How to Shop for Plants Online

Never ordered a plant online? Really want to but not sure "how it works"? Ordered from a different seller and had a bad experience? This post is for you!

Parkside plants offers tips and tricks on how to successfully shop for plants online! From our own shopping and selling experience.

If you just got your plant and not sure what to do next, read 'You've Got Plant Mail!' article to help acclimate your new leafy friend!

Here is a quick summary of this article:

1. Before you order
2. When the plant arrives
3. Troubleshooting
4. Links to care tips and tricks

Before you order:

Committing to buying a plant online for the first time can be intimidating, trust me, I’ve been there myself. What if the plant comes in damaged? Or gets lost in mail and doesn’t come at all? Or ends up being smaller than you expected or not what you expected at all? No one can guarantee at least one of these things doesn’t happen to your order (and if a seller claims your order will definitely come in time and 100% perfect condition - run), but there is several things you can do to troubleshoot ahead of time:

• order a small, inexpensive plant: grabbing something safe and simple like a pothos or a small Hoya, which are both good at tolerating periods of drought by the way, is a good way to test the shipping times and the quality of the grower you’re purchasing from. And if the plant comes damaged or infested with pests - at least it will not be a big financial loss.
• chose shipping that works for you based on your location and reach out to seller if you have a special request: while ground shipping will do just fine when ordering from neighboring states, opt for priority when ordering from further locations and express for rare and expensive plants.
• check the current weather and prepare accordingly: monitoring weather conditions in specific areas is considered buyer’s responsibility and most sellers will not provide refunds for weather damage! If your location is experiencing a heat wave ensure you are available to receive the package on the spot or ask your local post office to hold it for you to avoid the plant cooking on the porch for hours. Alternatively, add a heat pack for your order during the winter months: even though adding $5 on top of your purchase can be somewhat discouraging, putting wellbeing of your plant above the cost is absolutely worth it.
• if description of the plant you have an eye on is unclear or states “grower’s choice” - ask for a photo of the exact plant you’re getting! Most sellers are more than happy to provide you with details and additional photos, especially for bigger purchases.
• if your order total is over $200, ask the seller for insurance options: most will provide free shipping on orders over a certain amount and it’s worth adding a few dollars to make sure you will get a refund should the package get lost or damaged;

When the plant arrives:

• The seller must provide tracking information for your order! Avoid ordering from sellers who have unclear shipping policy as they might result in a scam. Use carrier’s website to track your package: marketplaces such as Etsy and eBay will often have outdated tracking: I receive at least one request every week asking if the packaged has been shipped, while USPS already has an estimated delivery date up on their website.
• Ideally, try to be home to receive the package, do not allow it to sit in mail overnight and most definitely do not let the plant to be left outside in inclement weather! A plant might be in great condition when it arrives but an hour it two on a porch in 100ºF heat will most definitely damage if not kill it. Ask a friend to grab it for you or request the carrier to hold it at their office.
• Avoid placing your plant in bright light conditions immediately upon arrival: coming from a dark box, the plant might become shocked. Instead, if the soil is dry, give it a good drink (place the pot in a saucer, water throughly, let it soak for 30 mins and pour the excess water out of the saucer). Place it in a medium-lit (but not dark!) space for up to a week. 
• Monitor your new plant’s condition daily: cut off any yellowing or severely damaged leaves and keep checking for pests. Even if the plant looks droopy for the first couple of days it should perk back up once it adjusts to your home conditions.
• Once you see new growth coming in or leaves unfurling - your plant has adjusted and ready to be moved to its permanent spot!

Troubleshooting:

1. Your package came torn up or damaged: do not panic, unfortunately, this can happen to any packages, even those top to bottom covered with ‘fragile’ stickers. Take plenty of photos before opening: your seller will need them to file a claim with the carrier. Thankfully, a damaged package does not always mean a dead plant.
2. The plant came dead. This happens mostly to imports from oversees, but if a local package got stuck in mail for over 10 days this might be the outcome. Make sure to document the unpacking (video is always best) and take plenty of photos. Contact the seller immediately: hesitating for several days might result in seller denying a refund.
3. Plant looked good upon arrival but decayed completely in under a week. While a few yellow leaves is normal, no plant in good condition will loose all its foliage and develop stem rot this quickly (even if overwatered). Take plenty of pictures throughout the process and contact the seller immediately - most growers will help you troubleshoot or replace the plant at no cost to you.
4. You never got the package. First off, check your tracking via carrier’s website to ensure the plant was actually shipped: some sellers have longer processing times to ensure high plant and packaging quality. If the package still marked as ‘delayed’ 10 days after it was mailed - contact the seller immediately: they will have to file a claim in order to process a refund or will provide a new plant.
5. Plant arrived alive but in poor condition. Broken stems, torn up leaves, most of the soil scattered around the package - document any sign of poor packaging and addressed it with the seller immediately. Most will be happy to work with you and will provide a partial refund or a new plant altogether. If the seller is refusing to assist with a poorly packaged and severely damaged plant - opt for purchasing a different grower next time around.

 

Overall, shopping for plants online is an exciting process: thanks to a large variety of sellers and platforms out there, you have access to rare plants which are not always available at the stores for very reasonable prices. There is always a thrill of waiting for your wishlist plant and finally getting it in mail. 

Buying plants online will connect you to an entirely new world of growers and collectors and you will make great friends and connections that admire plants just as much as you do. And Parkside Plants is hoping to become one of them!

- Contact us if you have questions! We are happy to help.

Parkside Plants are releasing new blog posts every week! Check our Care Tips section for advice on how to care for your new leafy friend. 

Happy Planting! 🌵