FAQs

• "It has been several days, why aren't my TickleMe Plants growing?" Your TickleMe Plant can begin growing in as little as three days, if growing conditions are right. If the temperature is too cold (below 70°F), some TickleMe Plants may take up to 30 days to begin growing. Make sure to read the GROWING TIPS!

• "How long does it take before I can tickle the leaves?" The first leaves will appear in about a week, however, the first leaves are NOT TickleMe leaves and will not move. About 3 weeks later TickleMe leaves will appear and close when tickled!

• "How long does it take for the leaves to open and branches to lift back up after I tickle the plant?" The plant can open its leaves and lift up its branches in less than 15 minutes. It depends upon the time of day, as the closer to sunset the longer it takes the leaves to open. This may be due to the fact that the plant will close all its leaves to "sleep" at night. Colder temperatures and air conditioning tend to make the TickleMe Plant move more slowly when tickled. Cold temperatures also can delay the reopening of leaves and lifting back up of branches.

• "How tall does the TickleMe Plant grow?" After about 2 months your baby pet TickleMe Plant will be about 5 inches tall. Some can even grow a few feet under the proper conditions. See how tall your TickleMe Plant can grow! Try some EXPERIMENTS!

• "Do the leaves only move when touched by a finger?" Great question! See the EXPERIMENTS page for other ideas!

• "Will my TickleMe Plant flower?" Under the right conditions (enough light, correct temperatures, etc.) your TickleMe Plant should grow pretty pink puffy flowers during the spring and summer!

• "Will it harm my TickleMe Plant if I tickle it too much?" It shouldn't harm them if you are gentle, however, too much tickling may make them less ticklish over time.

• "How long does a TickleMe Plant live?" The life of a TickleMe Plant can vary from a few months to even a few years!

• "Why does my TickleMe Plant move when I tickle it?" TickleMe Plants move when they are tickled. When tickled, their leaflets fold together quickly and the stalk on which these leaflets are located often droop down. The closing of leaflets and lowering of the stalks can occur like a wave, with one stalk drooping down onto another, causing the entire TickleMe Plant to fold down. The TickleMe Plant moves in response to being tickled because of the loss of turgor pressure in the leaflets. Turgor pressure is the force of the water and plant cell contents against the wall of cell in the plant. This turgor pressure gives the plant the ability to stand up straight without wilting. When a leaf is tickled, chemicals in the plant cause water to move out of some of the plant's cells. When water moves out of some of the cells, this reduces the turgor pressure in the cells and causes the leaflets and stalks to wilt. Some scientists think the TickleMe Plant's movements may be a way that the plant protects itself from animals that attempt to eat it. When the TickleMe Plant moves, this may scare the animals, causing the animals to move on to a less active plant. No one knows for sure why the TickleMe Plant moves. Share your own ideas, with others as to why the TickleMe Plant moves.

• Want to find out more about plant movements? Scientists call the reaction of the TickleMe Plant to touch, "Thigmotropism." Research the term thigmotropism to find out more about TickleMe Plants and other plants that move.

• My five month old TickleMe Plant is developing thorns. Is this normal? Yes, as TickleMe Plants mature and may be about to flower, they develop some thorns. If this concerns you, the thorns can easily be removed with a nail clipper (with adult supervision).

• "How long does it take to process and ship my order?" All orders are processed within 1–2 business days (Monday–Friday, excluding holidays). Standard shipping typically takes 3–7 business days within the United States. Seed packets are sent via first class mail in a standard envelope.

• "How much does shipping cost?" Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on your location. We occasionally offer free shipping promotions, so keep an eye out for those!

• "Will I be able to track my order?" Yes! Once your order has shipped, you will receive a tracking number via email so you can follow your package every step of the way.

• "Do you ship outside the United States?" We currently ship within the United States only. For wholesale inquiries, please contact us directly at Larry@ticklemeplant.com.

• "What if my order arrives damaged or gets lost?" If your order arrives damaged or is lost in transit, please contact us within 7 days of delivery at Larry@ticklemeplant.com and we will work with you to resolve the issue.

• "What is your return policy?" We stand behind our seeds with a 100% Product Guarantee — "If you can't grow it, let us know it!" If none of your seeds grow to the point where the second set of leaves move when you tickled, we will replace the seeds. Within one year of purchase, if you are unsatisfied, simply return the seed packet with a neatly written, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: TickleMe Plant Company, Returns Department, 60 Hurds Corner Road, Pawling, NY 12564. We will gladly send new seeds to you within 2 weeks.

• "What if I'm not satisfied with my order?" We want all of our customers to be completely satisfied. Please reach out to us at Larry@ticklemeplant.com and let us know how we can help. Your happiness is our priority!