Shipping policy

Shipping & Plant Acclimation Policy

At Blossomdale.com, our plants are grown and nurtured with care at our nursery in Upstate New York. Because we ship living botanical specimens across the United States, our shipping schedules and procedures are specially tailored to protect the health and vitality of your plants during transit.

1. Dispatch Schedule & Seasonal Fulfillment

To prevent live plants from sitting in transit facilities or delivery trucks over weekends, our fulfillment days vary based on seasonal temperatures: 

• Winter & Summer (Extreme Weather Months): Orders ship Monday through Wednesday only. This eliminates weekend transit delays in hot or freezing fulfillment hubs.
• Spring & Autumn (Mild Weather Months): Orders ship Monday through Thursday.

2. Order Processing & Lead Times

• Standard Processing Time: Most orders are carefully selected, inspected, hydrated, packaged, and shipped within 3 to 7 business days.
• Peak Season Lead Times: During peak seasons (e.g., spring planting rush and major sales), order processing times may extend to 10 to 14 business days. We prioritize plant health and proper packaging over speed.
• Weather Holds: If severe extreme weather (e.g., severe heatwaves or winter blizzards) occurs along your package’s route from New York, we may briefly hold shipment until conditions improve.

3. Dormant Adult Trees & Bushes

• Order Deadline: Pre-orders for dormant adult trees and bushes must be placed by November 1st.
• Fulfillment Schedule: All dormant tree and bush orders placed by the November 1st deadline will ship the following February.
• No Order Holds: We do not hold orders. Orders will ship during the February fulfillment window regardless of whether the ground is still frozen in your specific delivery region.
• Holding Instructions: Detailed care instructions will be included in each package explaining how to safely care for and store your dormant trees or bushes until ground conditions permit planting in your area.

4. Shipping Carriers & Tracking

• Carriers: We primarily ship via UPS and FedEx for reliable, trackable delivery.
• Origin: All shipments originate from our nursery in New York State.
• Tracking Importance: Tracking details are emailed as soon as your label is generated. It is critical to track your package closely and bring it indoors immediately upon delivery to protect plants from extreme sun, heat, or freezing temperatures.

5. Plant Acclimation & Immediate Post-Arrival Care

Traveling in a dark box across the country is stressful for plants. Follow these steps immediately upon arrival to safely acclimate your new plant:

• Unbox Promptly: Gently open your package as soon as it arrives.
• Inspect & Water: Check soil moisture. If dry to the touch, water thoroughly with room-temperature water.
• Gradual Light Exposure: Place your plant in a warm spot with medium, indirect light for the first 3 to 5 days. Do not place newly arrived plants directly into harsh, direct sunlight or intense grow lights immediately.
• Protect from Drafts: Keep away from air conditioning vents, heating units, cold drafts, or direct outdoor weather while recovering.
• Delay Repotting: Allow your plant at least 10 to 14 days to adjust to your home's humidity and light before repotting into a new container.

6. Live Arrival Guarantee

We guarantee live arrival on all shipments. If your plant arrives severely damaged or dead:

• Take photos and contact us within 72 hours of delivery.
• Provide your order number along with clear photos of the damaged plant and outer packaging.
• If we determine the plant is viable, we will work with you through recovery and reassess in two weeks.