I paid $8 postage for these cuttings that came in a $3.85 priority box.
One I have already had to trim b/c it was turning to mush. (I have had them in a bubbler since receiving them last week.)
Got these from answering a post on another forum, not Daves!
What do you think? Deal or Rooked?
I guess all that responded paid $8 and got theirs in $3.85 box, too. Most others said theirs was pencil cuttings. Mine was thick, but small. 3 1/2" to 5"
Well, I think you already know the answer to the postage overcharge as only you can know how much you value your cuttings.
The length of a cutting is not as important as the number of nodes it has.
This is where the new growth comes from.
I like at least 2 nodes , more is better.
I'm not telling you what to do here but if those were my cuttings I would have 'logged' them.
This method seems to work well for thick cuttings. JMO
I wish you luck growing them.
This message was edited Nov 14, 2005 10:35 AM
Help!
What do you mean "logged" them? I am new to brugs.
This should give you and idea ;-D
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/169385/
Reminds me of how trimmings have started growing on the compost pile ..... lol
This message was edited Nov 14, 2005 10:48 AM
thanks also, shirley.
hi, nikki. wow, the leftover from $3.85 must be the handling part. i hope they all make it and give you blooms summer 2006!
Sorry to say I was one of those who got ripped off from this person also...I think this person made over 200.00 worth of over charging postage..we live, we learn...Judy
judy, is it ok to name a person on the forum to warn DGers, esp newbies like moi? perhaps snail mail?
i better read the guidelines. brb.
I belong to the gullible ones too.
I just withhin the last month paid $5.00 EACH,so $15.00 for 3 cuttings from a DG member ,one cutting was quite mushy on top and bottom.She replaced it after I complained.
BUT guess WHAT ? the postage on that envelope was ALSO $3.85,
Brigitte
How great for you Nuts that you got 5 cuttings for just $8 and that included postage! If even one of them grows, you are still way ahead.
kell, that's a great way looking at it!
brigitte, that sounds familiar. i sent my own USPS label with postage on that one, and the cutting was fat and very well-rooted. i'm looking at that particular experience ala kell. saves me grief. yes, inexpensive cutting.
Okay, count me in on this too. It was not on DG, it was on another forum (we all know which). Someone listed about 15 different kinds of brugs, and would send "possibly all" of the different kinds. 8.00 postage paid, 3.85 on the box. It contained 5 very thin cuttings from possibly the top part of the branch. One is doing very well, while the others are still questionable. Like Kell stated, if one makes it to adulthood, then this was still a good value.
Well, next year, when I get all my brugs going, I will definately be sharing with all of you. Keep your fingers crossed. My hubby has decided I have went off the deep end with all my "sticks in dirt" LOL.
Hmmm, it's making me rethink my offer here. Nah, not really :~)
I am NOT the person who made the offer on the other garden site.
We have received most of our Brugs in trade or as freely given cuttings. We received this past month 3 Axelrose cuttings and several large stems from Charles Grimaldi that I have used to make log cuttings and am now able to pass Axelrose on to 10 more people and Charles Grimaldi on to 30 more people. I love to send cuttings out and I love to hear from people who have received them. If I had a million dollars (and unlimited time) I'd give Brugs to everybody on every Brug forum I know of. For now, all I can say is it's a LOT of work to get these cuttings out each year and I do the best I can. I did drop the ball 2 years ago when my DH lost his full time job in October, and I still feel really bad about that. I have hand-printed Priority Mail labels for everyone who requested Brugs that year still in my mailing supplies drawer. I will get something out to each and every one as I have the time and resources to do so. I think I have a really good understanding of what it is to offer cuttings to a large group of people and to follow through on the offer.
We have at least 40 named Brugs here that we rush to cut down just before our first good freeze. They are all planted in the ground (about 1/2 acre of ground).
We have to tag each stem (or trunk) from each Brug initially when we cut it (some Brugs have up to 10 stems coming up out of the ground)
As we cut each stem into pieces, we have to tag each piece - otherwise how would we know what it is?
We have to keep these cuttings in water so that means at least 10 five gallon buckets of water that need to be changed when it starts to get foul.
I have to keep good records of who has requested what and need to figure out how many cuttings of each Brug are promised. This takes about an hour a day (average) at this time of year.
