Hi K,

Sounds like you picked up loose tubers. Usually this leads to the trouble you are talking about.

Also never buy a grab bag of mixed colors - I did that one time by picking up a bag of 20 gladiolous. The picture on the bag showed a rainbow of colored glads but I got 15 orange and 5 white. If it isn't bagged or blooming, I usually don't buy it. There are exceptions though. I have bought mixed oriental and asian lilies from Jackson and Perkins and mixed daylilies from Park Seeds and been very pleased with the selections. Also Jackson and Perkins has very nice begonia tubers and the colors are always right.

If you aren't happy about any plants you buy take it back as soon as possible. If you are buying mail order, make sure you buy from a reputable seller if you want to insure you get what you think you are buying.

It's like the old adage "sometimes you get what you pay for".

Butch