Packaging & Shipping Process

🦋 Packaging & Shipping Process 🦋

Many people are surprised to hear that live plants can be shipped by mail with a 99% survival rate! Below is the exact process we use at Feeding The Monarchs to ship all of our live plants.

The biggest impact on the plants’ survival rate is not the shipping itself, but the weather outside. If it’s too cold or too hot, the box’s temperature will slowly match the temperature outside. This is not a problem when sitting in an air-conditioned post office, but more so when sitting in a delivery vehicle or mailbox.

Please ensure somebody is available to immediately collect your box and move it to an air-conditioned space on the expected delivery date. All major shipping companies can email/text you a real-time notification when your order arrives — just check the website associated with your tracking number.

#1: Preparing the Boxes

We assemble and securely tape heavy-duty cardboard boxes designed to hold their shape, even under heavy weight or rough handling during transit. In our commitment to sustainability, we regularly reuse and recycle shipping boxes. Please don't be alarmed if you see other company logos, markings, or tape on the outside—it’s just our way of giving sturdy materials a second life!

#2: Add Cushioning to Support Plants

Using a blend of recycled and reused materials, we pad the base of the box with paperfill, polyfill, or plastic cushioning. With the foundation of the box securely prepared, it’s time to move on to the most delicate part: preparing the plants.

#3: Collecting the Ordered Plants

We engineered custom 3D-printed mini pots that safeguard the roots from day one. Instead of traditional uprooting, we collect the entire pot directly from our garden. Because the roots are never disturbed, the plant doesn't experience shock before shipping.

#4: Boxing the Plants

To protect your plants, we nestle them securely atop a layer of soft, cushioning polyfill, held perfectly in place by our proprietary packaging inserts. A second layer of polyfill is gently placed on top, keeping the leaves safe and still without crushing them.

This step requires a delicate balance: providing enough snug security to withstand a forceful shake during transit, while remaining gentle enough to keep the leaves intact.

#5: Filling the Box

To finalize the packaging, we fill any remaining space with recycled materials like paper or plastic bags. This ensures a snug fit so the plants won't shift when shaken, while still giving the foliage room to breathe. Don't worry if a few leaves look a bit crushed or misshapen upon arrival—this is completely normal and they will perk right up once they adjust to their new home! When your package arrives, look for the arrow on the box indicating the top, and please begin opening it from that direction.

See the Next Step: Depotting & Replanting

Use this link (or the navigation at the top of this website) to see how to safely remove the roots from the plastic pots.

🦋 FAQ 🦋

How long does shipping usually take?

Our default Ground Advantage shipping costs $7.84, which averages 3 to 5 days. At most, Ground Advantage can take 7-10 days.

For states further away from our location in Georgia, such as the West Coast, it’s recommended to upgrade to Express Shipping (usually USPS Priority Mail). This typically arrives in no more than 3 days.

Plants are only shipped on Mondays or Tuesdays. (Refer to “When will my plants be shipped?”)

The shipping carrier may change at any time depending on whatever is most affordable and reliable at the time of creating the shipping label. Please tell us if you require a specific carrier.

Can you ship outside of the continental USA?

Due to agricultural restrictions and longer shipping timeframes, we do not ship outside of the 48 continental US states.

When will my plants be shipped?

All orders are packaged on Sundays and Mondays, then taken directly to the post office on Mondays and Tuesdays only. This helps prevent the plants from sitting in the post office on Sundays, when the postal system is closed. (Although it’s not foolproof, as packages can become further delayed in the post office.) We might delay shipping if there's an upcoming federal holiday.

Orders must be placed by 4 p.m. EST (1 p.m. PST) on Sundays in order to be shipped on the upcoming Monday/Tuesday. Orders placed after 4 p.m. EST on Sundays may not be shipped until 8 days later on the next Monday — although we try to fit as many orders as possible if time allows.

We can ship on a different day at the buyer’s request.

Are there any refunds for problems occurring during or after shipping?

We cannot provide any refunds or replacements for problems occurring during or after the shipping process. The buyer takes responsibility that shipping live plants by mail can be risky and does not always ensure the survival and health of the plants. We also cannot be responsible for mistakes made by the buyer, such as improper transplanting, watering, lighting, bad weather, etc. However, we will always try to help when possible. Send a message if you have any problems and we can find a solution on a case-by-case basis.

If you need to ensure the health and survival of your plants, message us about insured shipping. This may cost a little extra, but will ensure that the postal system will pay you for any damages that occur during shipping.

When is the best time to buy plants through the mail?

The best time to ship live plants depends on your weather, typically when temperatures aren’t too hot or too cold in spring and fall. During the summer: wait until the weather is forecasted to be cloudy or rainy, which can help lower temperatures. Or during the winter: wait for a week of warmer weather without any snow forecasted.
For those on the east coast, keep an eye out for hurricanes or tropical cyclones which can cause post office closures.

You can also purchase ahead of time and message us to hold your shipment for a later date.

What can I do to help ensure the survival of my plants?

• Read our milkweed instructions manual.

• Check your weather forecast before purchasing.

• Upgrade to Priority Shipping and/or insured shipping.

• Have someone ready to move your package into an air-conditioned space so it doesn’t sit in the mailbox (Regularly check the tracking updates, sign up for text alerts, and familiarize yourself with when mail typically arrives at your house).

• Ensure your garden space is prepared before the package arrives to allow for immediate transplanting into the soil (Otherwise, unpackage the plants and place them under light so they can still photosynthesize while waiting to be transplanted).

Do you provide heat packs or cold packs?

We can possibly provide these on a case-by-case basis for a small additional cost. Please message us on before your order is shipped. We currently do not have a listing to add cold packs or heat packs due to low demand, but may add it in the future if there’s more requests.

How long do I have to cancel an order?

Orders must be cancelled before Sunday, when they are packaged. Orders cannot be cancelled once the box is taped shut and/or arrives at the post office.

Feeding The Monarchs

Etsy

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FeedingTheMonarchs@gmail.com

Our Milkweed Care Guide