Sorry about your loss. I would call the company and get a new one sent out. You are entitled for a refund in my book.

Definitely plan to, but do you think it will heal?

Is the stalk broken or just a leaf? Can you send a picture?

Hi Lisa, I would still try to root it because I always give it a try, what do you have to lose at this point. Where are you? Lowe's will have them in May or June in some parts of the country. Barb

Like I said, the 14.5" inch cutting (stalk) was broken at the 9" mark, but only two thirds of the way through. A picture wouldn't help because I already taped it closed, but the one leaf on it looks healthy, lol.

I live in Idaho, zone 6b-7. I will be keeping it in a pot and moving indoors for cold weather.

If it still was wet and the sap was flowing you stand a pretty good chance of it essentially grafting back to itself. I would go ahead and contact the seller but also still try to root it. Either way you bought a whole cutting and while no fault of your seller...hopefully the seller shipped with insurance so he can be made whole too.

That's what I was hoping someone say, that it would graft itself back together, just couldn't remember what it was called, lol....thank you everyone for the advice, cross your fingers for me!

Lisa, Miami Rose is incredibly tough for a plumie. The one I bought my mom (grafted) got a small rotten spot that I cut out just in case, and it ended up a pretty deep hole that went halfway into the trunk. That little tree didn't blink, and is now growing into a monster tree.

Your seller should contact the USPS, and use a bigger box to ship next time :)

Thank you Jandey1, I have contacted the shipper and am waiting to hear back still. Upon further inspection, it looks like the cutting was broken LONG before it was shipped, and the moisture I was seeing was from the shipper tearing it more, so I ended up turning it into two cuttings. Now I am just waiting a week for the little parts that were connected to scab over and dry. One piece is exactly 6" (the limit from what I've read) and was the top piece with the leaves and inflorescence on it. The other half is about 9", but it's the ugly bottom with no growth, so I guess we will see how tough she really is, lol.

Well, it's been a week now, with no response from the seller of this purchase gone horribly wrong, even though I have emailed them every day. Good thing I took pictures, guess I'm going to have to sick PayPal on them....

Lisa, that's a shame. If you don't mind letting us know if you ever hear back, then new growers will know who to avoid in future. Plant purchases by mail order can be a bit of a minefield, unfortunately.

I ordered it from ThePlantAttraction.com. Avoid these people. I think it's just a private party, he was answering all my emails within just hours, until the package showed up, that is. Have not heard a peep out of him in the week since that smashed up parcel showed up at my front door. I emailed PayPal last night, haven't heard from them either. Unfortunately, I didn't use a personal PP account, just went through his PP checkout system linked to his account, so hopefully they will still help me get a refund. =(

So, here's a sideways and backwards outcome for you guys, lol....Still haven't heard back from seller OR PayPal (they will be getting an angry call in a few minutes)....I potted up my two halves on Saturday night. Today I started reading up on water rooting. Apparently it's a better choice for rooting the more difficult species, especially reds like my Miami Rose. So I very gently unearthed by two poor abused cuttings, and was completely shocked at what I found. The larger 9" cutting had started to rot, and the little 6" cutting has root nubs/popcorn already after only FOUR days!!!

After seeing that, I very gently repotted the little one, and recut the long one the fleshy white area, and I will try water rooting that one. =D