When it comes time to pack and ship the Brug cuttings we have to assemble the Priority Mail boxes and get the packing material ready - we use shredded paper to pack in the boxes.
I bought a 12 pack of paper towel rolls to use to wrap the cuttings in damp paper towel.
I bought two rolls of regular plastic wrap to wrap around the damp paper towel.
I bought two rolls of 1 and 1/2 inch masking tape and multiple Sharpies to tag each cutting, as well as 200 flexi tags for those cuttings that are small enough to use them on.
I will spend I don't know how many hours cutting, tagging, wrapping, boxing and labeling boxes in the next 2 to 3 weeks.
I will have to drive 15 miles to the nearest community with a Post Office - hours are 8 am to 4 pm - to stand in line to wait to ship.
I work are 'real' job too.
In addition, at this time of year we are selling and shipping peafowl, Call ducks and Phoenix chickens. Thank goodness I've worked hard to develop a really good relationship with the Big Sandy Post Office folks! I take them a big platter of holiday goodies every year :~) and am very polite and courteous every time I go in. (Peafowl poop is very stinky and they poop when they're scared, like when they are put in shipping boxes)
If a person collected $200 at $8 a pop, that at least 25 requests for cuttings they are trying to deal with in a short space of time. I think I know what it's like times, say, 10!
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 9:17 PM
You know, I think that some people just don't know what makes a good cutting maybe.
Your experienced bruggies would know so try to only deal with them next time.
But on the other hand , I bought cuttings at evilBay once , from a long standing seller and they were little rubbery green cuttings.
So , I guess what it boils down to is as adults we take our chances by our own choice.
A green cutting will bend and is harder to root.
This message was edited Nov 14, 2005 7:00 PM
oops, hi maggie, I didnt know you were there ( I type so slowwwwwwwwwwww )
Yes, Kell
I agree. That is how I am looking at it, too. I will be so excited if any of them root.
I will continue to do water bubbler with some and will will log method a couple and see how it goes.
Thanks for all of the comments. As a newbie, I was unsure.
~Nikki
Scooterbug, thanks for that link to learn how to plant the brugs like logs...I have heard of this method, just never tried it before...Judy
Good Luck , Stuff like this helps the winter days pass quickly.
Great Expectations ............ lol
scooterbug..that pictures just makes you keep looking at it and smile......
Awww ... is that pup really going to grow into that collar. How cute! I've never met a puppy I didn't like.
Maggiedew, I hear you. You think it won't take much time and oh boy it does!! In the past I have stayed home from work to get my boxes out and it took 2 days!
I thank who ever does this job, it is so kind of them!! The people who do it just for postage are doing a labor of love. I guess I figure a few extra dollars does not even pay for the paper towels and plastic bags much less all the time it takes!
Sending cuttings takes a lot of time. I got my start from generous members in 2002 who shared their plants and enthusiasm with me (thanks Kell). Now, I try to pass on cuttings when I have them available. I usually send larger cuttings that you received, but that's just me. If you paid $8, and $3.85 was for postage, you still got cuttings for less than $1 each. The harder wood cuttings usually roots easier than the greener, so you should have 5 good plants to start with next year.
Hi Kell, you were posting while I was typing.
maggie, nicely put. every time i receive cuttings, gifts or bought - - - i imagine the time, effort, and cost..and BRUG LOVE! generosity spreads these babies around.
kell, same thing when i get your seeds: individually packed, labeled, taped at NO COST. how awesome is that. very cool.
us newbies e-mail each other, too, and the ones i have talked to are pretty excited to see our brugs bloom and grow next season, so we can pay the generosity forward. please do not give up on us.
i'll speak for myself: i am sincerely grateful for the comments, cheers, advise, seeds, and cuttings and most of all, budding friendships this forum has brought me.
annapet
I went for the same deal , wanted to gave them to my MG friends in town, got nice nubbies on all of them so I'm satisfied.
BILL
This is my first year trading or just sending brugs. When trading I always try and send something extra, extra large cuttings or more cuttings than asked for. It has to be love to take on sending out more that one shipment! And I love everyone of you that take your time to send us that special brug!!
