What to expect when your plants arrive
We've been shipping mail-order plants since 1979, with a careful — and slightly unconventional — way of preparing them for the journey to your garden. Here's exactly how your plants are grown, packed, and sent, and how to help them settle in once they arrive.
From propagation to your doorstep, every plant is grown on, hardened off, and packed by hand.
Your plants ship in a range of nursery container sizes, chosen so each plant travels well. We only list a plant for sale once they're ready to go: grown on from propagation and hardened off outdoors, so they arrive sturdy and road-tested.
Before they leave us, every plant is thoroughly watered and fertilized. We ease them from their pots and gather the soil into a snug root ball, wrapped to hold moisture for the journey.
Wrapped roots are cushioned in recycled newspaper inside generously sized boxes, so stems and leaves aren't crushed in transit. We're always refining our packaging toward more sustainable materials.
Your first 48 hours
A little care in the first day or two helps your new plants settle in and thrive. Here's what to do, step by step.
Unbox them carefully
Open the box gently, using scissors with care near the foliage. Remove all the protective materials and lift each plant out by the root ball — never by the stems.
Let them acclimate
Set your plants in a shaded, sheltered spot for the first 24–48 hours. After time in a dark box, direct sun is a shock — give them a gentle landing.
Check before watering
Feel the soil first. The root ball travels moist, so water only if it's beginning to dry — never leave them sitting wet.
Unwrap their roots
Carefully remove the plastic wrapping and soil bag from around the roots so they can breathe and settle into their new home.
Pot or plant them
Move them into a well-draining container or their place in the garden, handling the roots gently. Firm the soil and water them in thoroughly.
Ease them into light
Reintroduce them to their recommended light gradually over several days, rather than full sun all at once.
Keep an eye on them
Watch for signs of stress over the first weeks and keep conditions steady. A little wilt as they adjust is normal.
Hold off on fertilizer
Wait a few weeks before feeding, then follow the care notes for that species. Let them root in first.
We're here to help your garden grow
Every plant comes with care guidance, and we're always glad to answer questions before or after your order.