Can I pack live plants in checked luggage?
 

My husband and I are going back home to St. Louis to visit family next week and my mother-in-law has some plants that she wants to dig out of her yard and give to us to bring back in our checked luggage. I tried doing a search on the FAA website but I don't see anything about plants. Can anyone tell me if this is permitted? My apologies if this is an easy find; I'm feeling quite nauseous these days from pregnancy and my normal researching isn't what it could be.

Thanks!
Tracy

1) not all states allow live plants in

2) they will freeze on high altitude as the luggage area does not get heating

Those rules are different state to state. You'd need to check with Dept of Agriculture. It's OK with the airlines.

How big is it? Can you just have her mail it to you using priority post? A lot less hassle than stuffing a plant in your checked luggage! I worry that the plant may be squished, or all your clothes will be stained.

Ask a local nursery about transporting plants. They may even give you some ideas on packing it, depending on the type of plant.

Already stated, but some states do have live plant restrictions to prevent plant insects or illnesses from being brought in.

I have the same concern as yk's. It could get messy.
Then I have to wonder what kind of plants are small enough to fit into your checked luggage, hardy enough to survive the trip, worth carting all the way home and will survive in your area?

I can see why your MIL wants to give some special plants to you, I'm attached to mine also and like them to go to special people but too often they don't survive in different climates. I've been babying a ginger plant I brought home from Hawaii 2 years ago, it's too much work.

Just last week I was visiting Santa Barbara, Calif, and my friend gave me a selection of tiny plants from her garden. In fact, I brought 10 tiny little plants in my little carry=on duffel bag.
We cleaned the plants well, wrapped them in wet paper towels and then in plastic bags. They all fit in a bag about 7x11-inches. Had to change 2 flights and went through 2 security lines.
I live in Washington state. Plants arrived fine and in fact, today I have planted them all. Hope they will grow.

I've carried a small key lime tree on flights a couple times in the past and had no problem getting them through security.

I was thinking they would freeze in the luggage area as well, but now I thinking that they keep pets in there, so obviously it can't be that cold. Or is there a special area where they keep the pets too big to fit under the seat.

You definently can! As a flower lover myself I often carry flowers sometimes state to state and sometimes country to country - meaning from Europe to the USA. Nothing happens to them - they dont freeze or anything.