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 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
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
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