaging during loading from the warehouse to the semi-trailer. But lavender and rose seedlings, on the contrary, require at least six to eight hours of direct sun per day to grow, develop and preserve their properties, so we recommend using no more than a day for their transportation," Koptev added.

To prevent drying out, seedlings should be transported with a clod of earth, wrapping the root with pieces of soil in a damp cotton cloth and high-strength paper. Then it is necessary to create thermal insulation by wrapping the roots in bubble wrap, agrofibre or burlap.

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"We recommend placing the seedlings in a plastic pot, which is less susceptible to damage than a ceramic one. It is better to pack plants that are particularly sensitive to cold in a thermal package or put a heating pad next to them that does not come into contact with the roots. A thermal box made of foam or cardboard with a heat—insulating layer will help protect the seedlings from drafts," the expert said.

According to him, to keep the earth from spilling out of the pot or container, it is worth wrapping it with several layers of rags and bubble wrap.

It is important to fasten small flowers by fixing them together with the stem with a stretch film. To ensure that the plants are not damaged in the event of a strong impact on the road, there should be no free space inside the box. When transported without a crate (a protective frame made of wooden bars and planks) such cargo can be severely damaged, as it will travel among other, less fragile shipments.

"If possible, we recommend choosing express delivery so that the cargo is delivered as quickly as possible. After transportation, unpack the roots immediately. If the plant will not be planted immediately, bury it in moist soil or sand in a cool room. It is advisable to check the weather forecast during transportation along the cargo route. If temperature-sensitive seedlings are transported by road through several climatic zones, they may freeze or germinate due to temperature changes along the way," he added.

The expert added that before transportation, it should be clarified whether it is possible to expect a refund in case of problems with transportation. Insurance claims are usually damage and shortage of cargo. Mold formation, germination, dampening, wilting, and drying are not covered by insurance, and the carrier is not responsible for them.

According to the federal law on Freight Forwarding, the company must respond to a customer's claim for cargo damage within 30 days, but many major market players have reduced this period to several days.

"In order for the damage to be fully compensated, we recommend that you specify the correct value of the cargo in the documents. Confirmation of the correctness of the data by additional documents with information about the cargo, such as a fiscal receipt and a plant passport, as well as color photographs of the damaged shipment, will help to obtain a refund as soon as possible," Koptev summed up.

Earlier, on March 6, Oksana Vasilyeva, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, warned that summer residents could face a number of fines in 2025. The main violations are the misuse of land, for example for commercial activities, non-compliance with fire safety rules, waste management rules, sanitary norms and rules of construction and landscaping.