I'm sure the trade system is going to take a while to get used to...so far of the 44 plants sent nearly everyone was kind enough to send plants,seeds or postage....that was wonderful....sadly only a few of the plants sent survived in our zone and of those one doesn't look anything like the photos I used to select it....I felt really bad about the plants that didn't make it or are fighting to survive I feel guilty about them...one didn't have much of a root system and I'm hoping it sends off some roots soon, it's a cute little guy and I want it to make it....I'd appreciate any feedback so I don't feel so bad about the trade process
Trades...year one....
I'm glad you have had some good trading experience on Daves garden. Plants take a beating in shipment, and it's , well, just really hard on them , kind of like they go through shock twice, If a person digs plants straight out of the ground, in my opinion , their harder for me to keep alive , than if a person digs the plants, puts them in pots and lets them go through shock of transplant first, then sends when they've revived, My plants will live longer.
It's not always acceptable with traders to do this, as most want to get the trade done, get their plants in a hurry. Most of the plants I send in trades are ones i've already potted up and have already gone through transplant shock, making it far easier on them to go through shipment shock, thus making healthier plants in the long run and they survive better.
We're all still learning as we grow older here on daves LOL.
another thing that might help your plants is pot them up when you get them, don't put them into the ground immediately. Potting them and putting them close will allow you to keep a better eye on them and give them the care they deserve untill they go through their shock, Alot of times, when they go straight into the ground, (or at least it's this way for me) They get lost, and abandoned, forgotten, and die on me. So i'll pot them up for a few weeks and let them grow out a bit, get healthy, then put them in the ground when their more established.
I really love the idea of someone potting my plants before trading and letting them grow out a while in the pots before shipping. Makes it so much easier on them when they get shipped.
You may be receiving plants also that don't do well in your area, Sometimes we just have to trial and error to find out for sure if they are going to survive our weather, I've tried 3 times with this variegated silver tipped horehound that needs dry xerscape type area. The third time buying it was a charm and it's finally taking off. Not a good plant for my area, but it's growing here finally. sometimes the plants just trying to accept their new climates will kill them out. Just too much for them to take, transplant, shipping and new climate.
Good thing though is that you 've had some great trading experience, and not too much on the bad side . Which is great. don't give up, maybe you could do what I've done in the past, try getting them to pot them for a few week s and then send so they don't have to undertake such a large task when they do get to you. Just a suggestion.
Hopeyou have many more good trading experiences here On daves. This place is awesome!
Kathy, that is such good advise. Getting plants from some one is like getting a new puppy or kitten. They all do better if they are babied a little bit before being put with other animals or in the garden. Most of the coops that we are in advise you to plant in pots first and put in shade or dapple sun before introducing to the big world. Thank you for your comments. Elaine
Thankyou both for the input....I have put the plants in pots as opposed to the ground since we don't really have dirt for planting....the one that I'm hoping with root are in a bright window inside so it doesn't experience too many temperature extremes....I heard back from the person I got the "didn't look anything like the pictures" trade...they were sending in good faith something they'd received and didn't know it wasn't the one it was supposed to be....that I'm sure can happen when you send and receive a lot of trades....I know I'm not going to let anyone talk me into another banana, our area is way too cool...and I just feel terrible about the poor thing dying....I love this place and expect to spend many years enjoying the many garden gurus I've met here....thanks again I do feel better.
We all have to start off somewhere. Beginner traders are inexperienced and often need "Soft" guidance which they take with open arms most times. Good communication is an important key to goo d trading. Speak kindly with them , cause it goes along ways. Not saying this to you corgilover, but to everyone. It's not easy either. I've learned a few things the hard way. But I'd like to think I do things right now.
Corgilover51, Kathy has said it all so wonderfully. I have had good and not so good trades. Sometimes, life can get in the way of a good trade. LOL I do not think anyone does it intentionally for sure. I love to trade plants, my yard and house is filled with plants that another plant junkie like myself enabled me to have. It's so neat to send and receive plants and watch it all grow knowing someone else loved it too! Just makes it a prettier plant to me. The good will outweigh the not so in long run. And you get to know someone new too!!
Hey, watcha lookin for??? Maybe I can help fill in the gaps? Or at least you can try, and if it doesn't make. Let me know, and we can try something else
Laura H
Corgilover,
Sorry to here your trades weren't all you expected, and I can relate to ''feeling '' for plants when they die.
I saw on your want list the blue/white walking iris , did you get some?
I have some that could use a good home.
Cinda
Don't trade much anymore, but I have a lot of experience shipping all sorts of plants as I sell on Ebay and here on the Marketplace. I have shipped well over 3,000 plants. I always send a note with instructions for planting bare root plants.
I suggest that they soak the new plant in shade in water for a few hours before planting. Then if it is a small plant, I suggest that they pot it up til it gets used to the new environment. Never plant in hot sun as the soil will be hot too and that really shocks the roots. Plant in the evening or on a cloudy day and water well.
I never ship plants straight out of the ground as they will nearly always wilt, I have them all potted up, then I take them out of the pots and soak a few hours before packing them.
Our garden club has an annual pant sale. A friend of mine always waited til the day before or that day to dig her plants to take, they were ALWAYS badly wilted. She thought they would be freasher, but it doesn't work that way, I pot mine up a week or two ahead of time and they are fresh.
Another thing, it took me awhile to learn just how to pack them so the roots will stay moist and the leaves protected from getting mangled in shipping, some people are just not experienced enough to learn how to pack properly. There are some links here on DG that explain different packing methods.
Corgielover - the Basjoo banana should do very well for you, it is the most hardy of bananas, they are grown from Fl - to Canada, if you mulch them well even in teh coldest zones, they should come back next spring. I have one about 20 ft tall this year, I am in zone 7b, I never dig them up.
This message was edited Aug 4, 2009 1:50 PM
Having only traded seeds, and never plants, I would love to thank all of you for the helpful hints and advice. Someday I hope to have my yard full of plants for trading, and you DG people are awesome! I can't wait to be able to deal with you! Well put, all of you! I, for one, really enjoy reading threads like this, as I am a relative newbie, and all this info is so-o-o helpful! The people here that have so generously provided seeds to me have been awesome about answering all my questions about everything, from starting the seeds to overwintering and everything in between. Just haven't been brave enough to try plants, but should, obviously as I am impatient, and seeds take longer, LOL!
And corgilover, WOO HOO! another corgi lover! We have 2! Pleased to meet you! Can't wait to see pix of how these are growing for you! Keep us posted!
Hello fellow traders and corgilovers ;O) I was so sad because the banana turned completely brown and shriveled in it's little pot....didn't have the heart to throw it out....suddenly! Out shot a brand new leaf...it seems to like it here after all....ha ha ha I feel like Sally Fields at the Oscars....last week I was so unbelievably surprised when a whole box of Iris rhizomes came from an heirloom Iris trade group....I'd sent a few of mine and said I didn't need anything in return, but they sent 18 different irises....went out and bought a half barrel and it's now full of little shrively fronds and labeled tongue depressors with pebbles between to keep it from being a new giant cat box...ha ha ha....
