My Plants Are Dead
Last September, I bought two rhododendrons from the Liberty Sunset Garden Center in Red Hook to go in front of my house. Listening to their expert advice, I purchased two huge planters along with organic fertilizer, soil, etc. I watered the plants and tookl loving care of them. OK, so here we are just six…
Last September, I bought two rhododendrons from the Liberty Sunset Garden Center in Red Hook to go in front of my house. Listening to their expert advice, I purchased two huge planters along with organic fertilizer, soil, etc. I watered the plants and tookl loving care of them. OK, so here we are just six months later and both plants are dead. I spent nearly $300 (not to mention the $400 for the planters). I went back to Liberty Sunset Center to ask for an exchange and they wailed and blamed me for the demise of the plants. Of course, in their hysterics they refused to do anything to help me. Does anybody think I deserve a credit towards some new plants or some other remedy?
Want to add my voice to those who had lots of plants die this year. It was an awful winter for plants. Off the top of my head, I can think of twice when it warmed slightly, rained buckets, and then went to deep freeze within 24 hours. Ouch. It’s heartbreaking to lose a plant, especially one you really care for. But finding someone to blame isn’t always the best way forward. It’s spring. You’ve still got the planters. Maybe find something a bit easier to grow if you’re new to container gardening?
Petunia and vinca are right- sometimes plants don’t make it and the variables are great. What is under watering to some plants is too much for others. The fact that this winter was harsher and colder than most also makes it tougher for plants in containers. They are at much higher risk of just not making it. I gardened on a roof for 14 years and I lost some things that I had had for many years after a particularly tough winter. Could also depend when you planted them- woody shrubs planted later in the season have less established roots.
You really do have to water a transplant more than an established plant but none of us here can know whether your pot was draining right. The plant could look perfectly fine all season with the water it got, but never had enough water to get a great root system or so much that the roots were starting to rot a bit but not that apparent in the growth of the plant. Rhodies like an acidic soil and don’t like their roots too deeply covered. Some are a bit less hardy than others in this area, would do reliably well in the ground but might be a bit touchy their first winter in a pot where the conditions are harsher than in regular the ground.
I know some landscapers that will guarantee their plants, but not if they’re not the ones installing it. Some garden places will guarantee but will definitely grill you a bit on the return. The box stores kill so much of their own stock through lack of watering that they better offer a guarantee because half the time the stuff there is already a bit stressed when you buy it. Mail order usually guarantees because they sell much smaller plants and know that because they ship, there is the higher risk that bad things happen.
I’ve got a really good track record but plants have died on me from all sources when I’ve done everything the plant is supposed to require. I’ve been gardening for 20 years and have studied at the NYBG- sometimes things happen. Liberty should try to offer you something for customer service sake but not necessarily a replacement if that’s not their policy.
Diana
Fun City Design
How did the plants look when you bought them? If they looked healthy and disease-free, they probably were at that point, and that’s pretty much all a nursery should be expected to provide, IMO. It’s a shame you lost your plants, but I don’t know that I’d hold the nursery responsible for whatever might have killed them over the winter.
Also, I have found rhododendrons (at least the one that I have) to be a little fussier than my other plants. Growing large plants in containers (even big containers) can be a little tricky too – I always have to put my container plants in a protected area, or wrap the pots in ugly burlap w/ mulch, so the roots don’t freeze in winter. Plants that haven’t had a chance to get their roots established and acclimate before winter are more vulnerable to freezing.
There’s also Garden World in Queens, although i’m not sure if they take plants back with receipt …
The high end places in Red Hook definitely have a bigger selection but there is something to be said for HD and Lowe’s. I don’t have a green thumb and so I won’t spend much on plants which is why I stick to buying in Lowe’s, HD and the Brooklyn Terminal Market who will all take anything back with a receipt.
Go to brooklyn terminal market on Ralph for plants.
Fertilizer applied in direct contact with roots can burn (i.e. dehydrate) roots. Failure to deeply water plant when first transplanting, and/or damage to roots when it is transferred from nursery container to new container or site can kill plant. Mounding or raising the soil level above the crown of the plant, shrub, or tree can and will kill the plant. UNDERwatering and dry winters can kill rhododendrons. Containers with gravel at bottom but no actual drainage hole can cause the plant to drown. There are so many unknown variables that it is virtually impossible to diagnose the contributing factors from afar.
“I did not overwater them.”
Honestly, I here people say that a lot and it’s seldom true. Things like, I *only* water my plants on Mondays and Thursday. Well, did they actually need to be watered on either of those days? Does the plant need to stay moist or should it dry out and go through a “stress” cycle?
I’m not saying these particular plants weren’t bad stock, but statements like “I did not overwater them” are highly questionable.
Lowe’s and home depot will replace your plants if they die in the first year. Ya just gotta remember to save that receipt! Their selection isn’t as great but if you catch them on delivery day or better yet go to the ones in Staten Island you have a much better seletion.