Melanie
I looked at the post on the other garden site, did you notice that the person joined the same day they offered all the cuttings. Then I noticed this person lives in Ark, I am wondering if its the humblebumble at it again. He/She ripped a lot of people off on the daylily forums, but I do know she grew brugs. Does anyone have this persons name and address?
Just wondering
Cathy
Hi Cathy, I did the same thing and was wondering the VERY same thing too. Except my first thought was that it was Nadi, who also ripped off many people last year. It will be interesting to know where this person is from.
When you consider they sell for $35.00 each here in our area in a 5 gal bucket its worth the money. I have 3 that are rooting and no bubbler. Does the bubbker really help when mine are rooting with out it or is this just how some perfer to do it and it makes it nicer to see roots?
I am new to this so I'm really confused.
Lavina
I wouldn't change what is working for you now.
Once you have nubbies you can pot them up in a small container, 4 inches is the norm.
Water in well and do not water again until it feels dry one inch down.
Root rot from overwatering kills more brugs than any thing else.
I dont mind paying postage for cuttings,,,,I try and send a little extra when I can , because I know how much love and work go into growing this plants and getting them ready for mailing it takes lots of time.... I have gotten wonderful cuttings here and I am very grateful. I have also brought some on ebay .... So by paying postage you are saving a bundle,, Remember why u buy on ebay we pay for the cutting plus postage...5 plants for a dollar each is great ! I found a yellow unnamed at a nursery for 29.00...
this is not a business here so your point is not applicable
I do return postage even if it has not been asked for
Thru the years cuttings have ALWAYS been SHARED with other members FOR POSTAGE as a labor of love and also as payback for all the kindnesses we have received from others.
I would be appalled at the thought of asking for payback for my shipping supplies and/or time on my feet.
These people should consider selling on eBay and charge whatever they want.
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 12:28 PM
On the issue of shipping ..... today .
What could be easier than to print postage labels at USPS site ,
that comes with free delivery confirmation ,
tape it to the box and call the mail carrier to pick it up at your door ,
FREE OF CHARGE , as long as you schedule the pick-up before the day you want them to come.
Even if one lives, it's less than what you'd pay on ebay for one and the postage.
I also saw someone on ebay from Arkansas selling brugs. I'm from Arkansas too, so don't confuse me with that person please LOL
kathy
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 12:50 PM
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 12:57 PM
""Even if one lives, it's less than what you'd pay on ebay for one and the postage.""
That was not the point of nut4spuds question and surely NOT what they were expecting.
What ever
These are all just opinions here, just like the very first post. Not everybody is going to agree, and you've certainly made your point.
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 3:25 PM
yup ;-)
Last time I looked this was still a forum for each one to voice their own opinions and debate some also.
It's a sad state of affairs when one must be so careful not to get someone p.o.'d.
I only care about newbies being treated fairly and not being confused as to what to do.
This place is so devoid of experienced growers to give advice lately compared to what we did have.
Very sad indeed ;-(
This message was edited Nov 15, 2005 6:39 PM
Nikki, glad you think you got a deal too. I think when you step back you can see that in fact you did get a deal. I hope they root for you and if not, try again in the spring when it will be easier. Plants want to grow in spring so they really help us all along!
As Kathy_Ann said, it would be much worse if you bought them on eBay and then they turned to mush. You would be out a lot more.
Also, consider this a learning curve. Better to learn on these cuttings then on a double pink!!! I am getting courted by clivias lately and the seeds of good ones go for about $8 EACH!!!. I am about to plunge in and buy some. I am suddenly thinking I better hurry and buy some cheap ones so I can learn on them!! It would kill me to kill off a bunch of $8 seeds!! And if it didn't, my DH would do the deadly deed.
Kell, you dont want to know what I traded for some yellow clivia seeds years ago that never did come up...the woman I traded with got the deal of the century from me..make sure you post how things go...Judy
Oh Judy, are you a clivia grower? I am suddenly under their spell. The variegated Chinese ones. I have never seen such pretty little things. I have no clue what I am doing either. I am just jumping in. I am going to look to see if there is a cliva forum on here later. I need lots of advice. And the chances of them even coming up variegated is not that high, much less good variegated ones. Very risky business indeed. But exciting. I need a life. LOL
