Whether it's your first time botanical treasure hunting with us or you're coming back for more, you'll find some useful tips and info to help get you prepared for the next big hunt!

It may be a bit wordy, but we want to make sure you're prepared for the botanical treasure frenzy that ensues a much anticipated botanical treasure hunt. If you haven't already discovered the growing plant crazy community we have here in Canada, you'll soon find out!

What to Expect

We'll have a trove of botanical treasures of all sorts available when we go live for a botanical treasure hunt event. Some that have been available in previous restocks and some completely new!

Crystal Star Nursery

We do our darndest to stock as many of each growing gem as possible to give you the best chance of adding it to your collection.

That said, some botanical treasures are in high demand and limited in quantity, and may sell out quickly—sometimes within minutes, and occasionally even faster.

We’re continually working to restock and reintroduce these gems as they become available, but to help set clear expectations (and minimize disappointment), we’ve put together a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare for the hunt.

Many describe our Botanical Treasure Hunts as fast-paced and exhilarating—and while that’s part of the fun, it can also feel a little overwhelming if you go in unprepared.

We know this style of shopping isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! You can always shop outside of the initial Hunt and make use of our back-in-stock notifications, as we regularly refresh inventory as plants become ready.

So in short… our Botanical Treasure Hunts are fast-paced, exciting, and full of growing gems!

But don’t stop here—you’re about to get to the good stuff. Keep reading for key tips to help you build your Treasure Hunt strategy and shop with confidence.

How to Strategize and Prepare

The best approach to a botanical treasure hunt is to have a game plan so here are some key factors to consider when devising your plan of attack! I'll make this a list so it's easier to take notes...

Knowledge is Power

Ok, maybe a little dramatic, but we certainly encourage you to become informed consumers. Navigate through our website and get to know our policies so you know what we offer and what we don't when you place an order with us. You'll find all the important links in our Footer at the bottom of this page not to mention most questions are answered on our FAQ page here

Items in your cart are NOT reserved until checked out and paid

It might feel a little silly. In the real world, it would take some serious boldness to walk up and take something right out of your cart, but online, it can happen.

To be clear: items can still sell out while in your cart. The only way to truly secure your growing gems is to complete checkout and process payment.

Create an Account with Us + Review Your Account Details

You don't have to have an account with us to place an order, but having one could potentially expedite your check out process as your personal information should already be entered and payment info is all that's left to do. To create an account register here.

If you already have an account, make sure you review your account details prior to the hunt. Update your current/default address or remove duplicate/incorrect addresses to avoid address errors or any other mishap that could affect your service after your order is placed.

Make a botanical treasure hunting map!

Save yourself some valuable time by creating your wishlist prior to the restock going live.

The day before the botanical treasure hunt goes live and leading up to it, you'll be able to preview products that will be available and their photos on our website. The price and add to cart button will be suspended while we prepare for the hunt, but this way you can create your very own, personalized botanical treasure hunting map!

Take the road less travelled

Steer clear of the trending plants and give the underdogs a chance.

There is generally a buzz for certain plants, but we've got so many different gems looking to find new homes, each is special in their own way. You'll also greatly increase your odds of making it to the checkout with your cart unscathed.

Treat it like a game

You win some, you lose some. That’s all part of the hunt.

You might secure one (or more!) of your wishlist gems and come out feeling like a winner… or you might miss out this round. Either way, there’s always another hunt ahead.

We host regular Botanical Treasure Hunts and events throughout the year, and we also refresh and restock our site regularly between hunts, so there are always new growing gems to discover. Your next treasure could be just around the corner.

*Whispers* Two Words: Search Bar

There is a search function built into our website that could save you precious time (depending on what you're hunting for).

Look for the search bar located at the top of our website. 

Check Out our Checkout

If you come across our website when we have some product available, I would encourage you to add an item to your cart and walk yourself through our checkout process without entering any payment info. This way you can see first hand what your check out options will be and how it will appear.

There are up to 3 different ways to receive your order depending on the time of year and your location. The 3 potential order retrieval methods are:

  1. Nursery Pick up - Available year round. For nursery pick up details click here
  2. Shipping - Available Canada wide to most locations when weather permits. For more details regarding shipping click here
  3. Event Pick up - Available 1-2 weeks prior to an event we will be attending. For event pick up details click here

Have your method of payment ready!

We accept our Gift cards, Mastercard, Visa, Mastercard debit, and Visa debit* as eligible payment methods through our website.

*Standard debit cards cannot be accepted online.
Crystal Star Nursery

Treasure Hunt Day

On the day of the hunt, there are a few key things to keep in mind as your prepare for go time:

Time Zone Reminder
All times are announced in Eastern Time (EST/EDT). If you’re in a different time zone, be sure to adjust accordingly so you don’t miss the start of the hunt.

Go Time/Hunt day
Once the Botanical Treasure Hunt begins, simply refresh your browser to activate the “Add to Cart” buttons and view pricing.

Checkout Tip
If an item sells out while you're checking out, you'll be prompted to remove it from your cart before completing your purchase.

Follow Up

The hunt is over and you can finally sigh a breath of relief! Our hope is, whether or not your list is complete, that you were able to secure some botanical treasures to look forward to. But there are still a few things to do and know after placing your order: 

Check your email!

Immediately/shortly after successfully placing an order in queue you should receive a confirmation email with your order details. If you do not see this email, check your junk mail. If you still do not see this email reach out to us, so we can look into your order/account and ensure you receive other important updates regarding your order down the road.

Review your order details

It can be a bit of a frenzy when checking out and mistakes can happen. To avoid any extra processing delays or added fees, double/triple check your order details!

Some key details to review:

  • Email
  • Name
  • Address (Incorrect and/or incomplete shipping/delivery info can result in additional shipping charges). This must include a business name, unit number, and/or buzzer code if there is one. (No P.O boxes, you must provide the address of a physical address for delivery).

If you happen to notice you didn't select the right shipping method just send us an email and I can help get this sorted so your order can ship when it is time.  

Special order requests or Shipping requests

Not all special requests can be accommodated; however, you can email your requests prior to placing your order to determine if it is possible.

Orders will be shipped out using a method with an estimated transit time of 4 days or less. If your location does not have this option available or you are located in a rural location resulting in premium delivery rates, you will be contacted with your options to move forward with your order.  

Be patient

I know after such a rush, you'll be excited to meet your new CSN gems, but we receive an overwhelming number of orders during these restocks. Several factors affect our lead times including but not limited to limited staff, limited shipping days, weather delays and other causes. But the most contributing factor is the care that is put into preparing EVERY order; this isn't a step we are willing to sacrifice. 

We receive a volume of orders during our hunts and are a small team processing them. Our goal is to process all orders placed during a botanical treasure hunt within 2-3 weeks, however require and appreciate your patience in the event of any additional unexpected delays. Regardless, you can rest assured your order is in good hands until we can get it out to you. 

Got an inquiry or concern?

Send me an email, but be patient for a response. I'm the only one who answers ALL of our email and social media communications. I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can, it just might take a little bit of time before I get to you.  

Well there you have it! The ultimate botanical treasure hunting guide! 

Happy botanical treasure hunting, 
Crystal