Plant Rehabilitation Guide Line 

The general concept of plant rehabilitation involves removing all unhealthy roots to allow the plant to establish a new root system. Here are the tools you'll need and the steps to follow:

preparation:

• A Clean Woking space and a Repotting mat (optional) 
• Sanitized Pruning shears (scissors)***(highly recommended over tearing by hand)
• Rubber gloves (always wear them before touching the roots or any part that may have come into contact with chemicals)
• 3% hydrogen peroxide (The household version for wound treatment; always check the concentration before using it)

Step 1: Unboxing

Warning: DO NOT keep the plant in the sealed condition in which we ship it to you, as it will cause the plant to die due to the roots being unable to breathe.

• Unpack the box and remove everything from it. Then, take out one plant (if you receive multiple plants, repeat from Step 1 to Step 4 for each one) and place it on the Repotting Mat. Carefully remove all the packing materials (paper wrapping, supporting fillers (fiber fillers), and plastic wraps).
• Carefully Remove as much moss as possible. (Remaining moss on the roots may cause root rot if you plan to plant it in something other than moss)
• Be gentle with the delicate root tips to avoid further damage.
• Note: The packing material, including moss, is temporary and not the original growing medium for our plants. Please do not keep the plant in the moss.
• Continue to Step 2.

If Your Plants in Stratum (black small particles looks like caviar):

• Unpack the box and remove everything from it. Then, take out one plant (if you receive multiple plants, repeat from Step 1 to Step 4 for each one) and place it on the Repotting Mat. Carefully remove all the packing materials (paper wrapping, supporting fillers (fiber fillers), and plastic wraps).
• Keep the plant in the cup with the stratum until enough roots have grown out.
• There will be two cups packed together, with the inner cup having drainage holes around the bottom.
• You can keep this setup, and water the stratum when it is almost dry, or remove the outer cup and place the inner cup in a small container of water, such as a saucer.
• Continue to Step 2.

If You Received Platycerium in Moss 

• Unpack the box and remove everything from it. Then, take out one plant (if you receive multiple plants, repeat from Step 1 to Step 4 for each one) and place it on the Repotting Mat. Carefully remove all the packing materials (paper wrapping, supporting fillers (fiber fillers), and plastic wraps).
• The Platycerium either came in a net pot or mounted on a board. Keep the plant as it arrived. Do not change the pot or board during the first two weeks.
• Continue to Step 3.

If You Received a Hoya in a Tube ( If Your Hoya is in Sphagnum Moss, Please Refer To The Step 1, First Section.)

• Unpack the box and remove everything from it. Then, take out one plant (if you receive multiple plants, repeat from Step 1 to Step 4 for each one) and place it on the Repotting Mat. Carefully remove all the packing materials (paper wrapping, supporting fillers (fiber fillers), and plastic wraps).
• If the plant has no roots (or fewer than 3 roots, with the shortest one less than 2 inches), keep the plant in the tube and fill it with water. Then continue to step 3.
• If the plant has roots (at least 3 roots, with the shortest one longer than 2 inches), carefully remove the plant from the tube and take off the lid gently. Then continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Root Care

Plants are living organisms, and some degree of loss during transportation is inevitable. Even if there’s no visible damage during shipping, plants may still consume their own resources while adapting to a new environment. At this point, maintaining a calm mindset is crucial. It is only when we remain calm that our minds can make the most accurate judgments and decisions that are best suited to the situation. Regardless of what happens, we will do our utmost to help you become a plant care expert.

The roots are the most sensitive part of a plant, and despite all the preventive measures we take beforehand (We grow more roots for sensitive species before shipping to prepare them for travel, as we anticipate the possibility of root rot.), it’s impossible to completely avoid damage. Think of it this way: when you take a long trip, your body might not suffer visible harm, but you’re bound to feel exhausted. Similarly, with plants, any loss or stress requires us to assess the situation and choose an appropriate plan to help the plant recover quickly and adapt to its new environment.

• Roots inspect

There are three possible scenarios here, and the root system should be handled accordingly based on each specific situation.

1. For healthy, clean (usually in white or pinkish color) roots (or part(s) of root), no action is required.
2. For shriveled (totally dry-out) roots (or part(s) of root), carefully trim them off.
3. For mushy roots (or part(s) of root), remove all mushy parts (or root(s))and trim back half an inch or the connecting part to the healthy area. 
4. For uncertain cases (such as unusual color or transparency in parts or roots), use touch to inspect them. If a part or root falls off or comes off with a gentle touch, or feels mushy and waterlogged when lightly pressed with your fingers, those sections should be removed.

• Treatment

Step 3: Leaf Care

As we have no control over the shipment, we cannot guarantee zero damage to the plants. Therefore, leaf damage may occur due to mistreatment during shipping, typically shown as yellowing, withered leaves, or small brown spots (or dots). There's no need to panic in such cases. If the roots are in good condition or only have minor issues during the root check, you don’t need to worry too much about survival. Simply remove any completely withered or rot leaves. For partially withered, burned, or spotted leaves, no action is necessary (at least not while the plant is adapting to its new environment).

• If all the plant’s leaves and stem are firm and upright (excluding deformation caused by transportation), proceed directly to step 4.
• If any of the plant’s leaves or stems are soft and unable to stand upright due to dehydration (excluding deformation caused by shipping, and excluding dried or rotting leaves), treat it as giving the plant a “bath.” Submerge the entire plant in tap water for at least 6 hours (up to 36 hours is fine). Once this is done, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Repotting

Choosing the right planting method is crucial for the entire rehabilitation process. The decision depends on the condition of the roots. In Step 2, we already removed all the damaged roots. Based on the quantity and health of the remaining roots, we can decide whether to proceed with water propagation, semi-hydroponics, or soil.

• If, after completing Step 2, the remaining roots (counted by single leaf cutting) are fewer than 3 or 3 and the longest root is shorter than 2 inches, we strongly recommend using water propagation. Water propagation helps the plant quickly recover from dehydration and stress caused by shipping, stabilizing its condition during periods of poor health.
• If, after completing step two, the remaining roots (counted by single leaf cutting) are more than 3 and the shortest root is longer than 2 inches, you can opt for semi-hydroponics or "soil" planting.

Step 5: Observation

After potting the plants, place them in a low-light, high-humidity, and well-ventilated area. There’s no need to intentionally create a high-humidity environment; simply choose a spot with naturally higher humidity, such as near your kitchen sink or in the bathroom. For first-timers, you can position the plants near a humidifier or away from air vents (good ventilation but very low humidity). However, remember that low light does not mean no light, and regular household lights are not a substitute for grow lights.

Care for the newly arrived plants in this environment for at least one week. After that, relocate them to their respective optimal growing conditions.

The first two weeks after arrival are critical for plant rehabilitation. Keep an eye on the plant for any signs of further stress. With the right environment, the plant will recover and soon show signs of new growth.

***Additional Tips for Specific Plants:

Monstera Thai Constellations:

• These are prone to root rot during shipment or even after.
• If you receive a plant with more rotten roots than healthy ones, clean the roots carefully and wash them with a mixture of half 3% hydrogen peroxide and half water. Place the plant in water until new roots grow out, checking daily for any signs of root rot.

Alocasia:

• They may lose all leaves after shipment, but as long as the roots are healthy, the plant will recover. Repot it and give it time to grow new leaves.