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 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
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