Shipping & Delivery
How your order moves from our greenhouse to your door, including processing times, weather holds, tracking, packing, shipping estimates and special parcel handling. The rates shown on this page are estimates for average plant orders only. Your final shipping charge is shown at checkout before payment and is calculated from your delivery address, cart contents, parcel weight and packing requirements. For information about returns, refunds and our guarantee, please see the Guarantee & Returns page.
Processing & Preparation
- Processing time: 1–7 business days, Monday to Friday, depending on plant type, grower schedules, order volume and seasonal demand.
- Start: processing begins once payment is confirmed. Plants are prepared fresh before dispatch. For available payment options, see our Payments page.
- Dispatch window: parcels are handed to the courier during or immediately after the processing period.
- Split shipments: large, tall, mixed or fertilizer-containing orders may ship in more than one parcel. Plant parcels and fertilizer or additive parcels may leave on different days and arrive separately, with separate tracking links where applicable.
- Special schedules: most Hoyas ship Tuesday and Wednesday. Beneficial insects ship Wednesday.
Weather Protection & Shipping Holds
- Temperature limits: shipments may be delayed if outdoor temperatures are below 0 °C or above 32 °C along the route.
- Heat packs & wrapping: a free 72-hour heat pack and extra recyclable wrapping may be added when needed to protect delicate plants.
- Route conditions: weather checks consider more than your local forecast, especially when parcels travel through colder or hotter transit areas.
These safeguards can extend processing slightly, but they help reduce avoidable cold or heat damage in transit.
Tracking & Delivery
- Tracking email: you receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel is dispatched.
- Email missing: check spam and promotions folders first. If the tracking email is still missing, contact support.
- Multiple parcels: split shipments receive separate tracking links, and individual boxes may move at different speeds. Plant parcels and fertilizer or additive parcels may not travel together.
- Late delivery: if plants have not arrived within 7 days of the latest ETA, contact our support team with your order number and tracking number.
Address Accuracy & Failed Deliveries
- Check details: always double-check your shipping address at checkout and in your confirmation email.
- Responsibility: orders delayed, returned or damaged because of an incorrect address, unavailable recipient or missed courier notification may not be eligible for a free replacement or refund outside our standard policy.
- No DHL Packstations: please use a residential or business address where someone can accept the parcel.
Shipping Costs & Estimates
The table below shows standard shipping estimates, free-shipping thresholds and typical transit times for average plant orders. These are guide prices only, not guaranteed final charges. Your final shipping amount is calculated at checkout from your delivery address, cart contents, parcel weight and packing requirements before payment.
Customs, import VAT & carrier fees
Orders shipped outside the EU may be subject to customs duties, import VAT and carrier customs-clearance or handling fees. These charges are not shown in our shop, are not included at checkout and are not collected by Foliage Factory.
The final amount is decided by the destination country and/or carrier after the parcel has been declared for import. The recipient is responsible for paying any import charges and for checking local import rules before ordering.
For Switzerland, please check the official information from the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security and Swiss Post import customs clearance.
| Country | Standard shipping estimate for average plant orders | Standard free plant shipping from ³ | Typical transit time after dispatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | € 12.95 | € 100 | 2–4 working days |
| Belgium | € 8.95 | € 100 | 1–2 working days |
| Bulgaria | € 21.95 | € 300 | 5–7 working days |
| Croatia | € 29.95 | € 300 | 5–7 working days |
| Cyprus (²) | € 39.95 | Not available | 5–7 working days |
| Czechia | € 16.95 | € 150 | 2–4 working days |
| Denmark (¹) | € 16.95 | € 150 | 2–4 working days |
| Estonia | € 18.95 | € 200 | 2–4 working days |
| Finland | € 29.95 | € 300 | 5–7 working days |
| France (¹) | € 12.95 | € 100 | 2–4 working days |
| Germany | € 8.95 | € 75 | 1–2 working days |
| Greece (¹²) | € 29.95 | € 300 | 5–7 working days |
| Hungary | € 18.95 | € 200 | 2–4 working days |
| Ireland | € 14.95 | € 150 | 2–4 working days |
| Italy (¹) | € 14.95 | € 150 | 2–4 working days |
| Latvia | € 18.95 | € 200 | 5–7 working days |
| Liechtenstein (⁴) | € 32.95 | Not available | 3–4 working days |
| Lithuania | € 18.95 | € 200 | 2–4 working days |
| Luxembourg | € 12.95 | € 100 | 1–2 working days |
| Malta (²) | € 39.95 | Not available | 5–7 working days |
| Monaco | € 29.95 | € 300 | 4–5 working days |
| Netherlands | € 8.95 | € 100 | 1–2 working days |
| Poland | € 12.95 | € 100 | 2–4 working days |
| Portugal (¹) | € 14.95 | € 150 | 2–4 working days |
| Romania | € 21.95 | € 300 | 5–7 working days |
| Slovakia | € 18.95 | € 200 | 5–7 working days |
| Slovenia | € 18.95 | € 200 | 5–7 working days |
| Spain (¹) | € 14.95 | € 125 | 2–4 working days |
| Sweden | € 18.95 | € 200 | 2–4 working days |
| Switzerland (⁴) | € 32.95 | Not available | 5–7 working days |
Items with separate parcel handling
Some items need different packing or parcel handling and may be calculated separately at checkout. This can affect the final shipping cost and free-shipping eligibility. The exact amount is always shown before payment.
