Spending spree #10

Was at Lowe's and saw some CHEAP wildflower bare roots for sale ($2.50). Got a couple, then looked up company - Botanical Wonders - online and found a bunch of talk about how all their plants are from the wild. Yikes. I didn't know some wildflowers are hard to propagate "properly" so there's no way they could be so cheap.

I've sent Lowe's a tweet asking if they know where these plants originate, but I'm not holding my breath for a proper response. I'll push if I can - sometimes Twitter can be good for that sort of thing because it is so visible. Keep your fingers crossed.

Google search on Lowe's Botanical Wonders
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lowe's+botanical+wonders&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

i ordered some sedum from jungs and expected plugs - i received very large plants with good root systems - happily surprised!

Wow, Evie.

Good to hear, Bill. Might try them.

Hope Lowe's isn't selling poached plants...Bill & Victor....I've had good luck with Jung's if the plants are potted.....bare root ones never make it here....

Here's some from the AMerican Meadows order...I forgot to get a pic of the dianthus starburst
but here is the Hibiscus(could it be any smaller?) Gaura Passionate Rainbow and Coreopsis Cosmic Evolution

I just had to look at the AM eadows images. I stopped ordering from them years ago. I didnt get much for what I paid and the order came half dead and rotted.
I wanted to be sure they hadnt become really great and I missed something.
There are too many negatives for me.

This message was edited Apr 22, 2012 4:48 AM

wow they are pretty tiny

O K I have planted the new Bluestone coir pots.
I heard somewhere ,if the coir pot rims were above ground the plant would dry out.
Anyone know better?
Has anyone planted the new Bluestones?

I think I took them out of the pots......can't remember though....senior moment!

I took the plants out of the coir pots from the order I got from Bluestone. I didn't trust it decomposing fast enough to allow for root growth.

My Stokeseas had roots growing thru the pot,nice big ones too.I didnt notice roots on other plants.

if you keep them in the pots.. I would rip holes in it to let the roots pass through... and for sure don't let them stick out of the ground.. it will wick the water away and evaporate it faster

If I have to make holes in this mericle fiber pot I will not buy plants from Bluestone again.
In theory Bluestones reasons for going to this type of pot sounds good. I need to see if it really works befor I "e-x " that company.
I dont like to fiddle with shipped plants.

Keeps plastic out of landfills ... Not sure how well they break down

i saw a hd infomercial and they recommended cutting the bottom out of those biodegradable containers

Too late for me. I will let the season decide if I go back to Bluestone or not.
What a nuisance to cut the bottoms out.This sint a benefit to the gardener,just a better way to raise and ship plants as far as I can see.
If anyone has luck just sticking the whole thing in the ground.Let me know.

Plastic pots are recyclable here....

Better than the p-nuts.

UGH maybe that's the problem with the Astilbe I received from them...what a pain in the butt

new
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1253928/

I agree I hated the peanuts. They sem to have a new business model with the coupons included and incentives to stay with them despite the change. I just dont like having to cut the pots before planting,its another step.

Hi all. At least I took off the plastic rims before shoving the Bluestone biodegradable pots into the ground before going away last week. The baby viburnum and the helenium had roots outside the pots already. Thanks for the advice on the bottoms. I think I can pull out the others and stab them a few times on the bottom.

Dont stab.
I had 1 plant that didnt get planted with the others on Sat. I was able to tear the bottom off.It seems to be thinner than the sides. Bills advise might just save Bluestn from going on my bad list.
I will compare the growth of the bottomless plant to the others that are still in the ground. I simply cant dig them up and fix them.

OK. No garden rage allowed. I will gently tear the bottoms off. I hadn't thought about it before. Good to know about taking the bottoms off.

Heading to Annapolis today and driving through Delaware, I spotted a sign that said $1 for pots of spring bulbs, so after driving through two lights I did a uturn and picked up 5 pots of hyacinths. I was very happy with the way they looked this spring in my garden, so that made me spring for these.

NICE

I have to share my excitement! The camellia order from Camellia Farm came last night. The spicy fragrance and the sight of those shiny bright little evergreen leaves was a major treat to the senses. Even though it dipped to 38 F last night, they are fine in a protected corner surrounded by bubble wrap as I have learned to do. I felt like I was holding babies when I took them out of the box. They will need loving care, so wish me luck.

best of luck with them!!

Love camellias! Hope they do well for you....

Good luck!

sounds like they will be taken care of - good luck!

please join us on the new thread
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1253928/

oops. New thread. But thanks for the good wishes. Because we're up north the nurseries don't really sell protection products with camellias in mind. I think they're worth a try to grow, and will post once they're in place or in pots for the year (to get to be planted at age 3 years).