How We Send Your Plants
Each of our product pages state how we will dispatch your plants so whether they arrive as bare root plants or plugs you can successfully prepare for their arrival. Take a look at our guide below to find out how we send plants of different sizes, from Jumbo to postiplug.
Plug Plants
Supplied in our exclusive cartridge plug system, the majority of plug plant deliveries will fit through your letterbox, so your plants are delivered as fresh and healthy as the day they left the nursery.
More about our innovative packaging for our plug plants
Exclusive to Thompson & Morgan, the new cartridge plug system allows us to grow the large bulk of our mail-order plug plants by a method identical to commercial nurseries.
As the young plants grow from seed, they are captured by a camera, which detects any gaps caused by non-germinating or weaker plants. The machine then inserts a fresh plant, a job which was previously done by hand. The benefits that this brings include healthier plants of the highest quality and with in-built strength from a young age.
Our new cartridge plug system provides plants with an extra-strong root system, giving them the best start in life. The new, open sided cartridge causes root tips to dehydrate. This is known as 'air-pruning' which encourages the growth of new, lateral fibrous roots. Up to 10 new fibrous roots can appear, meaning better-rooted, stronger plants than ever before!
The slender plastic packaging and layout of the plants also mean that most packages will sail through modern letterboxes, ensuring they arrive as fresh and healthy as possible.
Other Plug pack sizes
Jumbo
Jumbo plugs can be planted straight into baskets or other containers. Plants are usually 2-8cm in height from base to tip, and the plug module could be 3-4cm in diameter, depending on the variety.(Plant sizes may vary dependent on variety).
Postiplugs
We've also redesigned our larger plug size so that these parcels will also fit through most letter boxes, so they're fresher and will arrive sooner just like our smaller plugs. Postiplugs are versatile, superb value and can be planted straight into baskets and other containers.
Garden Ready Plants
You can plant our large garden-ready plug plants straight into the garden when they arrive. There's no need to re-pot them or grow them on - it couldn't be easier! (Plant sizes may vary dependent on variety).
Other plant pack sizes
If you're looking for a larger plant, then these sizes could be for you. These plants will need a shorter period of growing, and offer superb value for money. Many of these larger-sized plants are grown from cuttings, which are taken from premium nursery stock.(Plant sizes may vary dependent on variety).
Potted plants
Sizes can range from 5cm to 11cm. This refers to the diameter of the top of the pot. These well-established plants are ready to be planted straight out into final positions, as soon as the weather allows.
Large Plants (1 - 3 Litre)
Sizes can range from 1 litre to 3 litre. These are well-established plants that are ready to be planted straight out into final positions unless your garden soil is frozen or waterlogged. All are supplied at the optimal size for instant effect.
Large Plants (4 - 9 Litre)
Sizes can range from 4 litre to 9 litre. These are well-established plants that are ready to be planted straight out into final positions unless your garden soil is frozen or waterlogged. All are supplied at the optimal size for instant effect.
Large Plants 10 litre pots upwards
Sizes can range from 10 litre upwards. These are well-established plants that are ready to be planted straight out into final positions unless your garden soil is frozen or waterlogged. Warning - These pots may be heavy and require two people to lift. All are supplied at the optimal size for instant effect.
Powerliner Plants
Powerliner plugs are well established, mature plugs which can be potted on or can be planted straight into the border or containers. Each plug module is 6.5cm in diameter. (Plant sizes may vary dependent on variety).
Bare Root Varieties
All of the below will arrive trimmed back, ready for the new season! They will exhibit little signs of new growth (unless evergreen) on arrival with possibly some buds in view.
The bare roots should be planted as soon as possible in the ground as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, if this is the case, do not allow the roots to dry out, place in a large container and cover with damp compost, or wrap the roots in damp cloth.
Create a creative backdrop for garden borders making a useful design feature.
Bare Root Perennial Plants
Easy to grow and easy to look after. What more could you want? Once planted, these will acclimate quickly to your garden soil. Perennial plants live for several years and flower every year.
Bare Root Rose Plants
Roses are timeless classics of the English flower garden and one of the nation's favourite blooms. This is how you're rose plants will arrive
Bare Root Shrub/Hedge Plants
Shrubs are low maintenance plants that provide structure and colour in gardens large and small. Keep your garden colourful all year round.
Bare Root Trees
Whether its something sweet and tasty or an eye-catching conversation starter, we have a wide variety of bare root trees available to purchase. Having a bold exquisite garden has never been easier!
Seeds & Bulbs
We have our own on-site laboratory where we test the germination of every variety of seeds and bulbs we offer. Seeds are tested twice in a 12 month period to make sure that germination rates have not diminished. If they have, we drop the variety from our range; simple as that!
Seeds
Our seed packets are carefully packed in padded envelopes to ensure that they arrive undamaged. Our seeds are posted by 2nd class mail and you can usually expect delivery of your seeds 3-5 days from posting.
Bulbs
When buying bulbs, quality is everything. We always supply flowering-size bulbs, which means you'll grow bigger, better flowers AND there'll be more of them.
Click HERE To View our In Depth Gardening Guides
Browse our gardening guides section for detailed growing advice, gardening hints and tips, and plenty of horticultural help from Thompson & Morgan's experts.
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