Houseplant FAQ

Houseplant Logistics 

Are there states you can't ship to?
Yes. We cannot ship houseplants to Arizona, California, Florida, or Hawaii.

I'm interested in a massive houseplant, can you ship that?
Unfortunately, we are unable to ship plants over 6". If you are interested in purchasing a larger plant, call us at 540-267-6556 to discuss purchasing options.

When will my order ship?
In order to ensure that your plants arrive healthy and happy, we only ship houseplants on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you place your order after this, we will wait until the following week. You can read more details about our shipping policy here.

Can I make a return?
We do not accept houseplant returns, but we do have a generous return and exchange policy for houseplant related accessories. You can read more details about our return policy here.

Purchasing and Caring for Plants

How do I decide which plant to buy?
First, look at how much light your plant will receive. Is it bright? Is it dim? How much room will it have to grow? Do you have pets? Does your schedule take you away from your plants for an extended time? Are there any hot or cold drafts where the plants will be? All of these are clues as to what kind of plant would be ideal for your unique space. 

I don't have much light in my home, what plants would you recommend?
ZZ plants and Snake Plants are perfect choices for areas with low light. They're also extremely hearty in most climates and are very easy to take care of.

I have bad luck with plants, what kind of plant should I try?
Cacti and succulents are an excellent choice as they are both very hands off. ZZ plants and Snake Plants are great choices for beautiful foliage that are hearty and easy to take care of. Air plants require no soil and very little water.

How do I know when to water my plant?
Ultimately, this varies depending on the houseplant that you are growing. As a rule of thumb, it is essential to keep in mind that most houseplants shouldn't dry out completely. Some exceptions to this rule include cacti and succulents. A little known fact is that most houseplants don't die from lack of water, but rather an excess of it.

One of the things to keep in mind is that you shouldn't have a schedule to water your plants. Instead, you should determine if the houseplant needs water by checking its soil. While most people only look at the surface, this isn't a good method since it will always look as if it needs to be watered. Instead, just tap on the side of the pot. If it sounds hollow, your houseplant is probably dry. Last but not least, you should water your houseplants with lukewarm water instead of cold water, better if filtered.

What do I do about yellow leaves?
If your plant has yellow leaves but is still experiencing new growth, this is just a natural aging process and is nothing to worry about! You can prune those leaves. If you're not seeing new growth, this is most likely due to over-watering. Let it dry out for a day or two and see if you see any improvements. If over-watering isn't the issue, try moving your plant to a new spot. It's possible it's not getting enough (or possibly too much) light. 

What about brown leaves?
Brown leaves are typically the sign of not getting enough water, especially when those spots are around the edges. However, watering it more may not be the solution! It may be root bound and needs a new pot. It may not be in the right type of soil that will retain water for it. Doing some research and re-potting your plant may solve your issues.

Common Terms and Definitions 

Bright Light: When sunlight shines through windows for at least 6 hours a day. South or Southwest facing widows typically have bright light.

Medium Light: When sunlight doesn’t shine directly through the window, but the area is still lit by sunlight. Typically, West or East facing windows have Medium Light. There are light shadows

Low Light: When a room has little to no natural light, either because it has no windows, or because it faces North. Corners, bathrooms and hallways are considered low light areas.

Direct Light: Refers to sun shining directly on your plants. Most house plants prefer indirect light, but some plants like succulents, aloe, and tropical flowering plants like direct sunlight. When providing your plants with direct sunlight, be sure to keep them away from drafty windows and doorways when the temperatures are cooler outside.

Indirect Light: Refers to how much direct sun light plants can be exposed to. Indirect light is filtered sunlight. Usually through light curtains, or a canopy of trees outside the window.

Root Bound: When a plant is growing well, the root system grows in order to gather more nutrients and absorb more water. Eventually, the roots will run out of room and start circling around the pot, looking for somewhere else to go. 

Root Rot: Root rot can be the death knell for many plants. It's usually the result of persistent over-watering. Allowing the roots of your plant to sit in water, not only suffocates them, it's the perfect breeding ground for fungal or bacterial growth that will begin to rot the roots.

Drainage: It is so important for almost all houseplants to have excellent drainage.  Water should easily run through a pot and out the bottom of your pot’s drainage hole when you water your plants. 

Pinch Back: Pinching plants means trimming off or “snapping off” parts of a plant or the flower to stimulate growth. Pinching creates a fuller, more bushy plant. 

Fertilizer: Any material or liquid that is applied to the plant’s soil, to help in the growth of plants. The three numbers on a fertilizer label represent the main nutrients found in most fertilizers (nitrogen(N) – phosphorus(P) – potassium(K)).

Amend: Adding organic materials to your soil to make it a healthier place for your houseplants. Examples of things to amend your soil with are worm compost or castings, peat moss, bone meal and pumice or perlite.