We’re so pleased to see so many photos on social media of the plug plants that you’re receiving in the post. Some customers – perhaps those of you who are turning to your gardens during this time of social distancing and self isolation – are asking us about what to do with their plug plants when they arrive. We’re aware that many of you may be new to gardening and might need some help and advice, so here’s a quick guide to what to do when your plants are delivered.
- Unpack your plants as soon as they arrive – even if you haven’t got time to plant them up straight away – they’ll need some air after being enclosed in their packaging.
- Give them a drink! The plants may well be thirsty after their journey, so moisten the plugs of soil at the roots of the plants if they are dry.
- Don’t worry if the plants look a little sad on arrival; they should perk up once you give them a drink.
- When you’re ready, gently tweak each plug plant out of its packaging and plant each one into a 7-9cm pot, filled with a good quality, multi purpose compost. This is what is known as ‘potting on’.
- Gently press the plug plant into the compost, adding more to top up the pot if necessary. Don’t fill the pot to the very top with the compost – you need to allow for watering.
- Place your pots somewhere where they will stay fairly warm and get lots of light – a windowsill, or a table near a window is fine if you don’t have a greenhouse or conservatory.
- Keep the compost moist, but try not to overwater.
- Your plants will start to grow; getting bigger and stronger by the day.
Once your plants have developed more leaves and are looking more robust – usually in late April to mid May (depending on the weather/climate in your area) – you can toughen them up ready for planting out in the garden by popping them outdoors during the daytime and bringing them in at night. You should do this for 7 – 10 days prior to planting out. This is known as ‘hardening off’. It’s important to protect your growing plants from any possible spring frosts, so do keep an eye on the weather forecast!
After you’ve ‘hardened off’ your plants, they’re ready to be planted out into the garden where you can watch them continue to grow and flourish – just remember to water them!
NOTE: If your plants are destined for baskets or containers which can be easily moved indoors and out again, then you can plant your plants into their final containers a little earlier if they have made good growth. You can then harden them off as explained.
Sonia works at Thompson & Morgan in the role of press and communications officer. She is a self-proclaimed ‘reluctant’ gardener and is generally amazed if anything flourishes in her garden. Sonia has a ‘hands off’ approach to gardening and believes that this helps to encourage bees, butterflies and other wildlife. (That’s her excuse anyway!)
I purchased some plugs last week. They arrived yesterday and I am very disappointed as the half had no tops, most of the leaves are missing and the ones still on the plants looked awful. I purchased a similar item from a different nursery on the same day, the plugs arrived earlier and they had no damage or missing leaves.
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Purchased 72 plugs of impatients they arrived on Saturday very disappointed as more then half had no tops all the leaves are missing and i don’t even know if they will grow back. Purchased the same item from a different nursery a week before and there plugs had no damage or missing leaves. I expected the same standards from TM.
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Thank you.
Had an email yesterday from T&M they apologized for the damage in transit and have send out some new plants to replace the original.
Delighted with the quick response and would like to thank Jake for his email.
Thank you T&M fo the outstanding customer service.
Thats good to hear. Will pass on your comments to our customer care team. 🙂
I bought some plug plants (nicotiana) from T&M through Amazon. They arrived battered and rotten. Whilst the busy lizzy plugs I bought from other company are carefully packed and not a single leaf is broken! I will never buy plug plants from T&M again.
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
All the plants I have bought from T&M and QVC have come with damaged leaves and rotten also, plus the way they have arrived from their courier is pathetic, they always come with battered boxes or left upside, despite there being on the box “This way up” I have complained to T&M about this but nothing seems to be done. The last order I got, the two Weigela Towers of Flowers I have just received had both pots squashed into an oval shape in the green plastic container. Surely the staff should have put them in a more suitable container. I did warn T&M that this order needs to come in better condition…..One of the plants had brown leaves on it. They may be a big company, but big isn’t always better….
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Just received my pack of much waited for Annual Sub Collection and i am very dissapointed with quality of the plug plants. Most of the begonias are broken and just a stem left all the leaves are broken off. One row of plants are missing altogether can’t tell what they are due to all leaves broke and in bottom of packaging.Some of the plants have yellow and mouldy leaves.Both my husband and i stood and laughed at the package of plants looking as if someone had sat on the box. Come on Thompson & Morgan send out quality to your paying customers!
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Thanks Sue for replying to my comment reading alot of comments from customers numerous have all had the same problem .Paying a well known company hard earned money for plants i didn’t expect dead plants delivered .I will wait for the customer services team to ring but reading other comments of ex customers with problems waiting for the call i don’t hold out much hope of being contacted .
