When will my order ship?
Plants do not care what the calendar says. They care about temperature.
That is why we ship live pond plants when they are ready and when it is truly safe for you to plant them outdoors in your area. Your ship date depends on weather, plant type, plant size, and availability, not just the day you placed your order.
For most live plant orders, the most cold-sensitive plant on your order sets the ship date.
In other words, if your order contains one plant that needs warmer nights or warmer water, the whole order will ship when that plant is safe to plant.
The short answer
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Spring shipping and summer shipping are very different.
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April and May orders may take longer because they are part of our spring preorder line.
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By early June, most areas of the USA are shipping within 1–4 days as long as all items on the order are ready.
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Tropical and annual waterlilies usually do not reach shipping size until late May or early June. If your order includes them, they can delay the full order.
If you want hardy plants sooner, place tropical or annual waterlilies in a separate order. This matters most for customers in the South. In northern and central states, the timing difference is usually smaller.
How we choose ship dates
We ship by safe planting conditions, not by USDA zone.
USDA zones tell you about winter hardiness. They do not tell you when spring nights, water temperatures, and planting conditions are actually safe for greenhouse-grown pond plants.
We use local weather patterns and historical averages to assign the earliest safe ship date for your order.
We also want your plants to arrive when they can keep growing well. A frost-free forecast alone does not always mean it is safe to plant greenhouse-grown pond plants.
Why we do not ship too early
Our live plants are greenhouse grown and actively growing.
They are not semi-dormant plants sitting happily in cool mud or cold water. If they are shipped too early into chilly nights or cool water, they can slow down, stall, or get pushed back into dormancy.
For that reason:
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We ship when it is safe to plant.
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We cannot move ship dates forward or backward on request during spring.
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Please do not plan to keep these plants indoors for weeks while waiting for better weather.
Except for lotus tubers, most live plant orders ship together.
General temperature guide
Always check the minimum temperature listed on each product page. As a general guide:
40–45°F minimum night temperatures
Safe for many submerged oxygenators, frogbit, azolla, and some hardy marginal or shelf plants.
Around 45°F minimum night temperatures with mild daytime weather
Safe for many hardy or perennial waterlilies and hardy marginal or bog plants.
50–55°F minimum night temperatures
Safe for lotus, most floating plants, and many annual marginal or shelf plants.
Warm water and true summer weather
Mosaic plants and tropical or annual waterlilies need warmer conditions. Water should be around 72°F, with warm days and mild nights. A good example is nights around 55–60°F and days well above 80°F.
Some cold-sensitive hardy hybrids, including ISG waterlilies, may also ship later than standard hardy lilies.
Shipping by plant type
1) Lotus tubers
Ships early March through early May
Lotus tubers ship early and separately from other live plant orders.
We grow our lotus at a separate farm in southern Alabama. Because lotus tubers are dormant when shipped, they can be stored in the refrigerator crisper until proper planting time.
Lotus tubers are sold and shipped first come, first served from the second week of March through early May.
Please follow the planting directions included with your lotus tuber.
2) Submerged oxygenators and floating plants
For indoor use, lab use, or pet use, submerged oxygenators can often ship much of the year.
During very cold weather, we may need to wait until shipping conditions improve.
For outdoor ponds, planting still depends on safe temperatures.
3) Waterlilies and marginal pond plants
We do not normally ship most waterlilies and marginal pond plants in winter because the plants are smaller and dormant at that time of year.
Warmer areas, including places like Florida and Hawaii, may begin receiving hardy plant shipments in March when weather is safe.
Orders that contain only hardy or perennial waterlilies and hardy marginal plants can often ship sooner than orders that include tropical or annual plants.
If your order contains tropical or annual plants, the ship date is usually pushed back about 2–3 weeks until warmer nights arrive.
Questions about early availability are welcome at PondQuestions@gmail.com.
4) Fish, snails, and tadpoles
Bulk-size fish, snails, and tadpoles can ship in early spring.
Fish and tadpoles ship most of the year except during extreme cold or when availability is limited.
Orders placed by Friday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern usually ship the following week by FedEx Overnight.
Important shipping and cancellation policies
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We choose ship dates based on plant safety and weather.
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During spring, we cannot move ship dates on request.
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Once safe weather arrives and your order is ready, we do not hold live plant orders.
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For 2026, canceled orders are subject to a $10 cancellation fee before shipment.
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Orders cannot be canceled on the day they are scheduled to ship.
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Please do not send live orders to a P.O. box.
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Most live plant orders ship UPS.
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Fish and tadpoles ship FedEx Overnight.
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We do not use USPS for live deliveries.
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Orders may arrive in separate boxes. Lotus tubers, large dry goods, fish, and tadpoles often ship separately from plant orders.
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All times are Eastern Time.
Summer shipping schedule
June 20 through August 30
Most orders placed Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. Eastern through Thursday at 6:30 a.m. Eastern ship the following Monday.
If Monday is a holiday, orders ship on the first business day of the week.
Frequently asked questions
Why has my order not shipped yet?
Your order ships when all items are available and when it is safe to plant every item on the order in your area.
Do tropical waterlilies delay an order?
Yes. Tropical and annual waterlilies usually reach shipping size in late May or early June, so they can delay the full order.
Can I place two orders if I want hardy plants earlier?
Yes. If you want hardy plants first and tropical plants later, place them in separate orders.
Do you ship by USDA zone?
No. USDA zones are not a reliable way to decide spring planting time. We ship by actual planting conditions.
Can I request a specific ship date?
No. During spring and early summer, we cannot move ship dates on request.
Can I cancel my order?
Yes, before shipment. For 2026, canceled orders have a $10 cancellation fee.
Orders cannot be canceled on the day they are scheduled to ship.
