topic My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC... in Garden

My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

terrier3 — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 19:58:49 GMT

Everything comes in variegated packages.

I don't want one orange, one pink and one purple of anything.

I would prefer to have one solid color planting.

I think it looks lusher, more well thought out and prettier.

PLEASE offer color selections!

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Mistreatedbycs — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 20:16:08 GMT

...and then you have the customer that says, I want multiple colors to plant and why do I have to place 3 orders to get that.

I actually would only buy from a catalog supplier that specializes in plants with a more than 30 day money back guarantee

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

blackhole99 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:30:24 GMT

I have never had any luck with the plants from Cottage Farms or Roberta's or the replacement plants Cottage Farms sent, I never could get in touch with Roberta's for replacement plants.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

NApickle — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:38:19 GMT

OP, I totally agree. I want one sweep of color, that is why I did not buy the sunpatiens.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

bells4me — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 04:52:07 GMT

I bought from CF twice. Once was bulbs which arrived mushy. I could never reach CS service for CF. Two years ago I ordered Astilbe which Phillip guaranteed would grow here. They would start to grow & turn brown overnight. I asked him for advice on FB & said I needed to get a replacement or refund. Cottage Farms was a butt about it, but Phillip took care of it. He rocks! I haven't ordered since.

As for the original post I prefer multiple colors so I think they should offer a choice. I only buy locally now so can choose.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

GCR18 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 06:09:08 GMT

I prefer one color. I go through phases. The last couple years all the plants were the same color or as close as I could get.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

JamicaJammer — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:43:07 GMT

I was just going to post this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want all one color!!!!!!!!!

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

JamicaJammer — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:43:51 GMT

On 3/8/2014 Gigikiwi said:
OP, I totally agree. I want one sweep of color, that is why I did not buy the sunpatiens.

SAME HERE!!!!! And the still photos looks much prettier than the plants in the studio!

Plus, did you hear them say "...by LABOR DAY, they'll look this big and nice"??? Labor Day is the END of summer here and when I plant my MUMS.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

PINKdogWOOD — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:54:04 GMT

Support your LOCAL growers and stop buying from home shopping channels. This way you can buy what you want & like in colors that more please you and your color scheme for any given season.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Lovs2shop — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:34:33 GMT

I buy from local growers, and what fun that is!

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Trix — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:57:50 GMT

On 3/9/2014 pink dogwood said:
Support your LOCAL growers and stop buying from home shopping channels. This way you can buy what you want & like in colors that more please you and your color scheme for any given season.

I agree with buying from local nurseries. However, in support of Cottage Farms and Roberta's occasionally they do offer items even my biggest independent local garden centers will not have, and the big box store garden centers such as Menard's and Home Depot definitely won't offer. Therefore, while I buy 90% of my plants from a local nursery, I have bought a few things from Cottage Farms and Roberta's, and I also patronize Jackson & Perkins catalog.

I've had very good luck with most of the items. Bear in mind those tender bulbs and seedlings are quite traumatized from being packed up in airtight boxes during the shipping process to your home, and need lots of extra care for the first month to get going again. They need warmth and should be covered overnight in zones where even May overnight temperatures can dip into the 40s. I don't need to tell you lots of water is required, and fertilizer at least once a week. I would not use a slow time release fertilizer on new plants because it may be too harsh and burn the very roots you are trying to protect.

PS: It shouldn't be a big order entry technical issue for QVC to give the customer the option of buying the multi-color sets or choosing all of one color. I don't think it would matter to the Cottage Farms and Roberta's if they sold 10,000 multi-color sets of something --or 1,000 multi, 4,000 pink, and 5,000 red.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Tzu4u — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:30:16 GMT

On 3/9/2014 pink dogwood said:
Support your LOCAL growers and stop buying from home shopping channels. This way you can buy what you want & like in colors that more please you and your color scheme for any given season.

I agree 1000%!!!!

