This is the shipment I received today from the Michigan Bulb Company. Have you seen their glossy ads? Have you ordered from them?
A dwarf fig tree and a Colocasia received in today’s post from The Michigan Bulb Company. A second Colocasia, not in the photo, looks a little bit more healthy than this.
This company gives very variable service. In honesty, I have gotten decent products from them at times in the past. This is the worst I’ve ever seen from this company in terms of the quality of the stock, and the condition on arrival.
The larger plant is a fig tree. It retailed for $5.00, and as you can see, is a well rooted cutting. But, it arrived bone dry and shriveled. The box passed from the postman to me about 5:30 PM this evening. I opened it and photographed the plants before it had been in the house for 30 minutes. And this sad lot is what I found.
(Yes, the plants are all getting a drink while I type.)
Now the Colocasia, also yellow and shriveled, isn’t even what I ordered. I ordered the bare root tuber, and received this little potted start.
I actually ordered two of these, and didn’t photograph the one which arrived in slightly better shape. This tiny, yellow, shriveled Colocasia actually cost $7.49. And, there were shipping charges on top of it all.
Now in case you’re thinking it’s the fault of USPS that the plants are dry, the package was only in transit for four days. The invoice was printed on April 7, and I’m receiving the order on April 11. How do you think these plants looked when they went into the box? Not so good, right?
This fig tree is absolutely bone dry as I unwrap it on delivery.
This is why I prefer to shop locally whenever possible. If you are able to find a good garden center who will stock the plants you want, you will nearly always get a better plant . At least you have a choice in whether or not you want to purchase the plant before bringing it home.
In this case, I paid for these plants in early March. My money has been tied up for six weeks, and this is what I get for it.
Lowes or Home Depot would have consigned these to the compost at least a week ago, yet Michigan Bulb Company shipped them out to me, and thinks I might order from them again.
What do you think?
I’m getting ready to send them an email now. And a copy of the photos. And a link to this post.
Should the company make this good and replace the shriveled stock, you’ll be the second to know about it… right after my partner, who will probably bring the box up to me, from the postman.
Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014
Just to end on a happy note, here are some of the beautiful plants we purchased earlier this afternoon at the Homestead Garden Center. No plant in this entire box cost more than $5.00, by the way. Look how healthy and well cared for they are!
Forest Garden 