Just recieved my second order of 72 begonias.Well Thompson and Morgan you should be ashamed of yourself sending a package of just soil and storks no leaves .All leaves were broken off and everything was just a mess in the cardboard package .You should be ashamed taki g peoples money for plugs that have to go in the bin . They must have been posted out like that lets go to our local garden centre you gardeners don’t waste your money with this company. Please don’t tell me you will pass on my details never heard last time i complained .Photos taken of order if you even want to look or are bothered .
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
I would like to say how pleased I am with my plug plants this year. I ordered 144 of various types of plug plants (postiplugs) and 142 of them are thriving. I will be certainly ordering again.
Thats great news! Thanks for the positive feedback 🙂
I have purchased lots of super plug plants and I was wondering if they are able to be planted into pots and beds after a 3 days of being outside during the day?
Thanks
Hello
It depends on the size of the plug really. Plug plant, mini plugs, and Jumbo plugs are all best potted up and grown on indoors or in the greenhouse until they are a bit bigger. You can then harden them to outdoor conditions before planting out. We usually recomend 7-10 days but the warmer the weather is, then the less of a shock it will be for them.
Garden ready plants are much larger so these can be hardened off on arrival and then planted outside. You may well get away with just 3 days but it is all dependant upon the size of the plant and the weather. I would certainly recommend throwing some horticultural fleece over them on cool nights while there is still a risk of a late frost.
Hope that helps
Hi I have just received my order of 72 plug plants, I didn’t realise they were so small!
I have checked the box and they look nice and healthy, unfortunately the Maxicrop Plant Treatment was not included, is this coming separately?
There are no instructions with the plants and as I am a novice gardener I cannot tell which plant is which, so do not know where to plant and how big they will grow.
I have looked on the website and found out how to transfer them into separate pots and keep indoors until the frost has gone.
I am going away next week for one week so will not be able to water them, have you any suggestions please on what to do?
Further to my post yesterday I bought compost and pots for my plants.
When I started removing the plants I noticed several were pot bound but managed to untangle them.
One row of six looked dead, I do not know what type of plant they should be, could you send me a replacement/refund?
Once potted up they look mostly healthy.
After removing the plants I realised the instructions were underneath and the tray marked alphabetically, too late now but I will know next time.
When could I expect a reply from my earlier blog re watering whilst away?
It says the the comment is awaiting moderation?
Many thanks
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Received plug plants second week of May. How long approximately if I now plant them up until they are ready for hardening off prior to planting in garden or hanging basket
It really depends on how quickly they grow, and what the weather is like. However I would expect them to be making some decent growth by the middle of June and you should be able to plant them out by end June.
Quite a number of my recently received Bizzie Lizzie plug plants have not survived the journey. Is there a policy for replacement?
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
Just recieved garden ready Begonias how long can i leave in trays before i plant out wary of current weather ie frosts.
You can plant them directly into hanging baskets and containers if you have a greenhouse or conservatory where you can grow them on for a few more weeks. If not, then I would recommend potting them up into small containers and growing them on your windowsill until the middle of June, when all risk of frost has passed. You can then transplant them into ther final positions outside.
Hope that helps
Hi, my Fuschia and Petunia plugs arrived safely and have been potted on. Unfortunately I mixed them up while planting them so don’t know which variety of each is what now. Is there any way of telling? If not it will be a nice surprise.
Thank you
Petunias have a lighter green and more rounded leaf tip. Fuschias are more pointed at the tips and tend to be darker in colour. Once they have made some growth it will become much more obvious!
I have just received replacement dwarf French bean plants. The first lot arrived dead. The replacement arrived today very badly packaged and 3 out of 6 are snapped in half, my petunia postiplugs which arrived a few days earlier are all dead. I am really disappointed and don’t think I will order from you again.
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
I have ordered plug plants over several years from t&m and have always had success in growing them on my advice to inexperienced gardeners is not to buy small plugs but buy garden ready plants a dearer option but cheaper in the long run small plugs may arrive looking stressed/tired but if handled correctly will grow into strong plants
Leslie Godman 26/3/21
Thanks, your comment is helpful,I do wonder when the plugs are being advertized as to whether they can go straight into baskets,think I will wait for garden ready
I wish I had read these reviews before enthusiastically ordering lots of plugs from you. My nicotiana plugs were soggy and all the leaves had broken off. The same with my gazania plugs, although I had three that were useable and some of the begonias were soggy and stick together.
If all the leaves are broken and there is no stem showing will they regrow or are they dead? I usually grow from seed, wish I had and saved my money
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
I’ve had my lavender&foxglove plugs for about four weeks and doubled to 6 inches high on window sill.
