The first week with a new plant

A plant arriving at your door has spent a day or two in a dark box. It has not died, but it has been holding its breath. What it needs in the first week is dull, steady conditions, not attention.

Unpack it the same day

Take it out of the box as soon as you can, even if you are busy. Lift the paper nursery pot by its base, not by the stem. Stand it somewhere bright but out of direct sun, and leave it there.

Do not water immediately

This is the mistake we see most. People feel sorry for a plant that looks tired and soak it. We water everything before it is packed, so the soil is usually still damp. Push a finger two inches into the soil. If it comes out with soil clinging to it, wait. Water only when the top two inches are dry.

Do not repot for three weeks

The second common mistake. Repotting is a shock, and a plant that has just travelled has had enough of those. The paper nursery pot is perfectly good for a month or more. Give the roots time to settle before you move them.

Expect a few leaves to drop

Yellowing or dropping of the oldest, lowest leaves in the first fortnight is normal. The plant is shedding what it cannot support while it adjusts to your light. New growth is the signal that it has settled, and it usually appears in the third or fourth week.

If something looks wrong beyond that, message us with a photo. We grew the plant, so we usually know what it is doing.

Last reviewed October 2026.