From past experiences given the medium RU uses they have probably been too wet for too long. This will also cause yellowing of the leaves. I don't wait more than 1 day to get them out of the medium and into some decent soil or potting mixture if it's hot. Then I let them readjust and show some growth before planting. The spots could be anything at this point. Just save them from that sopping wet crud they come in.

The roses just came through public transport in extremely hot weather. Neither you nor I could look that good, had we exchanged places with the roses.

What I did with mine, that arrived Wednesday was get them out, onto a shaded porch and let them adjust to the slightly cooler temperatures. I would not repot them now, the feeder roots need a rest, and they have been growing in that soil for six months or so. I'll clean off any distressed leaves later this evening and water very lightly any of the pots that feel lighter in weight.

They'll go into the ground tomorrow or Saturday (ten to fifteen degrees cooler) and get TLC water wise for the next month. Also, if I feel that any of the leaves are especially vulnerable (thin) mine will get some chopped off privet stems for mid day and afternoon shade.

The order i received also looked like that. I was also concerned that the plant containers appear to have been smashed together to fit into the inner square box; resulting in a lot of loose soil and exposed roots :/ I was told to contact UPS but I'm wondering if this is normal for their packing?

Patty W. zone 5a Illinois From
past experiences given the medium RU uses they have probably been too
wet for too long. This will also cause yellowing of the leaves. I don't
wait more than 1 day to get them out of the medium and into some decent
soil or potting mixture if it's hot.

Patty: Do you recommend gently knocking/shaking the medium off the roots, or using a stream of water, or compressed air? Or possibly another technique?

zwolfey, here is 3 roses I got from RU last year... Notice the soil level in the pots is similiar to yours...

I prefer not to recommend anything actually. Its just that I'm from a humid sometimes sopping wet environment. In 20 years I've learned what works best for me. I love Chamblees and Roses Unlimited but their mediums are root killers here. They hold a lot of water in by the crown and young roots where I don't want it. Since my ground in spring is plenty moist already. I do have really nice soil. So for both if the weather is still nice and cool I plant straight in the prepared beds. The roots just don't do well if left in the high moisture medium.

The only thing that works for me is to remove as much of the soil that they come in as possible. I also do this when potting up when the weather is warm. All I do is tip the pot over to remove the rose. I hold the root ball gently in one hand. Then tap lightly with the other to remove as much as I can. You can tell by the roots when you gotten off as much as you can, Then I gently slip the plant into where it is going. All I can say is it works well for me. The same goes for the bark medium some nurseries use.

erin and zwolfey, how long was your roses' transit time? I called RU today to get the tracking number of my shipment and found out that they sent mine via UPS Ground - expected delivery on Monday next week! Looking at the state of your roses as received, I am very worried that I might get half dead plants next week :(

My order too a week exactly (sent monday and received the following monday); from SC to OR.

Thank you, zwolfey. How are your roses now? Getting better?

I received mine yesterday and was shipped Monday. I live in Georgia so they arrive rather quick. Almost always one day but sometimes two. Mine have always been packed two to one box with very loose soil and have never had issues with anything from them. I wish you the best of luck. Judy

Roseloverinsf, my roses were shipped on a Monday and arrived on a Thursday, so the transit time was about 72 hours. Zwolfey, just so you know, my box wasn't crushed like that, I might contact UPS if I were you. My packaging was identical inside, two to a box with the containers smashed, But, each rose had a plastic bag tied securely around the pot and the boxes were stapled down so tight I had to eventually decide to cut away the box instead of trying to pull the plants out. I didn't have loose soil or a crushed outer box, I think that must've been UPS's fault.

I received my order the other day and find it much easier to just take a knife or a similar object and remove the staples.It's really easy and then lift the boxes out. Mine were half filled with dirt as well, and it must be to save on shipping. Big vigorous plants though :) Mine were ramblers :)

I agree to get that RU soil off the roots. In the many I've bought from RU Ive only lost a couple. And when I removed them from the pot the roots hadn't penetrated the new potting soil. I gently massage the rootball to get as much off as I can and if the roots are a bit "bound" I will loosen the center of the bottom rootball. Seems I remember Pat suggesting they be potted in 2Gs and grown on for a season. This is what I've always done. The roses I've received from the sale are huge and quite a phenomenal value.

Any issues they have now are just cosmetic and will improve with watering until established.

Susan

My RU order arrived yesterday; with 1 day travel only. (I'm only about 6hrs away.) The roses are HUGE, very leafy and good size canes. I tend to agree w/everyone about whatever potting medium they use for shipping the roses. It's terrible stuff, and there's only a "spoonful" in the pots. A couple of mine are loose & wobbly in the pots, as if they were just loosely plunked into a shipping pot w/only the soil attached to their roots. I ordered 4 roses & all 4 were stuffed into the same box, a box just like the smashed on in the photo. 2 of the pots are really smashed & I had a tricky time detangling all the roses. This is only my 3rd order from RU, but @ time one of the roses has no name band. The enormous size and vitality of the roses, plus the low price, made me forgive the terrible potting medium and difficulty in unpacking. I do have to say that RU packing is my least favorite method.

I received my order from RU yesterday, which was one day shipping. I am close by in KY. The plants look very healthy, but I did think the potting soil was too low, so I topped up with a little potting soil and watered thoroughly . It is very hot here now, so I am hoping to postpone repotting for a few days. This is my first order from RU.

I received mine today, 5 of them all healthy and green, and 3 ramblers are huge for bands. 2 of them missing tags, one should be Betty White, the other should be Madame Figaro, I will check their leaves online and tag them myself, which is no big deal. :-) I am glad I got the deal.

The one time I ordered there was very little soil in the pit as well. I tipped the plant out and filled the pot and put the plant on top. They survived

They keep the soil low to make the package lighter. You will have to either repot or add more soil when you get them home. Don't forget these are grown in a greenhouse and are watered every day. If you don't see a tag, dig down a little. Bill told us the tags sometimes sink down into the soil when they are watered.

Thanks Buford, I will check for the tags.

Yes my order I received in May all 4 of the tags were buried under the soil.

It just looks like a little transportation shock to me. Get them in the ground or in bigger pots and they'll be fine in no time. Most shipped roses arrive a little rough because of the travel. Its nothing to worry about :)