If I am supposed to put in garden in spring there going to be pretty big?
Is this correct?
Hello
Yes that is correct. Your plug plants should be overwintered in cool conditions for planting out in spring. If you have a greenhouse or an unheated conservatory then you could grow them in there for the winter months. They will probably find it too warm in your main home unless that are in a particularly cold room. You will notice that growth will slow down considerably once we get some colder weather. It has been a very mild autumn this year!
Do you sell the small plastic plugs that come with my order please.
Hello – Are you referring to the little cells trays? Unfortunately we don’t sell these.
All the best
Sue
When can I plant out my garden ready plug runner beans
Hi Linda
Runner Beans are not hardy so you will need to wait until all risk of frost is passed. That’s usually toeards the end of May. In the meantime, pot them up and grow them on in frost free conditions.
All the best
Sue
I ordered quite a few bedding plants namely petunias of various types they arrived as post plants about 1/3rd of them were in a terrible state dead leaves missing and rotted away I have contacted your customer care several times and had no response phoning is out of the question you not answering calls I know this is a difficult time but surely customers come first I have now cancelled the rest of my order from you I hope that has gone through
Order W10248196
Hello
I’m sorry to hear this. I have passed on your comments to our customer care department.
All the best
Sue
We ordered plants for our hanging baskets and tomato plants. They were all sent out separately and arrived in a terrible state. We could not save any of them and were only offered half of our money back. We will definitely not be buying anything from Thompson-Morgan in future.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear this. I have passed on your comments to our customer care department.
All the best
Sue
I have also bought plug plants from T&M and they have come in such a poor state, with leaves damaged and yellow and snapped stems. They are not the only ones by the way, other companies are just as bad. I don’t buy plugs or anything online anymore. Too much of a risk and why should we lose money, especially nowadays.
Hello
I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
So, ordered Geranium and Petunia plug plants on order number SO002322219 on 15th April. One lot arrived dead, managed to save about 8 from 72 (not a great average). Other lot still not turned up. Although was offered replacement for July delivery, not bad when I ordered on 15th April for delivery within 21 days.
Please, please get someone to process my refund !!! Even a reply telling me its being done would be nice.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear this. I have passed on your comments to our customer care department.
All the best
Sue
Dear Sue,
My partner ordered plants off you, we are still waiting for them to arrive and the one lot that did arrive were all dead and broken. We couldn’t save any from the 48. I think that you need to get a different carrier.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear this. I have passed on your comments to our customer care department.
All the best
Sue
I HAVE had plants over th he last four months apart from one batch they are fine even replaced the few that had died in transit always happy with post & my plants have really thrived & are looking good ThankYou
Hi Barbara. That’s fantastic news. So glad to hear that your plants are thriving 🙂
Last year I ordered & spent nearly £500 worth of plants from you. My petunias were awesome. Some arrived alright & with my care blossomed however others arrived with a mixture of some plugs damage on delivery. Some like my magnolia never took off, sooo disappointed. You did ask if I wanted a replacement but I did not respond. You did send me replacements when some orders failed to arrive I thank you for that. Some orders never arrived & were cancelled while I had orders that was suddenly out of stock & could only be delivered at the wrong time of the year to plant so I requested a refund. After a confirmation of refund last year, this year suddenly I received 2plants I cancelled due to very very late arrival. I have yet to check if they did refund me for these items I had cancelled. I can honestly say when I have emailed customer care they have replied and sorted out my issues, refunds or replacement but do take a long time to do so. I noticed somehow customer care & order service do not seem to communicate well with each other. This year I have orders sitting in my inbox however hesitant to go through with it sort of needing reassurance all will be well? You need to be consistent for me to feel confident to pursue my orders.
Hello – I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
As above I have had 230 plug plants over my last 2 orders the state the plants came in where scandoulous I sent 6 pictures of state the plugs where in only to be asked which ones where damaged well as plants where either dead or dying ones missing I don’t know still awaiting for reply the one I got asked me the above about what plants replied still waiting the last order 50 percent have died put them in propergators kept them indoors to no avail your customer care is non exsistent your apology is not worth anything . I will never buy anymore and going by the comments I have read lots of others won’t you offer no refunds or replacement says all .