Support your local businesses. I am not talking Home Depot or WalMart. I am speaking of your local nurseries. This is where you will find top quality plants that are grown and selected for your growing zone.

The prices will be fair, You do not pay shipping, and you will not be buying a plant that is a tiny twig. if you have a problem, you can go and talk to the people who raised your plants.

Why anyone would order overpriced, scrawny plants that are not grown in your temperate zone does not make any sense to me. JMHO.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Perkup — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:41:57 GMT

Ordered Hibiscus and Dwarf Everblooming Day Lilies last year. The Hibiscus was wonderful - grew tall, had gorgeous blooms, and we were very pleased. But they froze out during the winter. The Everblooming Day Lilies were well named - they didn't Ever Bloom. No response to my complaint about them.

I have a serious complaint about the Sunpatiens I have ordered in the past. They came back the first year, having been through a fairly warm winter. But this winter we had three nights (not consecutive) when it was in the very low 20's. Most of our perennials have already begun to spout and/or grow. Even the Easter lilies are up. I checked the sunpatiens yesterday and even the roots have deteriorated from the freeze. They say these plants will survive very harsh winters and come back. Mine won't! There's nothing to come back.

Same with the Hibiscus. No chance of them returning. However, three other Hibiscus which I bought from a local nursery are sprouting and looking good.

On a more positives note, though, I do like the Cottage Farms little fertilizer packets. They work well for me.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

tototwo — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:47:58 GMT

Yes, I also wish they'd offer monochromatic choices. I would've ordered those fancy peonies from Roberta's yesterday if I could have got all 3 in one color. I don't want one of each!

I agree to support your local growers whenever you can. If they grow them in your area, then they will thrive in your yard.

That said, I will buy from catalogs and online companies when they have plants I want that I can't find at my local nurseries. Catalogs and online usually offer a one-year guarantee on perennials -- our local nurseries do not have guarantees of any kind.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

ilovedaisies — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:48:37 GMT

We got a couple of things from Cottage Farm because they were plants that the nurseries and big box stores just don't offer. For instance, a few years ago no one here offered ice plant. I had a catalog that assured me they were okay for this zone. So I ordered from CF. It seems like all the places here offer the same old plants.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

terrier3 — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 17:18:07 GMT

On 3/9/2014 pink dogwood said:
Support your LOCAL growers and stop buying from home shopping channels. This way you can buy what you want & like in colors that more please you and your color scheme for any given season.

I always do buy from local nurseries. I even had one special order two Full Moon Japanese maples for me. It took a month, but I got two beautiful, well matched 5 foot trees.

The only plants I order via mail are bulbs and some bare root David Austin roses. I still would prefer one color...not a hodge podge mixture.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

JustJazzmom — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 17:25:36 GMT

terrier3, I would recommend landscape roses too like those from Kordes, the German hybridizer. These are very disease resistant and many of his roses are Earth Kind designated roses (as per Texas A & M).

I have in my yard a hybrid tea called 'Grande Amore' and its a beautiful red about 4' high 2' wide in my rose garden. Photos I am posting are from the internet.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Another new name Sue — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 17:34:12 GMT

It's fun to get all the colors, but one color makes a more dramatic statement in your garden.

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

goodstuff — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:47:07 GMT

I agree with other posters: Buy from your local nursery! You can choose healthy plants suitable for your local climate conditions..........and buy whatever colors you want! Often at better prices with no S&H!

Re: My pet peeve re: plant offerings on QVC...

Allegheny — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:01:05 GMT

I like to stick with one color also. I primarily buy local, however, like other posters said there are some nice plants that Roberta's and CF offer that aren't available. I haven't had any luck with Roberta's but CF is hit & miss. I've purchased a couple of their trees that did wonderful and a burgundy hardy hibiscus that is outstanding. Roberta's sells mono color on their web site but the prices are quite higher then offered at the Q. But at the rate the deer are eating my plants I am going to hold off purchasing.