I have some daylilies I want to send to my niece. How do people prepare their daylilies for shipping? I know to wash off all dirt, and I am thinking of dipping them into a clorox solution & allowing to air dry, then wrapping up and shipping ASAP.

any suggestions? Thanks ~Jan

I would like to know the different methods used also.

Jan, that is how a lot of people do it

Wash, dip in bleach water or fungicide solution, then let air dry; wrap in newspaper and ship
Others just wash and dry then wrap and ship.

Some people let them dry overnight and others just let dry for a few hours. And still others don't let them dry out completely so they stay moist in transit.

Me personally, I do not like to ship damp roots because I have gotten some that have been damp and mold had began to grow. I dig, wash, air dry overnight and ship out the next day.

I dig 24 hours prior to shipping and let air dry overnight. I don't do any dipping in any chemicals because I do not have a problem with rust here.

These are going to the Cleveland, OH area, and I am not worried about rust as much as I am worried about rot or something. In addition, my niece is in a new house, so these will be new going into new gardens. I will be out there in early October, but figure a month head start will be better.

Thanks for the information, and I like the idea of allowing them to air dry overnight. I am hoping to dig them on Friday evening and mail on Saturday morning, and I would expect her to receive them Monday or Tuesday.

Why are you worrying about rot?

North to north should be fine.

Not in 90 degrees should be fine.

Good advice above but no need to bleach dip if no rust.

I wrap in plain newspaper or paper towels or b/w newspaper to soak up any excess dampness but also to retain some dampness.

In spring or late fall, I have also used the above in a loose plastic bag - the tops should be out of the bags and only the roots in the bag.

The bleach solution isn't necessarily for rust, it's to kill any bacteria or such that may decide to rear it's head in a hot, maybe damp, dark box.

I lost some daylilies this spring and summer to rot ( amazing, in a drought) and I Agee with Michelle, it's not necessarily to prevent rust, as anything else that could cause problems

I lost 3 new ones this summer. They just never acclimated. I think it was just too hot. I am not sure if rot got them or the heat.