Comments regarding North Carolina Farms, Inc.

I have to say that I was so excited about finding NC Farms that it was very difficult for me not to "go crazy" and order a thousand dollars worth of rooted plugs - it just made so much sense from a value perspective. I finally came to the realization that I am not currently, nor trying to become, a nursery, and that I am not in the position to finish that many rooted plugs. Plus, I knew nothing about NC Farms or their plants, so I settled on just a few plug trays of my favorites(they also have the option for unrooted cuttings that are super cheap, but I know my limitations and I just don't have the skills or patience for cuttings to have a happy ending).

I ordered a 105 tray of trailing Bacopa, a 105 tray of purple Anglelonia and 50 of Cathedral Windows Heuchera at roughly 40 bucks a tray at the end of February. Within a few days, I received confirmation that my order would ship the week of 3/28. The Bacopa and Angelonia arrived on schedule. The Heurchera didn't make it, but I don't take issue with that since we are not talking about finished goods here - plants have a schedule of their own.

I planted all of the plugs, 2 to a 4" pot, within 5 days of their arrival and placed them in my Grow Camp. So far, they all appear quite healthy. I already have a number of family and friends who, upon seeing my bounty, are offering to throw a few bucks my way to take any leftovers off my hands and I am thinking that these plugs could come close to paying for themselves.

I will definitely purchase from NC Farms again. My overall positive experience, however, brings me back to my original dilemma - I am already dreaming about trays of phlox, calibrachoa, fuschia, coleus, double impatiens, lantana, bougainvillea and so many others...

I received some great coleus cuttings. Beautiful specimens.

I'm a startup 'micro' nursery growing for myself, friends, and to see if I can successfully market some of my product.

I started with trays of plant plugs from NC Farms with a 100% success rate. Check their online availability list to see what is actually available before you try to place an order. Use any standard irrigation controller with spray heads to be sure of consistent, controlled watering. Follow their instructions, which is to water when you get the trays, let them recover from shipping for a few days, then transplant to 2"x2"x2" peat pots or to plastic 4" pots.

I then decided to try cuttings, partly as a challenge and partly to reduce my production costs ($0.08 per cutting typical compared to about $0.48 per plug, plus shipping for each). First, I grew 200 cuttings in plug trays in clear plastic storage boxes, misted morning and evening by hand. That worked reasonably well but I did lose a few plants.

In the mean time I ordered a Dig 5006-IP Propogation Controller, and set it up to mist every 5 minutes for about 5 seconds, with DIG mist heads. I grew 700 plants from cuttings with this system and after 2 weeks when the roots were reasonably developed, slowly switched over to daily irrigation. I had 100% success with this system and very happy, healthy plants. Using heating mats under the plug trays works even better by keeping the roots about 10 degrees warmer than the plant, which favors root development over leaf development. (I have a single tray mat but will install 4' wide heat mat for the next production cycle).

If you have problems trying to grow from cuttings it is almost certainly because you don't have a propogation mist system and/or heat mats. They aren't very expensive and are easy to set up. Having a 100% success rate is very satisfying too!

I also ordered 4 trays of assorted succulents, which got me all 19 varieties currently available. The succulents are almost impossible to kill!

NC Farms has been great to work with, no problems at all. Only a couple of their plants are patented so you can take the next step and propogate from your own plants if you want. Although at about $0.08 per cutting ($8 per hundred) it is almost easier to let them maintain the master plants and provide you with the cuttings. And they have a huge variety.

I highly recommend this Co. Ordered from them for the first time, received my order in a timley fashion, but had a problem with the cuttings. When I contacted them they offered a credit or replacement. I chose the replacement and instead of cuttings, they sent rooted plugs at no extra charge. I am very impressed with them and will order again.

here is my order
COLSA 100 COLEUS SUN SERIES ASSORTED 42.00
PETA 100 PETUNIA TRAILING ASSORTED 44.00
SN 100 SNAPDRAGON TRAILING ASSORTED 50.00
COLU 100 Z-URC COLEUS TRAILING ASSORTED 8.00
IPATU 100 Z-URC IPOMOEA ASSORTED TIP 16.00
LOBWU 100 Z-URC LOBELIA TRAILING COMPACT WHITE 14.00
JAU 100 Z-URC WANDERING JEW ASSORTED 7.00

they sent an email almost a week in advance to get ready for my shipment and then a shipping conformation the day before... great packing and quality of plants

photos posted here
//picasaweb.google.com/AllisonNJ71/FlowerShipment

We recently purchased 800 cuttings from NC Farms. We were very happy with the transaction. They notified us well in advance before the day the cuttings were shipped (overnight), so that we could be prepared. All the cuttings arrived in excellent condition. We have not had them long enough to know yet what our rooting success will be, but so far they all look great. We'll definitely order from NC Farms again.

Ordered from them in 2007, Very , Very Happy.I will order from them again, what a great company, I can't rate them as high as they should be, I recommend them highly.. Will buy from them again. :)Anita

Very quick; excellently packaged; good communication.

The cuttings were healthy and rooted very quickly for me. I was extremely pleased with the ease of rooting and the success rate and look forward to beds full of plants and flowers.

I will definitely order with confidence from this company again.

One of the few companies that you can order cuttings from! Their prices are great, and the cuttings did great for me! I ordered from them twice this year, and will order again next year.

This is my 2nd year ordering from them. The cuttings always look great. I have lost very few. Extras are always included to allow for that. This year I had a slight mishap with my order. But it was fixed ASAP. The customer service is wonderful (Thanks Mick) Not only did I get the rest of my order but an extra was included. I will continue to do business with them, and look forward to next years new releases. If you are not on the mailing list for a catalog get one you won't be sorry.If you are in wholesale you can't go wrong with them!

I've purchased from this company two years now and I will go back again this year. They sell in large quantities, but still cheaper than buying just a few at the nursery and my friends can benefit this way. Good, healthy cuttings and plugs. Good service. Nice to work with.