THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030094
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE RELF
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
RECENTLY I MADE a stop at a mass merchandising garden center and found a number of annual bedding plants so dry that most could never recover, and those that did survive would be severely stunted.
I can practically hear the plants calling out for help, but there is little I can do. And I worry that people who buy these plants will have trouble growing them and may blame themselves.
I hate to see a store sell failure and cause people to lose interest in gardening. On several occasions, I have pointed out the problem to a garden section employee. Responses have been interesting.
One employee explained that customer service was top priority, so employees couldn't water plants when there were customers to be served. That implies that customer service includes selling poor-quality, damaged goods.
At another chain, an employee explained that they had not watered a shipment of plants because it came in earlier than expected. He said the plants had to be shipped dry to lessen their weight. After they arrived, the manager wouldn't let them water, because the temperature was near freezing and wet soil would hurt the plants.
The main cause of cold injury is dessication. Roots drying and freezing cause problems.
There is so much misinformation that I'm enlisting help to conquer wilted plant syndrome.
When you see wilted plants in a garden center:
Draw it to the attention of the manager. The staff can't do anything without the boss's approval.
After you ask for help for the wilted plants, walk on by. Don't pay good money for poor quality.
If you decide to buy the plant despite its condition, save the receipt. Many chain stores and garden centers have a money-back guarantee. Odds are you'll need it. MEMO: Dr. Diane Relf is a horticulture specialist with Virginia Cooperative
Extension and is a faculty member at Virginia Tech. by CNB