It's taken me around 5 tries to join so I can post here on this thread! I wanted to tell you that I bought 4 of these roses from Big Lots around the first of March. I think they had just put them out. The stems were green and there were fat buds about to break, so I grabbed them before the inevitable deterioration from being dry and under fluorescent lights took its toll. I took them home, soaked them in warm water for a couple of hours, then potted them up in potting soil in large plastic pots. I watered them in, and I'm putting them outside in the sun whenever it's above 40�F. They have really leafed out and look vigorous and healthy. I liked that there was a rugosa shrub rose plus some good (White Dawn- one of my favorites) climbers, which we were going to buy anyway. I'd say they were not a bad bargain. But if they had sat for a long time, or were brown or dry looking, I wouldn't want to try.

Hi all.. I too bought several roses from Big lots.. Most with success of growning but similar to the problem i've had a few mislabel..2 comming from a totally different store and i wrote to that company they're going to send me replacements in the spring..but the big lots roses.. the Oklahoma is not a Oklahoma, and i have put a post in the help idenify..And also "Cyrsler imperial" is not comming up and the bud is looking white.. I feel your pain..Im also new to growing roses and just jumped right into it..But i'm having fun and learing a lot.. ive been taking a lot of pics and putting them on my face book page.. Here is a link that might be useful: my pics

Compost is considered a soil amendment. It is not intended to be a sole planting medium although it can certainly be used to supplement any type of garden or potting soil. But not take the place of :-) Compost is only partially (OK, mostly) decomposed organic matter. It contains none of the mineral components of a true soil so may very well be lacking in certain micronutrients. And because it is only partially decomposed, it will continue to break down over time, compressing and collapsing and becoming waterlogged and impeding good drainage.And because it continues to decompose, it shrinks. You can expect a 25-60% reduction in volume of compost over the course of a full growing season, depending on how "finished" it is to start with. One can encounter all manner of anecodotal experiences about growing plants in less than ideal media - heck, hydroponics grows plants in nothing but water - but it is not always the most efficient or productive method. There is a solidly scientific reason why potting mixes and garden blends were created!

Patti, WalMart wants to keep you happy. You can return your cushions with no receipt and then explain about your notebooks. I find WalMart the easiest store to accept a return without a receipt.