FAQs

Hi there! We have tried to make this as easy as possible, but you have probably found something on our website that is confusing… our apologies!

We know how frustrating this can be, so below are a few Frequently Asked Questions and some Answers. If you can think of an easier way to do something, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us by clicking here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I order tc plants?

Overseas buyers can only purchse Tissue Culture (tc) plants; these are also perfect for bulk buyers/growers within Australia. They are hardy, disease free & easy to import as there are no quarantine issues. Please click the picture below to see the size of plants.

All prices are per plant.

Each flask contains 35 plants but we charge only for 33 plants.

Minimum buy is one flask. So you have to order in multiples of 33 (ie 66, 99 and so on).

How will my tissue culture plants be sent to me?

We send tc plants in their container (in-agar) to some countries. For some countries like USA we can take plants out from the agar (ex-agar) and pack them in a takeaway container to send them across.  Please click this picture.

What would shipping costs for tc plants be?

TC plants are sold in flasks, and each flask contains 35 to 40 plants, depending on the variety. Each flask weighs roughly 90-100g; a 1000-plant shipment usually weighs 3-4 kgs, including packing material. Plant Biotech uses the Australia Post International Courier, which has the track and trace facility as well as the most competitive rates for dispatching parcels overseas.

How do I import plants into my country?

Contact your quarantine department and check if you require an import permit. If yes, obtain one and forward it to us.

Once we receive your import permit, we will check with your quarantine office for any special conditions/ declarations/certificates that they might require from us. In most case, tissue culture plants do not require any further documentation, and we will ship the plants to you accompanied with the necessary documents.

I am not sure about the quarantine laws of my country. How can I order plants?

No problem. Just email us your requirement and we will try and find out the information for you, to import plants from us.

Why it is usually difficult to import plants?

Each country has its own quarantine requirements to allow live plants, insects, animals or their parts, from another country into their own. Some of these items could be prohibited under International wildlife legislations or may carry harmful bacteria or fungi that can prove deadly to your country’s flora and fauna, and may require import permits.

All permits must be obtained before you place an order for plants from another country. Without the correct permits, your products may be seized by quarantine authorities and an additional fine could be imposed.

If the plants are free from pests/fungi/bacteria then the plants are allowed without any problems. Usually greenhouse grown / potted / bare rooted plants carry fungal spores or bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye. Due to this, the quarantine department from the importing country sometimes asks the exporter to carry out certain tests to check if the plants are free from the fungus or bacteria that are not allowed in your country. These tests cost money and could affect the cost of importing the plants. Sometimes the tests are not required but when the plant reaches the importing country’s border, the plants are fumigated to kill any fungal or bacterial spores present on them. In most cases this process kills the plants as well. Even after fumigation the plants are kept under observation for a pre-required length of time before being released to the importer.

Tissue culture plants, having had no prior contact with soil, overcome these quarantine restrictions, and hence, are far easier to obtain, making them the perfect choice for overseas buyers.

Why is it easy to import tissue culture plants?

Tissue culture plants are grown in a sterile environment, and are free from fungi, bacteria and any other pests. All our tissue culture plants are inspected by AQIS (Australian Quarantine & Inspection service) at the Brisbane airport, and issued a Phytosanitary certificate without any problem, as our facility is AQIS certified, and meets all the International standards for propagating plants in a clean, sterile environment. All our shipments come accompanied by this Phytosanitary certificate, and are easily cleared at the port of the importing country without any fuss, so they reach you in good time, in excellent condition.

Can I order tubestock/plugs or 4 inch pot plants

Yes, you can, if you are in Australia. Australian buyers can order any size. We recommend tc plants to overseas buyers to avoid quarantine issues, but if your quarantine department allows the import of greenhouse grown plants, we are happy to send them to you. In this case, the plants will be treated with our special MoistureTrap solution so arrive at their destination in good condition and with minimum transit shock. Plant Biotech has imported several such shipments of  bare rooted plants to Thailand without any problem.