Fulfillment & Orders

Every order on Ohtli has a fulfillment type that determines how the items get from seller to buyer. There are three types: Porch Pickup, Shipping, and Local Delivery.

The fulfillment type is shown on your order page so you always know what to expect. Each type has a different workflow and timeline — read on for what each one means.

Sellers: You set up fulfillment methods from your dashboard under Listing > Fulfillment Methods before creating listings. You can offer multiple methods and assign different ones to different listings.

Porch pickup is the simplest way to exchange plants on Ohtli. There is no shipping cost, no scheduling, and no coordination required.

What to expect as a buyer: After you place your order, the seller prepares your items and marks the order as "Ready for Pickup." At that point you receive an email with the seller's exact pickup address. Head over whenever it is convenient, grab your order, and you are done.

Before the order is ready, you can see the seller's approximate area on a map — close enough to know if it is convenient, but the exact address stays private until pickup time.

What to expect as a seller: When an order comes in, prepare the items and set them out at your pickup location. Mark the order as "Ready for Pickup" — the buyer gets an email with the pickup address. When they pick it up, mark it as "Picked Up" to complete the order.

Porch pickup is always free. It is ideal for local plant exchanges and building community with growers in your area.

Shipping sends the order through a mail carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) to the buyer's address.

What to expect as a buyer: After you place your order, the seller packages and ships your items. Once shipped, you receive an email with the carrier name and a tracking link so you can follow the package. Shipping times depend on the carrier and service level the seller uses.

What to expect as a seller: Package the order carefully (see [shipping tips](#shipping-tips) below), then enter the carrier and tracking number on Ohtli and mark the order as shipped. The buyer gets an automatic email with a tracking link.

Shipping costs are set by the seller and shown at checkout.

Local delivery means the seller brings the order to you within their delivery area.

What to expect as a buyer: If you see local delivery as an option at checkout, it means the seller delivers to your area. After you place your order, the seller marks it as "Out for Delivery" and you get a notification. When they drop it off, you get a confirmation. Your address is shared with the seller for delivery purposes only.

What to expect as a seller: Set a center point on the map and a delivery radius in miles when creating the method. Only buyers within that radius can select it at checkout. When an order comes in, mark it "Out for Delivery," then "Delivered" when you drop it off.

Delivery fees are set by the seller and shown at checkout. Some sellers offer free local delivery.

Every order follows a series of steps. Both buyer and seller receive email updates at each stage so everyone knows what is happening.

Porch Pickup: Order placed → Seller marks Ready for Pickup → Seller marks Picked Up → Delivered.

Shipping: Order placed → Seller ships and adds tracking → Package in transit → Delivered.

Local Delivery: Order placed → Seller marks Out for Delivery → Delivered.

You can view the full status and activity history on your order page at any time. If you have questions about your order, use the message thread on the order page to communicate directly with the other party.

Live plants need a bit of care to arrive healthy. Here are some guidelines for sellers packaging orders.

Seeds — Place in a small paper or coin envelope inside a rigid mailer or small box so it does not get crushed. USPS First Class or Ground Advantage works well.

Cuttings and scion wood — Wrap cut ends in a damp (not soaking) paper towel, then in plastic wrap or a small bag to hold moisture. Wrap loosely in newspaper for cushioning. Ship Monday or Tuesday so packages do not sit in a warehouse over the weekend.

Rooted plants and plugs — Remove from pot, shake off loose soil, wrap the root ball in damp paper towel and a plastic bag. Wrap foliage loosely in newspaper. Pack in a box with crumpled paper so the plant cannot shift.

Bare root plants — Wrap roots in damp paper towel and a plastic bag. Protect buds and new growth with shredded newspaper.

Bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes — Wrap in dry newspaper (not damp — moisture causes rot in dormant bulbs). Ship in a box with packing material.

Pollen — Collect into a small vial or zip-lock bag. Keep dry. Ship in a rigid mailer with padding. Consider a cold pack in summer — pollen viability drops with heat.

General tips:

- Label the box "Live Plants" or "Perishable" so carriers handle with care.

- Ship early in the week (Monday–Tuesday) to avoid weekend delays.

- In extreme heat or cold, add insulation — newspaper, foam liner, or a 40-hour heat pack for cold-sensitive plants in winter.

- Use Priority Mail or a 2–3 day service for live plants. Ground is fine for seeds, bulbs, and dormant material.