Never ordered plants by mail before?  Wondering how on earth they can be safely shipped?  Perhaps we can set your mind at ease.  We've been successfully shipping African violets and other houseplants through the mail, all over the world, since 1985. 

This is how we ship plants to our customers. 

Collecting plants for orders.

First, we collect all the plants to be shipped that week in carts that we can wheel around the shop and greenhouse.  

At left, Olive is selecting plants from the carts for each of the orders.  Orders are sequentially numbered as they are received, and are filled in this same sequence.  We substitute for out of stock items only when necessary.

At right is shown collected orders waiting to be "collared", wrapped, and boxed.  Each order is accompanied by its order form and mailing label.  We charge orders at this time, only for the plants we actually ship.

Collaring and wrapping plants.

How to ship plants without the soil coming loose and making a big mess?  This wouldn't be a problem if you only could be certain that plants would make their entire journey "right side up".  We know differently, however.

Our solution is simple.  Secure a plastic "collar" over the top of the soil and pot rim, but below the lowest leaves.  Our "collars" are square pieces of thin plastic, with a slit half-way in the middle.  At left, you see both sides of the collar being gently pulled around the neck of the plant, so that none of the soil surface is exposed.  It's also important that the soil level is at the pot rim, so that the plant doesn't bounce "up and down" beneath the collar.  The collar is then folded down over the pot and secured with a rubber band.  Bands and collars are also easily removed when unpacking.

Wrapping miniature African violets and other plants in small pots.

Next, we carefully wrap each plant in a sheet of stiff newspaper.  Leaves are gently moved into a more upright position so that they can be rolled into a paper cone without breaking leaves.  This is a skill that our "wrappers" acquire only after extensive training and practice on less-fragile plants.  The person "collaring" and "wrapping" each order initials your order form and is responsible for your plant's safe packaging.

After the small plant is rolled up inside the paper, each end of the cone is stapled shut.  The plant can no longer move inside of the paper cone, even if it spends its entire journey "upside down".

Wrapping standard-size African violets and other plants in 2 1/2" pots.

Wrapping larger plants, like standard violets, is similar, but requires a bit more care.  2-3 sheets of newspaper is used so that the cone is more stiff.  Also, since neither end is stapled shut, the paper is taped to the pot side at three different points, so that the plant cannot move up or down within the cone.  

After the cone is complete, it is stapled together, then further secured around the pot with a rubber band.  Often, the top of the cone is folded over so that the cone is "closed" (not done here).

Preparing the boxes and protecting plants from the cold and heat.

Except for times when the weather is extremely mild, we ship all of our plants in insulated boxes.  Each box is lined with fiberglass insulation that is cut to size from much larger rolls.  For winter shipping, we use even thicker insulation than what is seen here, so the plants are even better protected from the cold.  We also insulate boxes when shipping during the hottest parts of summer, especially to places in particularly hot climates.

During winter shipping, and for plants that are very sensitive to the cold (like Episcias and Begonias), we wrap each plant in an extra foam sheet, then wrap it again in the paper cones shown above.  This way each plant is insulated, then placed in an insulated box!

Packing the plants and labeling the box.

Each plant is then carefully placed in the box.  More temperature-sensitive plants are placed in the center of the box,  to further protect them.  Any empty space in the box is filled with crumpled newspaper.  This ensures that there is absolutely no room for plants to shift or move while in transit.  We have boxes of every size, though the small one shown here is typical.

The box is then sealed and labeled, "Very Fragile!  Avoid Heat.  Do Not Chill."  All our orders are shipped via the US Postal Service.

Time to send them on their way!

Another order packed and ready to go!  Most weeks, orders are packed and in the mail on Monday or Tuesday, depending upon order volume and weather conditions (if we're really busy, sometimes Monday thru Wednesday).  

Rob is shown at left stacking a boxed order, which are then loaded into a cargo van and taken to the local post office, shown at right (we're their biggest customer!).

Orders shipped by priority mail typically arrive at their destination within 2-3 days, so that you'll receive them later that same week.

Go back to Ordering Plants page