Re: Roberta's - why bother?? - Page 4

Horsefeather · ‎06-12-2011

only a very small percentage of plants I have purchased have lived. Better luck with Roberta's. Rarely buy anything anymore...only plants I know will survive.

islandgrrl · ‎06-20-2010

I'm not sure if I am happy or sad that I found this thread! I had never watched a gardening show but happened upon a Roberta's presentation of a house plant: Empress Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte Fragrant Everblooming Disocactus M49072. It looked like so much fun. It arrived two days ago and is now in its pot in a sunny spot. I will be so sad if it dies!

p.s. Point well taken that buying local is best.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@islandgrrl wrote:
I'm not sure if I am happy or sad that I found this thread! I had never watched a gardening show but happened upon a Roberta's presentation of a house plant: Empress Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte Fragrant Everblooming Disocactus M49072. It looked like so much fun. It arrived two days ago and is now in its pot in a sunny spot. I will be so sad if it dies!

p.s. Point well taken that buying local is best.

@islandgrrl All of my Cottage Farms plants and trees are thriving, and most of Roberta's are, though one plant of a set of six arrived badly wilted, so am waiting to see if it will recover. If not, I will attempt to have another one sent, or refunded.

islandgrrl · ‎06-20-2010

@mousiegirl

Thank you SO much for the encouragement! I don't have much of a green thumb and was looking for something pretty (flowering) to grow indoors and this seems to fit the bill. Most of the reviews so far are negative -- folks are unhappy that the plants as shipped weren't as robust as the picture shown. I'm not too concerned about that. Mine arrived healthy and well protected. Now we have to see if they grow and bloom. Fingers crossed! Thanks again!

merciless59 · ‎08-19-2014

I am not a master gardener... in fact, I am not a gardener at all. It seems everything i buy dies. Even some very old shrubs and tress that were thriving in my yard when i bought my home have since died. So needless to say, I would say I am doom to all plants. But I keep trying.

I have gotten plants from both Cottage Farms and Roberta's. I have actually had some good luck.. I have some roses that are blooming right now that i bought about 4 years ago.. Imagine!!! Roses!! I have had some good luck also with some of the annuals that I have gotten. I don't know if my wins were because these nurseries are better than local or not. I am just saying that my few successes have been from these QVC nurseries. My local nurseries may have nice big plants, but invariably die before I can transplant them to larger pots because they are root bound or die from root rot, I think.

I still buy from both. I buy from the QVC nurseries because I have had good luck using their growing guides. The local stores here never provide any growing guides.

Wish me luck as I just ordered the enchanted garden to try and revive an old flower bed in my backyard and the beds in front of my front porch! My house is over 100 yrs old and had a beautiful established landscape when I bought it. 15 years later, I am trying to restore and refurbish those gardens.. sigh...

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@merciless59 wrote:
I am not a master gardener... in fact, I am not a gardener at all. It seems everything i buy dies. Even some very old shrubs and tress that were thriving in my yard when i bought my home have since died. So needless to say, I would say I am doom to all plants. But I keep trying.
I have gotten plants from both Cottage Farms and Roberta's. I have actually had some good luck.. I have some roses that are blooming right now that i bought about 4 years ago.. Imagine!!! Roses!! I have had some good luck also with some of the annuals that I have gotten. I don't know if my wins were because these nurseries are better than local or not. I am just saying that my few successes have been from these QVC nurseries. My local nurseries may have nice big plants, but invariably die before I can transplant them to larger pots because they are root bound or die from root rot, I think.
I still buy from both. I buy from the QVC nurseries because I have had good luck using their growing guides. The local stores here never provide any growing guides.
Wish me luck as I just ordered the enchanted garden to try and revive an old flower bed in my backyard and the beds in front of my front porch! My house is over 100 yrs old and had a beautiful established landscape when I bought it. 15 years later, I am trying to restore and refurbish those gardens.. sigh...

@merciless59 Google has tons of info re how to grow any plant, tree, shrub, etc., so if you have questions, use it. I bought tons of books decades ago and self taught myself on the dos and don't, which doesn't mean I havn't made mistakes, but if I have questions, to google I go. The Cottage Farms and Roberta's plants I have bought are thriving, though there is one recently that arrived from Roberta's which seems to be dying, but am waiting to see if new growth will sprout, if not, I will request another plant or refund.

Sarah77 · ‎12-11-2014

So true. I ordered two of the Chinese Long Lived Peony trees. Of course you have to let them have a chance to grow. I received them in March. Now in June it is painfully obvious they are dead, beyond all hope. Of course you can't get a refund from QVC, who are usually great about refunds, but it is past 30 days. I contacted Robrta's and now they won't ship new plants until next year. This is annoying for two reasons. One, it would be three years before I have any hope of seeing a bloom. How do I know if I won't move between now and then? I should also mention I ordered 36 of their succulents. TEN, yes 10, have survived. I get it, Florida can be tricky but I've lived here 35 years and know how to grow plants by now. Its just not worth the aggravation to get the $70 for the trees reimbursed or looking for a replacement for the succulents. I'll stick with Home Depot. At least , if I have a problem, I only have to drive a few miles to get the replacement. What good does it do to purchase plants shown as unusual, gorgeous and hardy when they shrivel up and die?