Buying Plants off Ebay?

Hi all,

Has anyone ever bought a plant off Ebay? I have been looking at a couple of clematis, the seller seems very reliable according to feedback. The plants are 2 years old and 'healthy, 24 inches long".

How would you package a plant like that for safe posting? Do you think it'd get to me in one piece? And would it live???! It's much cheaper to buy them this way............

Thanks,

T x

 

I got two super little pink pampas from an e-bay site (sadly lost them to vine weevil a year after potting up but that's another story) They came in a 'Jiffy' bag and were bare root inside a poly bag with some wet newspaper.

My other e-bay sortie wasn't such a great success. Some Lavender seeds and only 3 germinated.

It's a case of do your homework and caveat emptor. Most e-bay traders are genuine but there are a few who are ecconomical with the truth.

 

People who specialise in shipping plants usually know what they are doing, so choose someone with an eBay shop.

 

I just bought some plants from ebay. They were really well packaged, better than from the large nurseries I have ordered from and they plants were cheaper, bigger and more established. This was the shop:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Boxtrees-Nursery

 

I have also bought things from ebay including a bunch of snowdrops in the green, a lovely red and green grass and a helleborous which was just twig like when it arrived but is now a promising plant.

Just check out their feedback and that should tell you of their reputation.

 

Waco and I have bought from ebay recently but apart from a notified delay, healthy plants arrived and no complaints, aquarium plants are good through ebay too.

 

Ive just ordered quite a few diffrent seed packs, so I will keep you all posted..

 

Yes agreed strongy - mine were packed fantastically and superb plants 200% better than comercial nurseries.

I had a hedichium bought as "just started in growth" when it arrived it must have been 5 foot! I was gob smacked!!!

 

I've got loads of plants off e-bay, and been really pleased with all of them. Got 12 festuca for 2p :D and most recently a Trachycarpus, 2ft tall, lovely and healthy, �£4!! Never had any problems with condition on arrival, and they come a long way to here. A bit of Googling is advisable though, as some things aren't the bargain they appear

 

i bought some banana plants last year from ebay, they arrived looking a little sorry but i was promised that "they are dormant" after some careful attention they have grown into fantastic plants, over 2ft high, i am extremely pleased as they cost much less than similar ones at my local garden centre.

 

Yes - I agree with Frgesque - its a real case of caveat emptor, and checking feedback.......