Fernwood Review: Buying Houseplants Online for a Calmer Home

A room with plants feels different. The light looks softer, the air seems fresher, and there is something quietly calming about a leaf unfurling on a windowsill. The scientific case that houseplants improve mental health is modest, and their effect on air quality is minor, but the ritual of caring for something green is real, and many people find it settling.

Buying plants online is a gamble, though. They can arrive crushed, cold or covered in pests, and a dead plant is a sad start to a calm-home project. So we ordered nine from Fernwood, in the middle of winter, when shipping is hardest, and watched what happened.

What Fernwood sells#

Fernwood stocks around 120 houseplants, from easy trailing pothos and snake plants to fussier calatheas and a few statement pieces such as monstera and rubber trees. Prices start at $14 for small starter plants and reach $128 for a 1.2 metre fiddle-leaf fig. It also sells pots, potting mix, moisture meters and a monthly plant-care subscription (not tested).

Every plant page includes light needs in plain terms ("bright indirect: two metres from a south window"), watering frequency, mature size and a pet-safety flag. That level of practical detail is what beginners need.

How we tested#

We ordered nine plants totalling $246: a pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, monstera, peace lily, calathea, rubber plant, philodendron and a small fern. We then:

• Inspected each plant on arrival for damage, pests and soil moisture.

• Followed the care cards for four weeks, logging leaf drops and new growth.

• Contacted support with a real problem, a calathea with crisp edges.

• Tested the guarantee on the one plant that struggled.

Packing and arrival#

Packaging is Fernwood's strongest point. Each plant is staked, its pot sealed with a paper collar to hold the soil and its leaves wrapped in breathable paper. Because it was January, each box also contained a heat pack. Eight of the nine plants arrived in excellent condition, and the ninth, the calathea, had two bent leaves.

Shipping is paused when the forecast at the destination drops below −1°C, which delayed one order by five days. Some people will find that frustrating, but I would rather wait than receive a frozen plant.

The first month#

Eight plants settled well. The snake plant, ZZ plant and pothos did not seem to notice they had moved. The monstera dropped one older leaf and pushed out a new one in week three. The peace lily sulked for ten days and then recovered.

The exception was the calathea, which developed crisp brown edges, a classic sign of low humidity and hard tap water. It was my problem rather than the store's, but it is worth noting that calatheas are a difficult choice for beginners. To Fernwood's credit, its care card carried a clear warning that this plant is "for confident plant parents".

Service and the guarantee#

This is where Fernwood really shines. I contacted support with a photo of the calathea, and within three hours a plant specialist replied with a careful diagnosis (humidity, water quality), a treatment plan and an offer of a free replacement under the store's 30-day guarantee. I accepted, and the new plant arrived six days later.

The guarantee covers live arrival and health for 30 days, whatever the reason, provided you submit a photo. That is the most confident plant policy we have seen and it shifts the risk firmly to the store.

Price and value#

Small and medium plants are fairly priced: a $22 pothos or a $34 snake plant is on par with local garden centres. Large plants are the exception. The $128 fiddle-leaf fig would have cost about $90 from a nursery. You pay for delivery and the guarantee, which is worth it if you are nervous.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Fernwood if you are new to plants, want detailed care advice and appreciate a guarantee that takes the pain out of losing one.

Skip it if you live near a good nursery, want large specimens at a bargain price or need very cold-weather shipping. Plants also pair well with a room scent from our Ember Botanica review.

The verdict#

Fernwood earns 4.3 out of 5. Packing, care advice and the guarantee are outstanding, and eight of nine plants thrived. High prices for larger plants and paused winter shipping hold it back slightly.

Disclosure: we bought all plants ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.