Sorry to hear that Henry. Most of the forum regulars are well aware that Hortico has a checkered past in regards to reliability, quality of stock, and the ability to actually ship the plants you ordered (certain items are often not available come shipping time). Then there is the matter of them repeatedly selling misidentified/mislabeled plants. I won't buy from them.

That's rough as I don't expect 35 roses came cheap. In consolation, there is something to be said for ease of establishing small transplants rather than larger plants. It is often good practice to cut back newly planted shrubs so the roots can get going without pressure to shift water and nutrients to luxuriant top growth. As long as the plants are still alive, small plants will grow away often overtaking plants which had been bought as much larger specimens.

I got my order (8 HT's) from Hortico last week. I will say when I compared them to the roses I picked up from a nursery, they paled (really paled) in comparison. As I was planting them I looked at the 3 I had ordered from Hortico 2 years ago (Shi-un, Old Fragrance and Royal William). This year they were 3 of the biggest, most beautiful roses in the garden. Don't despair yet!

Jim, I have the same experience with Hortico. Got Sandra renaissance and Imperatrice Farrah from them several years ago and they have gone from tiny sticks to two healthy monsters. They have a good selection but many horror stories.

I am NOT a Hortico supporter, however, there are a number of honestly logical reasons why their plants are smaller. Length and intensity of growing season is the first. It may be their catalog, or Pickering's, or some other Canadian nursery's which explains that. Multiflora root stock is the second. It doesn't push husky growth as quickly as Dr. Huey (another reason it became our standard), but if they're planted properly where multiflora and the scions are happy, they should take off like gang busters.

As long as you received vital, healthy, PROPERLY NAMED plants, you should be good to go. I too frequently didn't receive any of that...moldy, mushy, slimy plants which very often were NOT what was ordered or on the receipt and much too frequently, not even all the plants I PAID FOR nor refunds or replacements for what wasn't received. If that wasn't your experience, consider yourself blessed! Kim

I just got my Hortico order and I am very pleased with it. They are starting to get leaves now, eager to grow. All canes were green. I have ordered from Hortico for many years and yes, I have heard the negative responses. But for my part - I have never been anything but pleased. They have roses no one else has and I am happy to order from them. I think if you plant your roses properly, give them light, water, mulch, fertilizer [at the proper time!] you will be pleased with them. Give them a chance and good luck.
Judith

Yes, sometimes there plants are smaller, but in my soil they do "take off like gangbusters" as Kim said. Grafted roses grow so fast, I wouldn't worry about their smaller size as long as they are healthy :)

Tammy

I question the size of the rootstocks. They actually graft on to canes that are as small as 3/8 of an inch in diameter if that. They do graft at the bottom of the cane which is good and they leave a lot of roots so I do expect them to take off. However I still had to replace 1/3 of them because they were just too tiny and I want reasonable blooms this spring. I knew about Hortico's reputation but I talked at length with them and they also were the only place available for grafted roses. And they were the first roses I bought in about 15 years so I wasn't aware how things had changed. I also talked at length with Regan and my next order will be from them.

Why grafted, Henry?

Perhaps it's a carry over from his years gardening in a shorter, colder climate? Or, perhaps he wants larger plants to begin with so they'll mature and perform faster now he's in a more benign climate? Kim

I've never had any problems what-so-ever with grafted roses and they are huge and blooming two months after you plant them. Bands make you wait a year. If I wanted bands I would have made my own. It's very easy.