- Fertilizers & additives: most fertilizers and additives are packed and shipped separately from plants. A separate shipping fee may apply, and free plant shipping does not apply to fertilizers and additives.
- Mixed plant and fertilizer orders: if your order contains both plants and fertilizers or additives, the items may ship in separate parcels. These parcels may leave on different days, arrive separately and receive separate tracking links.
- Large, tall or heavy plant parcels: oversized or heavy plant items may need separate parcel handling. Each item that needs separate handling may add its own shipping charge.
- Remote or non-mainland addresses: island addresses, remote postcodes and non-mainland destinations may cost more than the standard mainland estimate shown in the table.
Notes
- ¹ Island, remote-area and non-mainland addresses: shipping can cost more than the standard mainland estimate shown in the table. Affected areas may include Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Faroe Islands, Azores, Madeira, Balearic Islands and selected Greek island postcodes. The final rate is calculated at checkout where delivery is available. Canary Islands: we currently do not ship there.
- ² Cyprus, Greece & Malta: delivery is possible, but courier reliability can vary. Arrival times and plant condition cannot be guaranteed. Our 28-day guarantee does not apply to plants shipped to these destinations due to unpredictable transit times.
- ³ Free shipping exclusions: Free-shipping thresholds apply to eligible standard plant parcels only. Fertilizers, additives, large, tall, bulky or heavy items may be calculated separately and are excluded from free shipping. Island addresses, remote postcodes, non-mainland destinations and countries marked as “Not available” in the free-shipping column are also excluded.
- ⁴ Customs & import charges: Switzerland and Liechtenstein deliveries may be subject to customs duties, import VAT and carrier clearance or handling fees. These charges are not shown in our shop, are not included at checkout and are not collected by Foliage Factory. They are decided by the destination country and/or carrier and must be paid by the recipient where applicable. Customers are responsible for checking local import rules before ordering.
Packing & Plant Health
How We Pack
- Nursery pots: most plants ship in their original pot and substrate to minimise transplant shock.
- Starter plugs: young plants in plug form are shipped without a pot. Roots and growing medium are secured and kept slightly moist.
- No bare-root by default: plants are not shipped bare-root unless this is clearly stated on the product page.
Pre-Shipment Checks
- Visual inspection: each plant is checked for visible pests, mechanical damage and overall condition.
- Stabilising substrate: loose substrate is tidied and stabilised to reduce mess and movement in transit.
- Selective trimming: only necessary trimming is done to reduce breakage risk during shipping.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Biological focus: beneficial insects and targeted biological controls are preferred over routine blanket chemical sprays.
- Possible insect presence: beneficial insects may occasionally still be present on arrival. They are harmless to people, pets and plants.
- Why we use IPM: fewer chemical residues, lower environmental impact, slower resistance development and improved biodiversity.
Why a Zero-Pest Guarantee Is Not Possible
Microscopic life stages can hide in substrates, leaf axils or unfurling growth and may be impossible to detect without destructive checks. We never knowingly ship affected plants and avoid damaging inspections, but even careful checks cannot guarantee that every microscopic life stage is detected before shipping.
After Delivery
- Quarantine: keep new arrivals separate from your existing collection for 1–2 weeks to protect both sides and support acclimation.
- Seasonal protection: in colder periods we may add 72-hour heat packs and extra wrapping, but parcels should be brought indoors promptly.
- Care guidance: follow plant-specific instructions on the product page for light, watering and substrate from day one.
- Concerns on arrival: if a plant seems compromised, take clear photos on the day of delivery and contact us so we can assess it under our guarantee & returns policy, where eligible.
FAQ Shipping & Delivery
Shipping & Delivery
Tracking & Delivery Problems
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