Pots full of nuttin'

[westernind]

This one's for you gardeners out there.

My Crocus order arrived this afternoon (huzzah!) in time for planting out over Easter, if it wasn't so cold and wet (boo!). The plants are all in good nick, except for the three polygonatum x hybridum (Common Solomon's Seal). Those plants aren't in bad nick; they're not in any sort of nick (unless it be the past tense) because they are not there.

I haven't actually plunged my hand into the soil looking for shoots or bulbs in case I damage anything. Should there be something there? Surely they wouldn't send me pots of soil?

Comments

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

A lot of the stuff I got from Parkers looked utterly unimpressive (okay, dead) when it arrived in the Autumn. Planted the little plug roots (plants is too grand a description) out in December and was glad of the markers I'd put in as there was no way of telling there was anything there. I now have tangible growth next to many of those markers so I'd say it is possible... Dead-looking or not, I could see 'something' though.

According to the RHS it is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, so there could be some underground action, but to see absolutely nothing? Sadly I don't know. Might be worth a phone call to check to see if this is 'normal'.

Tomorrow I need to find a large container to plant a fancy twig in. Technically it's an Acer, but the reality is that it's a shapely stick with some other sticks branching off half way up. Poor thing doesn't look to impressed having it's roots wrapped in plastic! :o)

[westernind.livejournal.com]

I've bought three japanese maple type acers because I love them so much - a purpurea and a green dissectum for the raised bed next to the patio, and one with orangey red bark for the decking area. They're quite big - got them from a good nursery up near my mother's - am watching the leaf buds form with happy excitement.

Reassurance

[renniek.livejournal.com]

I've ordered from Crocus a few times (it's as tempting as Amazon or eBay for frittering money at lunchtime). Several plants ordered last winter turned up with nothing at all showing above the soil in the pot. All except one came up fine later in the spring. One never surfaced at all - but I emailed them about it and got an instant no-quibbles refund. Customer service pretty damn good from every encounter I've had.

Additional reassurance

[renniek.livejournal.com]

...and IIRC, their returns period covers anything that fails in its first year

Re: Additional reassurance

[westernind.livejournal.com]

In which case I just need to take a photo of the pots still wrapped up in plastic and will stop fretting. Ta!

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

It's early for Solomons Seal - we don't sell it yet at the garden centre. Take a photo, give it a month or two, and get onto them if nothing happens.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

Should I plant the contents of the pots (and in the course of doing so, presumably find out what's in there)? Or leave the pots on the side until something green appears?

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I'd leave it somewhere sheltered in its pot.