Shipping Plants Made Easy: How We Safely Send Your Green Friends – Ed's Plant Shop

How We Prepare, Protect, and Ship Live Plants Safely

Shipping live plants takes more than a box and a label — it takes planning, timing, and a deep respect for the fact that plants are living things. At Ed’s Plant Shop, every order is packed by hand with plant health as the top priority.

Whether it’s the middle of summer or the coldest week of winter, here’s an inside look at how we prepare, protect, and ship your plants so they arrive as safely as possible.

Shipping Plants: A How-To Guide for Happy Houseplant Travels

Shipping plants can sound risky (delicate leaves + delivery trucks = anxiety), but with the right preparation, plants can travel surprisingly well. While winter adds extra challenges — cold temps, carrier delays, and shorter transit windows — every season comes with its own considerations.

Here’s how we give your plants the best chance at a smooth journey.

Step 1: Clean, Prune & Prepare

Before a plant ever sees a shipping box, it gets a full check-up.

Bug-Free Inspection: Every plant is treated with an all-natural pest preventative and carefully inspected.
Thoughtful Pruning: We remove damaged or declining leaves before shipping. This helps reduce stress during transit and allows the plant to focus its energy on healthy growth once it arrives.

Plant prep for shipping at Ed’s Plant Shop

Step 2: Secure the Soil (No Mess, Less Stress)

We ship plants in their pots, not bare-root. This helps maintain stability and reduces transplant shock.

Soil Secured: Polyfill is used to gently hold soil in place and prevent movement.
Clean Unboxing: Everything is taped and sealed so soil stays where it belongs — in the pot, not the box.

Wrapping plants for shipping at Ed’s Plant Shop

Step 3: Wrap for Stability & Support

Think of this step as a cozy plant cocoon.

Protective Paper Wrap: Each plant is wrapped to support stems and shield leaves.
Extra Support for Tall Plants: Larger or taller plants receive additional wrapping to prevent shifting during transit.

This keeps plants upright and reduces friction inside the box.

Step 4: Label Everything Clearly

Once wrapped, plants can look a bit mysterious. Each plant is labeled so you know exactly what’s what when unboxing — no guessing required.

Winter Shipping: Extra Care for Cold Weather

Cold weather shipping requires special attention. Even with careful packing, winter transit always carries some risk.

Heat Packs & Insulation: During colder months, we may recommend adding a heat pack and insulation to help reduce cold exposure.
Weather-Aware Timing: If conditions are unsafe, we may delay shipment rather than risk severe damage.

Heat packs help mitigate risk, but no winter shipping method can completely eliminate the possibility of cosmetic cold stress, such as leaf yellowing or drop.

If your plant arrives stressed from cold, take photos and contact us within the inspection window outlined in our policies. Many plants recover over time with proper care.

For full details, please review our Plant Health Guarantee and Refund Policy:
https://edsplantshop.com/policies/refund-policy