Ask your friend to clip the leaves the same day he sends them. The leaves from the third row from the center are best, not too old, not too young, just right.

After clipping the leaves, place them in a ziploc baggy that has the name of the plant written on it. Do not add any water. Some people wrap the ends in damp cotton and then aluminum foil, but I don't find this necessary.

They should be mailed in a box. For three leaves, a VHS cassette mailer is perfect. To keep the baggy from sliding around it can be taped to the inside of the box. Ship it priority mail and you should have it in 2-3 days. If the leaves are a little wilted when they arrive, they can be soaked in warm water for a while to crisp them up again.

One caution is the heat. If you or he is in a heat wave, wait for cooler weather. Also, ship the box on a Monday so it doesn't sit in the post office or on the truck over the weekend.

Enjoy!

Barbara

Barbara, thanks so much for info on shipping, I should be getting my cuttings next, they will be shipped out mon. now let see if I can get them to root.

Bear

Tell your friend to water the plant the day before so the leaves will be nice and turgid.

When you get them, if they are limp, put them in a bowl of warm water for up to 24 hours. This may make them rigid enough to plant.

Nancy