Sustainability & Packaging
Sustainability Practices​​
We are committed to sustainability, care for the environment and waste reduction.
Unfortunately we have yet to find a viable enough alternative to plastic planter bags, but we only use organic potting mix, natural fertilisers and natural sprays.
We are certified Organic by BioGro NZ and grow our plants without the use of any toxic chemicals, or synthetic products.
Our orchard is also managed without the use of any chemicals, GMO or synthetic products, and our fruit is certified organic.​
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Packaging​
We use recycled cardboard boxes and waste plastic sheeting and natural fiber cord to tie up the delivery boxes.​​
Our packaging is made to be reused, recycled and repurposed, here is how you can do it too:​
- The cardboard boxes make an excellent weed control layer around your new plants (we recommend a layer of mulch on top to stop it blowing away).
- The natural fibre cord is excellent in the garden for securing plants where needed.
- Plastic planter bags can be recycled at participating soft plastics collection points such as some NZ supermarkets, Mitre 10 and The Warehouse. Prior to recycling, the bags must be thoroughly washed, clean of any soil residue and dry.​​
- Plastic planter bags can also be reused for many different purposes.​
• Reuse as grow bags — perfect for seedlings, cuttings, or seasonal veg (just add more drainage holes if needed).
• Herb planters — smaller PB bags can be repurposed for kitchen herbs.
• Protective liners — use them inside decorative pots or baskets to hold soil in (keeping holes in mind)
• Soil / compost storage — handy for storing leftover potting mix, fertiliser, or compost in small amounts.
• Garden organisation — group and carry tools, stakes, or harvested produce.
• Weed suppression — cut and lay them flat under mulch in pathways or garden edges.
• Pass them on — community gardens, schools, or other plant enthusiasts would love them.​​
Plant Sizes and Weights
Projects and Special Delivery
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Large Plants and Special Delivery
At times we have available larger grade plants that are available for pick up.
We may also be able to offer special delivery on larger orders and large grade plants particularly in the following regions:
- Gisborne
- Bay of Plenty
- Hawkes Bay
- Auckland
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Please contact us for further information about this.
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Projects, large orders and food forest installs​​
For larger orders for food forests, landscaping, design or orchard projects, please contact us to discuss.
If you’re interested in stocking our plants, we’d love to hear from you.
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Terms of Service
Pricing
All prices are displayed in New Zealand Dollars (NZ$).
While we take great care to ensure all pricing is correctly displayed, in the case of a price being displayed incorrectly we reserve the right to charge the correct amount. In such circumstance you will be asked if you wish to proceed with or change your order.
Sizing
We stock a wide range of sizes of plants which are grown in black polythene planters bags (PB).
As we send most of our plants via courier, we keep our plants to fairly small to allow them to be safely shipped, at an affordable price.
Take a look at the table to the left for an approximate conversion of planter bags size to volume by liter.
Website Images
Images of plants on our website are generally always of plants, fruit or flowers at full maturity and in their seasonal best.
Depending on the season and age of the plant at time of purchase you should allow for a growing period before your plant returns similar results. Good feeding and care will ensure the very best outcome.
We aim to have photos of our own plants & orchard. This is not always possible - a few images may not be our own.
Shipping & Delivery Costs
The cost of delivery is calculated at checkout time depending on the size of stock selected and the delivery destination. Proceeding to checkout to find out the delivery cost of an order does not obligate you to proceed with the order.
To avoid rural delivery charges, you can arrange for your plants to be delivered to your local Aramex depot/agent. It is up to you provide the correct delivery address and organise pick up from the depot.
Each order box could fit approximately 2-4 PB5 (depending on size) or 4-6 smaller sized plants. If your order has more than 2-4 PB5 or smaller plants, or is for larger grade plants, we may need to revise and adjust shipping charges accordingly. In this case we will always contact customers to advise if any changes to shipping costs are required after orders are received and reviewed.
Delivery Destination and Delivery Details
Subtropica will courier your order to any destination in the North or South Islands.
Rural delivery attracts a surcharge which is added to the cost of the order at checkout. We do not send outside of New Zealand.
Orders are dispatched on Mondays or Tuesdays.
Please ensure delivery details are clear and accurate and where appropriate provide any delivery instructions. This is especially important for the speedy delivery of live plants.
We aim to send your plants as soon as possible after you place your order. However, we can be restricted by courier capacity at busy times and may defer shipping until the following weeks. We email you tracking details when the plants have been dispatched.
We accept orders all year, but we only ship plants from September to June to ensure optimal plant quality and ideal planting conditions.
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Courier information
We use ARAMEX NZ couriers and have done for many years with very few issues.
We assume an 'authority to leave' unless otherwise stated in your order therefore no signature is required. Please inform us if you require signature on delivery. Please complete this form if you are regularly receiving shipments from us.
https://www.aramex.co.nz/tools/authority-to-leave/
In the unlikely event that you do not receive your plants or have concerns that damage may have occurred in transit, it is the customers responsibility to complete the Aramex claims form
https://www.aramex.co.nz/tools/claims-guide/
We will provide you with any additional information required when making a claim.
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Refund/Replacement Policy
We treat refunds and replacements on a case by case basis at our sole discretion, upholding the principles set out in the Consumer Guarantees Act.
No refunds/replacements will be given on discounted items and we cannot take responsibility for plants that have perished due to lack of care or being in an unsuitable environment.
If we have overcharged your order or goods are not available we will promptly refund the difference owing.
Stock Quality and Supply
Due to the seasonal nature of plants we may not hold stock of all items displayed on the website. These items should be labelled as out of stock on the web site but may be available later in the season.
If a product is shown out of stock, please notify us of your enquiry and we will advise you when it will be available.
Privacy
We take your privacy seriously. We will not sell, trade or share your contact information with anyone. At the time of purchasing you can elect whether or not to receive any further communications from us.
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Medical Disclaimer
The information provided by Subtropica, including its parent company, affiliates, and subsidiaries, on this website or via any product offered — whether in product descriptions, blog content, or any other materials — is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Subtropica makes no representations or warranties regarding the efficacy, safety, or intended use of any plant or product offered. We do not guarantee that any product will achieve any specific result and assume no liability for any adverse reactions, side effects, lack of effectiveness, or any other claims arising from the use of such products. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any plant, fruit, root, or product for medicinal purposes.​​​
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