What to Do When Your Plant Arrives

Your Mary Mae Greenhouses box has arrived.

Before you start rearranging the house to find the perfect spot for your new plant, give it a little time to settle in.

Shipping is an unusual experience for a living plant. Darkness, movement and changing temperatures can cause temporary stress even when the plant arrives healthy.

Here's what we recommend.

Open the box promptly

Bring your package inside and open it as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.

Carefully remove the packing materials and avoid pulling the plant out by its stems or foliage.

We secure plants carefully for shipping, so take your time while unpacking.

Inspect your plant

Give the entire plant a quick inspection.

Look at the foliage, stems and soil.

A small amount of cosmetic damage can happen during shipping. An occasional bent leaf, small tear or dropped leaf doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the plant.

Plants are living things, and they'll continue producing new growth.

If you believe your plant experienced significant damage during shipping, photograph the plant, packaging and shipping box immediately after opening and contact Mary Mae Greenhouses according to our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Don't immediately water it

First, check the soil.

Your plant may already have plenty of moisture remaining from our greenhouse.

If the soil feels moist, leave it alone.

If the plant genuinely needs water, water it thoroughly and allow the excess to drain.

Remember:

Check first. Water second.

Give it good light

Place your new plant in the type of light recommended for that variety.

For many tropical houseplants, this means bright indirect light.

Avoid immediately placing a newly shipped plant into intense direct sunlight. Give it some time to acclimate first.

You can gradually adjust its location later if necessary.

Don't repot immediately

We know. You already bought the cute pot.

But unless there's a compelling reason to repot immediately, we recommend giving your new plant some time to adjust to your home first.

Shipping already represents a change in environment. Repotting immediately adds another source of stress.

Let the plant settle in, observe how it's doing, and then consider repotting once it has acclimated.

And when you do choose a decorative pot, make sure you're thinking about drainage.

Don't fertilize immediately

Your plant doesn't need a welcome-home feast.

Allow it to acclimate before beginning or resuming a normal fertilizer routine.

More fertilizer isn't necessarily better, and a stressed plant doesn't need additional variables thrown at it.

Some temporary adjustment is normal

Your home isn't identical to the greenhouse where your plant was previously growing.

Differences in light, humidity, temperature and airflow can cause temporary changes.

A plant might drop an older leaf. Some leaves may shift position. Growth may slow temporarily.

Give it time.

What matters most is how the plant begins growing under its new conditions.

Keep new plants separate at first

It's good practice to keep any newly acquired houseplant somewhat separated from the rest of your collection initially.

This gives you an opportunity to observe it closely before introducing it to an established collection.

We inspect plants before shipping, but this is still a smart habit whenever bringing any new living plant into your home.

Your first week

Keep things simple.

Give your plant appropriate light.

Check the soil before watering.

Avoid unnecessary repotting.

Watch the plant.

Let it acclimate.

Houseplants are usually much happier when we give them what they need rather than trying to do everything for them at once.

Need help?

Every plant is different, which is why we've created individual Mary Mae Plant Care Guides for the varieties we sell.

Visit our Plant Care section for specific recommendations on light, watering and everyday care for your new plant.

Then enjoy watching it grow.

Plants Worth Growing.

Mary Mae Greenhouses