'plant' vs rooted cutting

17 years ago

I have been purchasing plants through e-bay recently. I have been surprised when what is described as a plant, looks to me to be a rooted cutting. There is probably a fine line here, but what should I be expecting when the seller refers to a pictured hoya, for example, as a "large plant"?

Before ordering from a seller, I always check the feedback for a high number of transactions and a very high rating.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Denise
17 years ago
Hi Penguinesque,

I suspect I know what seller you may be referring to. I've bought a lot of my Hoyas from Cowboyflowerman and have been overall happy, but he tends to imply they are established plants whereas I would call them either rooted cuttings or rooting cuttings. I've gotten them both ways - "rooted" as in a nice start to a root system...lots of hair roots, but not so rooted that I would call it a "rootball." Some aren't even that far along, though, so I would call them "rooting" cuttings, because they're only in the very beginning stages of rooting.

And yes, I think it's a little decieving, and I did once e-mail him suggesting he refer to his plants as rooted or rooting cuttings, but got no response. But they're healthy and I do still order form him because his plants are well grown and fairly cheap and usually do well after an initial adjustment. But I agree - they should be more up-front about that so you really know what you're getting.

Denise in Omaha
User
17 years ago
Oh how interesting. Thanks Denise, I've always wanted to order from him & may do do next Spring. I'll likely still do so, but it's interesting to learn this; won't be any surprises.
Related Professionals
Mobile Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Vincennes Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Johnson City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lake City Landscape Contractors · Southaven Landscape Contractors · McAllen Landscape Contractors · Lima Landscape Contractors · Cape Coral Custom Countertops · Fort Myers Custom Countertops · Topeka Custom Countertops · Lincoln Custom Countertops · Rochester Custom Countertops · Canton Custom Countertops · Stockton Custom Countertops · Missoula Custom Countertops
patrick51
17 years ago
As an aside, Pirate Girl...see my earlier thread on how thrilled I was with my recent purchase from CBFM... the purchases I made in the spring and summer were small and the roots weren't fully grown...the ones from this week are enormous and very well-rooted...so, perhaps ordering in the fall is the answer, perhaps giving the cuttings extra time to grow, from spring until fall...just my opinion...these new plants are wonderful!! Patrick
beachplant
17 years ago
You can't always go by the ratings either! E-bay has fixed it somewhat but I've not found it reliable. To me a "large" plant is just that, a large plant. And a small rooted cutting is a small rooted cutting, technically I guess it's a plant but that is deceitful. There should always be a picture of the actual plant or cutting you are bidding on. Otherwise I wouldn't bother. Cuttings and small plants should be a lot less than a "large" plant.
Tally HO!