Ordering plants online is easy. The first week after they arrive is where most beginners go wrong. A plant that has spent two or three days in a dark box is tired, a little thirsty and adjusting to a new home. Here is a simple day-by-day plan to help your new plants settle in, written for homes in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the northeast monsoon and the festive season.
Day 1: Unbox Gently and Check the Plant
Open the parcel as soon as it arrives. Do not leave it sitting in a hot car or a closed room. Lift the plant out by its pot, not by the stems or leaves, and remove the packing paper, tape and any plastic wrap around the soil.
Then do a quick check:
- Soil: Press a finger about 2–3 cm into the soil. If it is dry, give a light watering. If it is still damp, do not water yet.
- Leaves: One or two bent or yellow leaves are normal after transit. Snip off only those that are fully broken.
- Stems: Make sure the main stem is firm and upright. If it has tilted in the pot, gently press the soil around it.
Take a photo on day one. It helps you see progress later, and it is useful if you need to contact us about any delivery damage.
Days 2–3: Bright Shade, Not Direct Sun
Even sun-loving plants should not go straight into harsh afternoon sun after a few days in a box. Keep them in a bright spot with indirect light, such as a balcony corner, a window with sheer curtains or a shaded verandah. Indoor plants like snake plants, ZZ plants and aglaonemas can go straight to their final indoor spot as long as it gets good natural light.
During the monsoon, place outdoor plants where heavy rain cannot pour directly into the pot for the first few days. Waterlogged soil is a bigger risk to a stressed plant than a short dry spell.
Days 4–5: Hold Off on Repotting and Fertiliser
It is tempting to move your new plant into a beautiful pot right away. Wait. The roots need about one to two weeks to recover from travel before they are disturbed again. For the same reason, skip fertiliser in the first week; the roots cannot use it well yet and strong feed can burn them.
Use this time to get your supplies ready:
- A pot one size larger than the current one, with drainage holes. Our 6 inch nursery grower pot suits most small plants and herbs, and you can browse more sizes in our grower pots collection.
- A well-draining potting mix. A blend of garden soil, cocopeat and compost works for most foliage and fruit plants. Succulents and adeniums prefer extra grit, such as red soil.
Days 6–7: Settle Into a Routine
By the end of the first week, most plants show they are settling: leaves look firmer, and some may start new growth. Now you can slowly move sun-loving plants such as hibiscus, citrus and mango saplings into morning sun, increasing the time over another week.
Water based on the soil, not the calendar. In the humid, cloudy weather of October and November, many potted plants need water less often than in summer. Always check the top layer of soil first, and make sure excess water drains out of the pot.
When to Repot
After two weeks, if roots are coming out of the drainage holes or the plant dries out very quickly, it is ready for a bigger pot. Water the plant a day before, slide it out gently, keep the root ball intact, and place it in fresh mix at the same depth. Keep it in shade for a few days afterwards.
Common First-Week Worries
- A few yellow leaves: Usually transit stress. Remove them and keep caring as normal.
- Drooping leaves: Check the soil. Dry soil needs water; wet soil needs time and better drainage.
- Flower buds dropping: Common in flowering plants after a move. New buds usually form once the plant settles.
Shop With Confidence
At Dream Nursery in Perambai, Puducherry, we pack every plant to travel safely, and we make our own plastic pots so you get the right size every time. Planning festive gifts this Deepavali? Share this guide with the person you are gifting to, so their new plant gets the best possible start. Buy plants, pots and potting mixes online, with delivery across India.