A method for shipping live plants that require illumination during shipping including steps of selecting an illuminated shipping container that includes a lower pot configured to hold soil and a plant, and an upper lid with pendent side wall and an upper closed end made of material that allows light from an illuminating light source attached to its upper closed end. Soil is placed into the lower pot and a light requiring plant in embedded in the soil with the stem, branches, and leaves extending above the soil. Next, an elastic seal is places around the stem of the plant and pressed against the soil to hold the soil in the pot during shipment. Next, the lower edge of the upper lid is attached to the upper edge of the lower pot. A tamper resistant indicator then disposed between the pot and lid. Next, the illuminating source is activated. The shipping container containing the plant is then shipped to the desired destination.
