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Just got my hosta Risky Business Pics

12 years ago

Just got them today. They were supposedly "mature divisions" from Hosta's Direct. They look good but very small divisions and I was disappointed about their rootsystems (about 2 inches long!). Oh well, next time I know I should stick with Hallsons if I want huge plants! This is not to say bad things about the company but just that I was a little disappointed. I had never ordered there before so.. I was inspired to get this hosta from the beautiful hosta gardens of one uk_hostaman! I can only hope mine does as well!

Anyone else get theirs?

Here's the pics of the just planted Risky Business "babies"

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Comments (11)

Gesila
12 years ago
May I ask how much you paid? The liners I got for a few bucks a piece had longer roots than 2 inches.

Gesila
kentstar
Original Author
12 years ago
$35.90 for the 2 plants and $12 in shipping and handling! They were supposedly "mature divisions". Hmmm...
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The agent was basically the warehouse storage. Customs does not (as far as I could tell) store your package when it comes in, rather they send it to a warehouse nearby where they charge to "hold" the package until you arrive to pick it up. The first time I imported plants it cost $80 for that service, this list time it was a little less. That is all they do. (I wish I had that contract!) Also if your shipment is worth over $2000, then you must get a bonded carrier to move the plants from the warehouse to USDA. I have no idea how much that would cost, but most of the people waiting for packages at the warehouse appeared to fall into this category. I agree with Jay that the USDA people I have encountered have all been extremely nice and very helpful. The Customs people have been hit or miss. Some have been very helpful and others I can only guess either didn't know their job or didn't give a damn. If one were in business and doing this every day, then it is probably a pretty smooth process, but as a hobbyist, it can be a confusing process. Hats off to Jay for beating them at their own game with the seed shipping! That was very impressive!
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Mary4b
12 years ago
Wow, with the shipping, that seems very pricey to me for plants that don't remotely appear to be mature divisions. I understand your disappointment.
uk-hostaman
12 years ago
dont worry..it grows like a weed!..mine are 3 years old and ive split it twice!....do you grow kiwi full monty?
kentstar
Original Author
12 years ago
No, but I'll check it out! :)
Good to hear that it'll grow fast!
Cher
12 years ago
I don't blame you for being disappointed at all. I would not be happy about it and say hard lesson learned. I've had to say that to myself too many times. They are lovely Hostas when mature though. :)
Cher
thisismelissa
12 years ago
This is par for the course with Hostas Direct. They simply do not send multi-eye divisions. (In my experience). For that matter, when I was AT the owner's home and they dug right there for you, you STILL get a single eye.
hostaLes
12 years ago
I would be livid! I had to bite the bullet to buy two hosta at a local nursery for $8.95 that I thought were puny. They were 'Emerald Ruff Cut' and 'Stained Glass'. I haven't been registered long enough for ya'all to know that I am a real root "freak". (I have heard of shoe freaks, but roots really turn ME on (LOL)) Seven or eight years ago I decided to refuse to even look at hosta being sold by mass merchandizers because the plants tended to be grown for flowers and leaves with little regards for root development. I know my local nursery owner well enough to trust him and the only reason the plants were puny is our weird weather that has caused late development.
Good luck with your hostas. They are nice cultivars.

Les
davej_07
12 years ago
That's outrageous in my opinion........when I bought RiskyvBusiness several years ago I paid 50........ But that was for 3 large eyes and it was originator stock!
Yet another reason I don't do mail order any more.

Dave
Gesila
12 years ago
Geesh... I'd have to hide that receipt from my DH!

Oh well, what are you going to do? Live and learn.... Thanks for sharing so others won't make the same mistake.

I got some small mail order plants... hard to find ones that I just HAD TO HAVE! Good roots, but one only had two leaves -- most I'd ever paid for a hosta.... My DH stepped on it and broke one of the leaves off.

Every time I go out and look at that hosta, or should I say -- LEAF, I am now reminded that I don't HAVE to HAVE all of them!

Gesila
User
12 years ago
Another option - shop the Hosta Auction on the Hosta Library. They always provide a picture of the plant you will receive.

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