I also placed an order with direct gardening back in the spring and the items arrived DHL stuffed in my mailbox. My plants were also dry and in bad shape so I planted them in pots in potting mix. Most lived but some did die. The plants spent most of the summer recovering and I planted them in ground just recently. They had developed healthy roots so hopefully they will survive. You cant beat directs prices but I wish they could do better on shipping.

Since it is fall I would try them in the ground but just be sure to give them plenty to drink.

I think it might depend on what you ordered.

Day Lilies can be shipped dry almost any time of the year, soaked and ploped in some nice soil and they are happy. I have found many tubers to be very tough, most bulbs are as well.

I have actually found Society Garlic growing and blooming in a plastic mulch bag that it was carried home from a job in and forgotten. Weeks later, there it was, happy as a clam.

I would pot them up and see that they are well watered and see what happens. I would also let direct gardening know the condition they arrived in, and if any die, I would certainly tell them about that! They may have good prices, but a dead plant is not a bargain!

Jsnie

I had ordered some 'Walk On Me's, some torch lilies, creeping phlox, and some orange glory butterfly plants.

Some came as bare roots, some as plants. Do I need to soak all of them before I plant them? Do you advise planting them in pots, like jasonb did, instead of going directly to the backyard?

I ordered from direct gardenning.A dissappointing experience.Very bad way of shipping i would agree.I ordered 100 periwinlke and 200 creeping flox.Few Irish moss.Three roses and few others I do not have a single plant survived .I got then in March,I orederd in Feb 06.But i should say rose of sharon survived .I ordered 40 and i could not beleive that they sent me only two colors.So....Shall we do more survey on disappointments?

I agree Thishya. We should create a post for Direct Gardening and other shipping disappointments. Let me start one..

Okay.. vishy .Im here for support...