Costa Farms is a mail-order plant nursery that ships live plants directly to your home

Costa Farms grows and ships houseplants, outdoor plants, and specialty varieties through the mail. Unlike a local nursery where you pick plants off a shelf, Costa Farms takes your order online, packages the plant with soil and care instructions, and ships it to you in a box. The company operates its own growing facilities in Florida and ships year-round, though they pause shipments during extreme heat or cold to protect plants in transit.

You order through their website, pay for the plant plus shipping, and receive it within a week or two depending on your location. The plants arrive in smaller sizes than you might buy at a garden center — usually 4 to 6 inches tall — so they cost less and take up less space during shipping. Costa Farms includes basic care instructions with each order and offers a money-back may provide if a plant arrives dead.

Key Takeaways

  • Costa Farms ships live plants by mail from their Florida growing facilities, with delivery typically taking one to two weeks depending on your zip code.
  • Plants arrive in small sizes (usually 4 to 6 inches) with soil, a pot, and printed care instructions included in the box.
  • Shipping costs vary by plant size and your location; the company pauses shipments during extreme temperatures to prevent plant damage in transit.
  • If a plant arrives dead, Costa Farms offers a money-back refund, though you will need to contact them with photos as proof.
  • The company grows most of its own plants rather than sourcing from other nurseries, which affects which varieties are in stock at any given time.

How to order and what the shipping timeline looks like

Visit Costa Farms' website and browse their current inventory by plant type — succulents, tropical plants, herbs, vegetables, and others. Each listing shows the plant's size at shipping, the pot it comes in, and the price. Add items to your cart and proceed to checkout, where you enter your shipping address. The website will show you the shipping cost before you complete the purchase.

Costa Farms calculates shipping based on the weight and size of your order and your distance from their Florida facility. A single small succulent might cost $6 to $12 to ship, while a larger plant or a multi-plant order can cost $15 to $30 or more. Once you place the order, the company packs your plant in a sturdy box with padding, soil, and care instructions, then hands it to a carrier (usually UPS or FedEx). Delivery takes five to fourteen days depending on whether you live on the East Coast or the West Coast.

You will receive a tracking number via email once the package ships, usually within two to three business days of placing your order. Check the tracking regularly — if a package sits in a delivery facility for more than a day or two, it may experience temperature stress. Contact Costa Farms when ready if your tracking shows a long delay or if the package arrives damaged.

What to do when your plant arrives

Open the box as soon as it arrives and inspect the plant for damage. Costa Farms packs plants to survive shipping, but leaves can break and soil can shift. Remove the plant from the box, check the soil moisture (it should be slightly damp but not soggy), and place the plant in indirect light for the first day or two while it recovers from transit stress.

Do not repot the plant when ready. Let it settle in its original pot for at least a week, then repot only if the roots are visibly crowded or the pot feels too small. The soil that comes with the plant is formulated for shipping and early growth, so repotting into fresh potting soil after a week or two is normal practice.

If the plant arrives dead — completely brown, mushy, or showing no signs of life — photograph it in the box and contact Costa Farms' customer service with the photos and your order number. They will refund your money or send a replacement. This process usually takes a few business days.

Inventory, plant varieties, and seasonal availability

Costa Farms grows most of its own plants in Florida, which means their inventory changes with the seasons and with what is currently growing in their facilities. Popular items like pothos, snake plants, and succulents are usually in stock year-round. Specialty plants, seasonal vegetables, and rare varieties may be in stock for only a few weeks or months.

The website shows which items are currently in stock and which are "coming soon." If a plant you want is not available, you can sometimes sign up for a notification when it returns. Because Costa Farms controls its own growing schedule, they can introduce new varieties or bring back old ones based on customer demand and growing capacity.

Seasonal plants like poinsettias or amaryllis bulbs are available only during their natural growing season. Vegetable seedlings and herb plants are most abundant in spring and early summer. If you are looking for a specific plant, check the website or contact customer service to ask when it might be back in stock.

Shipping pauses and temperature restrictions

Costa Farms pauses shipments during extreme heat (usually June through August in many regions) and extreme cold (December through February) to prevent plants from dying in transit. A plant sitting in a hot truck or a freezing delivery facility for several days can suffer irreversible damage, so the company chooses to hold orders rather than risk that outcome.

If you order during a pause period, your order will be held and shipped as soon as temperatures moderate. You will receive an email notification when your order ships. This can mean a wait of several weeks if you order in mid-summer or mid-winter, so plan ahead if you need a plant by a specific date.

You can check the Costa Farms website or contact their customer service to ask whether they are currently shipping to your zip code. Some regions experience longer pause periods than others depending on local climate.

Cost breakdown and comparing to local nurseries

A typical Costa Farms order costs between $15 and $40 for a single plant, including the plant itself, pot, soil, and shipping. A small succulent might be $8 with $8 shipping. A larger tropical plant might be $20 with $15 shipping. Compare this to a local garden center, where the same plant might cost $12 to $25 but with no shipping fee — though you have to travel to the store and may have fewer varieties to choose from.

Costa Farms makes sense if you live far from a good nursery, want a specific variety that is not available locally, or prefer the convenience of home delivery. It costs more than buying locally if you are buying a single common plant, but the selection and convenience may justify the price for you.

The company occasionally runs sales or discounts on specific plants or categories. Sign up for their email list if you want to know about these offers.

Money-back may provide and customer service

Costa Farms guarantees that plants will arrive alive. If a plant arrives dead, you can contact their customer service team with photos and your order number, and they will refund your money or send a replacement at no charge. This may provide covers plants that die in transit or arrive in such poor condition that they cannot recover.

The may provide does not cover plants that die after arrival due to improper care, pests, or disease. Once the plant is in your home and you have had it for a few days, the responsibility shifts to you as the grower.

Contact Costa Farms through their website or by phone if you have questions about an order, need care information for a specific plant, or want to report a problem. Response times vary, but customer service typically replies within one to two business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return a plant if I change my mind after it arrives?

Costa Farms' return policy covers plants that arrive dead or severely damaged. If the plant is healthy but you straightforward do not want it, contact customer service to ask about options — some situations may be covered, but a standard return for a healthy plant is usually not. Check their website for the full return policy before you order.

How big will my plant be when it arrives?

Most Costa Farms plants ship at 4 to 6 inches tall in a small pot. The listing for each plant shows the size at shipping. These are young plants that will grow larger over time with proper care. If you want a larger plant right away, a local nursery may be a better choice.

Do I need to repot my plant right away?

No. Let the plant settle in its original pot for at least a week after arrival. The soil that comes with it is designed for shipping and early growth. Repot into fresh potting soil only after a week or two, and only if the roots are crowded or the pot feels too small.

What if my plant arrives during a heat wave or cold snap?

Costa Farms pauses shipments during extreme temperatures to protect plants. If you order during a pause period, your order will be held and shipped when temperatures moderate. You will receive an email when your order ships. Check the website or contact customer service to see if they are currently shipping to your area.

Can I track my shipment?

Yes. You will receive a tracking number via email once your order ships, usually within two to three business days of placing it. Use that number to track the package with the carrier (usually UPS or FedEx). Monitor the tracking closely — if the package sits in a facility for more than a day or two, contact Costa Farms right away.