Long-Distance Dispatch of Potted Guava Plants

Likely causes

1. Heat build-up and poor ventilation. The load was covered with a tarpaulin on an open truck in 34–36°C. A sealed tarpaulin traps heat and humidity, causing leaf yellowing, leaf drop and soft growth. This is probably the largest single cause of the yellowing.
2. Overwatering before loading. Heavy irrigation the evening before made the bags heavy and waterlogged. Wet media increases bag weight, encourages root damage and makes spillage more likely. It also raises humidity under the cover.
3. Compression from stacking five layers high. Polybags are not rigid. Five layers places substantial weight on the lower bags, crushing stems, splitting bags and spilling media.
4. Lack of hardening and unprotected stems. Young, soft guava plants snap easily during transport vibration. No sleeves or crates were used.
5. Long transit at high temperature. Fourteen hours is enough for heat injury, especially in the centre of the stack.

Most preventable cause: overwatering before loading, followed closely by stacking. Withholding water for 24–48 hours and loading in crates in two layers would have removed much of the damage at almost no cost.

Before dispatch

• Harden plants for 7–10 days in partial shade and reduce irrigation frequency. Water 24 hours before loading only if the media is genuinely dry; do not saturate.
• Grade plants for height, stem strength and bag integrity. Reject cracked bags and weak stems.
• Spray a registered antitranspirant only if label-approved for guava and transport; otherwise rely on shading and ventilation.
• Sleeve or tie stems lightly and pack bags upright in rigid crates or on pallets. Two layers maximum, with space between crates for air movement.

Loading and transport

• Load in the early morning or evening. Do not seal a tarpaulin directly over the plants; use a ventilated shade structure that allows air flow but blocks direct sun.
• Secure crates so they cannot shift. Avoid stacking bags on top of foliage.
• Use a covered but ventilated vehicle, or leave the upper sides open with shade net. Record vehicle number, driver, departure time and expected arrival.

Documentation

Prepare a delivery note with batch number, plant count, grade, dispatch date, vehicle, and a photograph of the loaded consignment. Ask the buyer to inspect and sign on arrival. For future orders, specify packaging, transport and claim conditions in the order confirmation.

Handling the complaint

• Inspect the consignment with the buyer, photograph the damage and count affected plants by category: broken stems, leaf drop, spilled media.
• Acknowledge the losses that are clearly transport-related rather than arguing. Offer replacement plants or a credit for the 12% damaged, and replace or repot bags with spilled media. Protect the relationship and the 50% balance.
• Do not accept liability for pre-existing poor plant quality if that is not the case; use the inspection record to separate transport damage from plant quality.

Record-keeping

• Keep a dispatch register: date, batch, plant count, grade, buyer, invoice number, vehicle, driver, departure time, packaging used, and arrival condition.
• Photograph each consignment before loading and after arrival. Store records for at least the payment period.
• Calculate the real cost of the loss, including replacements, transport and labour, so future pricing reflects it.

Payment and contract terms

• For future orders, specify quality grades, packaging, delivery conditions and a claim window, for example 48 hours after arrival.
• Consider 60–70% on dispatch and the balance on delivery for new buyers; a 30-day credit period transfers all risk to the nursery.
• Add a replacement clause limited to plants damaged in transit, and price the cost of replacement into the quotation. The handwritten invoice alone is too weak to support either a claim or a defence.