How long can plants live while shipping?

I ordered a chicken gizzard and a coral berry (Ardisia crenata) from Accents, and got an email stating they were mailed out Nov. 13 (last Tuesday). Well, yesterday was Saturday and I felt SURE I'd get them. Nope. I'm really afraid they might be dead if and when I receive them on Monday. I'm in a rural area, and its taken 5 or more days before for me to get plants. Other times I get them in two days, even though I'm in CA and the seller might be in FL! Should I be prepared for dead plants when I do get the box? I'm so worried.

Randi

I think they'll probably be OK unless they weren't watered well before they left or were exposed to extreme temps for an extended time. I had some plants once that I ordered from Bluestone, and for some reason UPS really didn't have their act together at all, the plants got sent back and forth between Sacramento and somewhere else about 3 times before they finally got them here. I think it was over 2 weeks in transit that time, and while some of the plants didn't look super happy when they arrived, they all survived in the long run. And I've had it happen several times where it's taken a week to arrive and never had any problems. A lot depends on how the seller packed them up on their end, if they did a good job then I'd expect they'd still be fine.

I would check the tracking number if you have one just to see where the plants are, most of the time things shouldn't take that long to get to you, so I'd be worried they got delivered to the wrong place or something.

Wow ... you still haven't rec'd them and they were mailed on the 13th? That's a long time to be sitting in the post office or wherever they are. I've never heard of Accents. Where are they located? I think this time of year is a bit risky shipping plants with the very cold weather some folks are experiencing already. I know some companies use heat packs if you pay extra and to guarantee live plants they usually require you to pay extra for overnight shipping. I certainly would contact them via email or phone and tell them you have not received them yet. Does that company guarantee their plants? I hope you get them tomorrow and that they are alive, but I would call them and ask about what shipping method they used.

Its Accents for Home and Garden, and I've ordered from them before with no problem. My friend has ordered from them MANY times with no problem. They sell very nice, healthy plants and VERY reasonably. I did the the tracking number thing, and it doesn't even show up. This has happened to me before too. I don't know if its the fact that I'm rural or not. I'll let you guys know if they show up tomorrow. Thanks.

Randi

The tracking number shouldn't matter if it's rural or not, it should still know where the package is now. If it doesn't show up tomorrow I'd call the company and see if they can figure out where it is. And if they're a good company, if the plants do show up dead they'll replace them for you, so there's really not too much to worry about.

Well, there was still no slip in the mailbox from the post office on Monday, so I went to the post office and asked if there might be a chance the slip got lost, blew away, etc. She went to the back and checked, and lo and behold, brought my box out to me! I was soooooooooo relieved! The chicken gizzard was in nearly perfect condition after six days in the mail, with only a very few wilted leaves. The coral berry looked as if it just came off the showroom floor! Not a broken or wilted leaf on it. So I'm very happy. Both plants are doing wonderfully, and I'd recommend either plant to anyone.

Thank goodness they were OK!

The PO did that to me once, too. No card in the box and my package sat back there for nearly a week and a half!! Grrr....I wasn't happy, but my plants (a trade of Fittonias) were alright, too.

Glad to hear the plants showed up OK!