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I ordered dahlia tubers and glad bulbs from the company this winter. The glad bulbs arrived in great shape, along with a free packet of gift bulbs that were also in great condition.
The dahlia tubers, which they send as clumps, were falling apart. Most of the tubers were falling off the main stem or attached by a couple of strings from what had once been a more solid connections. Most were about to fall off. They look nothing like the clumps that I save for myself or that are available at Home Depot and Lowes. Still, there was enough there so that they tubers would probably be all right. But, since I had read on this site that the company did not respond well if complaints were not made right away, I sent them a note to let them know that the tubers were falling apart.
Readers can judge for themselves whether this information is helpful. I found it somewhat condescending and in some cases questionable. For example, if tubers by themselves ALWAYS produce new plants, then why do people try so hard to include an eye from the stem when dividing up clumps? I came away from the distinct impression that the company was using its supposed expertise to try to mask and evade responsibility for the delivery of a substandard product.
All this said, there appears to be enough left of the product after all the falling tubers are removed to starts some plants. If not, at least I let them know, as required, within the seven days required.
Note from the company:
I am SO glad you were able to bring them right indoors! Good job!
No need to worry about the dahlias -- but I am very glad you brought
it to my attention! This way I can address your concerns. Dahlia tubers,
as we ship them, look like several slender sweet potatoes tied together at
one end. This is just what dahlia tubers do. Where they are "tied" or
joined together is always going to be somewhat dry and a bit brittle after
harvest. The tubers multiply in this fashion, under ground, and it turns
out to be a very good defense mechanism. If a critter eats one of the
tubers, the plant doesn't suffer because there are so many remaining. Or,
if they are stepped on by a donkey or something, they easily break apart at
the point where they are joined, without the individual tubers being
injured.
Each separate tuber, the thing that looks like a slender, dark sweet
potato, would, on its own, grow a complete, flowering dahlia plant. In the
future, when your dahlias have grown immense, this is the way you will want
to divide them. Many companies do divide them, and send just the individual
pieces as separate dahlias tubers. We do not do so, and I recommend that
you not break up the rest of yours at this point simply because the group of
tubers will create a larger plant more quickly than the individual pieces
would alone. But they will all grow and flower.
I ordered 3 bags of Ranunculus Rainbow Mix (order number 3513) on July, 2005. Compared to those sold at Lowes, HD, or other online stores, Easytogrowbulbs' Ranunculus bulbs were big, but in all fairness, they were not 7+ cm (or 2.7+ inches) as advertised. The customer service was impeccable. I received my order within 3 days. It was very hot in Texas during the summer. So Easytogrowbulbs advised me storing the bulbs in a cool place. I followed their advice. I planted the bulbs in the second week of Jan, 2006. It is now the end of April, 2006. Of the 30 bulbs I planted, only 9 of them grew and are now blooming. So, I am kind of disappointed. That is the only reason that keeps me from returning to Easytogrowbulbs. I am very impressed with their services, but not with their products.
