We ship our tall, narrow plugs removed from their growing trays and packaged in strong waterproof bags. This reduces YOUR installation labor considerably and ensures that every plant you receive is of good quality.

The bags have color coded labels - green for species that like to be planted above the normal waterline, pale blue for species we feel do best planted at the water line, darker blue for species that thrive in water that is normally up to 6" deep, and a dark purplish blue for plants that grow in water >6" deep. The labels also show the species and number of plants inside the bag. The standard number of plants per bag is 50. If a bag holds a different number of plants, the label will have a patch of red for easy identification.

To keep the plants safe until you are ready to install them:
1. Remove the bags of plants from their shipping boxes, if any
2. Fold down the tops of each bag to just a couple inches above the root balls. This lets air in and heat escape.
3. Place the bags upright in a spot that is out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the roots to overheat, and should be avoided at all cost. Setting the bags upright in their shipping boxes (assuming they were shipped UPS) works great - the plants stay upright and the boxes keep the roots shaded.
4. If you are storing the plants for more than a few days, you may need to add water to the bags. An inch or two of water is plenty.

Of course, there are some exceptions to the rules above. Several of the deep water species spend their entire lives completely under water, and have NO ability to withstand exposure to air for more than a few seconds. For the species listed below, keep the shipping bags closed, full of water, and in the shade until the moment you slip the plants into the water at your site.

Eleocharis acicularis (Needle Spikerush)
Potamogeton perfoliatus (Claspingleaf Pondweed, aka Redhead Grass)
Vallisneria americana (American Eelgrass. aka Wild Celery)
Ceratophyllum demersum (Coon's Tail)
Lemna (Duckweed)
plus unsprouted rhizomes of Nymphaea odorata (White Waterlily) and Nelumbo lutea (American Lotus)

By following these instructions some of our customers have held plants for more than a month before putting them in the ground. However it is much safer, easier, and less expensive to schedule delivery when the site and your crew are ready for the installation!

pdf instructions

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Care of Plants Prior to Installation