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
I am one of the vulnerable people in this virus problem and unable to leave the house at all so not able to visit garden centres for my annuals. Unfortunately I have a complaint about the plants I have bought from you recently. I bought the 35 annual plants for 6.99 but I was disappointed that most of them are so small that they will never be big enough to plant out in my tubs. As they are annuals they were a waste of money what with postage on top of the purchase price. I did have three really good tomato plants which are looking good. Why do you sell such tiny plants at this time of the year as they need to be bigger so that they can be planted in the tubs.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your order. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
I was looking forward to getting my flowers, the first batch sent arrived after the second and were all dead as it took 9 days to arrive, they had actually rotted in the box and were just stalks. the rest arrived in not perfect state and I could not save them all. Spent a fair bit and have nothing to show and no response from customer care.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
Received my 72 perennial plug plants, packaging is very robust for transport, plugs are very health from age of the plant right down to the rooting system, ALL PLUGS are looking very healthy, they are know in there new pots in the house due to lack of space in the green house from following the Thomson and Morgan after care advice, I received excellent communication from Thompson and Morgan from my order comfirmation right down to the final dispatch information, over all I received a fantastic service for a very low price, this will NOT be my last purchase from Thompson as and Morgan Thank You
Hello
Thanks for the great feedback! I’m glad to hear that you were pleased with your order.
All the best
Sue
I appreciate the challenges you are experiencing at the moment, one order never arrived which was annoying as I was depending on the beetroot plants to finish my patch off. And the day before yesterday I received large plug plants that have been damaged in transit. They are nowhere near your normal standards and the majority not suitable for planting on.
I would not normally message via social media but you are not able to staff the telephone lines. I have emailed but await a response.
I would appreciate a chance to discuss this.
Many thanks
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
I received my order of 72 plugs this morning. Unfortunately most of them were damaged and a lot were missing including all the phiox 9 nicotiana and 6 lobelia. The rest of the plants look as though they have no chance of recovering exept the begonias. Orders from you have never been this damaged.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
I received 20 plug fuchsias most just sticks no leaves. The rest are no better not one decent plant amongst them. So very disappointed I potted them in in good compost waste of good compost
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
Weve ordered several types of plug plants in the last month and although your potting on advice is sound your plug plants are nowhere near. They have been flattened ,broken and unusable. To add to this you do not respond to emails and your phones are blocked!!!!!!!!
Hello Chris
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
I had a delivery yesterday & all the plants were rotten no use at all. I also cannot contact the company sooo annoying.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear that your plants were damaged. I have passed your comment and email address to our customer care team for their attention.
All the best
Sue
Hello there I purchased 48 of your small begonia plug plants in March. I planted these in small pots and I watered them but unfortunately I think I over watered and they look like they have died. Is there anyway they can be saved as I am quite upset about this. Hope you can help.
Thankyou.
Hello
What a shame! It is quite a common error though, so you are certainly not alone in over-watering. The best thing that you can do for them is to let them dry out a bit between each watering and always let them drain well after watering. They should never be soaking wet – aim for the compost to be evenly moist.
I hope this helps
All the best
Sue
Has we are fairly new too gardening, I am recently retired and my partner is having to self isolate for 12 weeks has she is in the ” Shielded Group ” and your blog have been so helpful to us. We have bought some Geranium plugs from you and the help we have had is brilliant.
Thank you.
So glad to hear that it was helpful. I hope that you both stay safe and well.
All the best
Sue
Well after getting your reply earlier. We received our begonias in a terrible state. We also had to send photos to prove which ones like the other buyer, why should we need too. We have waited a long time to get our plants and then to receive broken stems and damaged leaves. One plant only had one leaf and that a a huge hole in it…. Makes us think again to buy from yourselves.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear this. I have passed on your comments to our customer care department.
All the best
Sue
Comment when you send me postiplugs I never lose any of them but I do with plug plants why can you not make them all postiplugs just a comment.
Regards
Margaret
Hello Margaret
Some plants are better suited to being sent as postiplugs while others just need to be that bit bigger before we can send them out. It’s also a matter of giving the customer a choice of sizes. Thank you for the feedback – it’s always helpful to know how customers get on with our products.
All the best
Sue
I’ve ordered garden ready plug plants which said that they are delivered at the end of May I don’t have a greenhouse so I’m hoping that they arrive at that time I’ve spent a lot to get the best plants to pot straight into their final position.
Hello
If you don’t have a greenhouse or a warm place to grow your plants on, then you have certainly made the right choice. our garden ready plants are ideal for hardening off and then planting straight into their final positions.
I’m sure that you will have a fabulous display this summer.
All the best
Sue
Plug plants are sent out far too early I just received my 40 approx begonia apricot shades & only got about 19 left as ants are just dying of and are kept in good compost & covered up on nights
Hello Tony
We recommend that plug plants are potted on and grown in warm, frost free conditions such as a greenhouse or conservatory until they are well grown and all risk of frost has passed. If they are outdoors (even covered up at night) it is still too cold for them yet. I would suggest that you bring them under cover for at least a few more weeks.
Hope that helps
Sue