I'm confused--sometimes people have things on their 'want' list, but when you go to their 'have' list, nothing is listed as something they would be willing to trade. Yet I remember reading on this site somewhere that you shouldn't ask people to trade a variety unless they specifically have listed that they will trade it. So how does that work?

IMO it never hurts to ask

There are scammers out there and Im not saying you are one but your plant list is empty, you havent added any photos to the database, and you don't post much. I would suggest getting to know this community a little better and maybe uploading some photos of things you grow to build a relationship with our members before asking to trade. Again I'm not saying you are untrustworthy but I know our members and most will not trade with strangers. Hope I don't sound like a jerk, I promise that's not my intent if I do. I'm just trying to help you out

I think people that do no trading can still have a want list. They want the plants, but none of us can get all the plants we want when we want them, from the vendors we like to use, at the price we can afford, with shipping that seems reasonable...etc.
So we still have plants we want...just in the future.
But, mainly it is like Daniel says, the trading is done mostly by people who have become known to others through their posts and communications. If I am contacted by people I have built up a trust with over time about trading, then we can have a one on one discussion about what is available for trading. For people who have no plant list here on site, who have made few posts, or replies, etc. it is normal to be a little skeptical about what they would be trading. For example: If I have posted pictures of the progress of a plant over the past few years, then it is likely that I actually have that plant, it is things like that that build up confidence in people making them willing to trade. Posting photos, taking part in discussions, showing the plants you received from orders,showing them progressing over the years, are the types of things that build up confidence.
I understand how difficult it can be to trade, I keep a lot of info in my plant list, but do not list any plants as available for trade. I am constantly digging, moving, adding, etc. and not being in the business it is just too much trouble to try and keep and updated running list of plants available for trade. I don't do a lot of trading, but I do some, but I just would not have the time and energy to to be doing all the digging, cleaning, packing, making post office trips etc. it takes when you do a lot of trades.

Daniel, thanks for giving me your two cents about the trading. What you said makes sense, though this situation sort of reminds me of employers who won't hire people unless they have experience, but no one is willing to hire them so that they can get experience! I had at one point considered putting on a list, but I wasn't even sure I could figure out how to do it. I have made a few trades, because I realized that it's so much cheaper for both parties--they're each getting something they want, and only have to pay for the postage. I don't do a lot of trading though, because I find that dividing daylilies is not that easy. The many articles I've read about that say that you should take out the whole clump. Are you kidding me?? I have large clumps that are VERY heavy, and I only want 2 or3 fans. So, I usually try to trade some of my smaller clumps, or ones where a few fans have come up away from the large clump.

I have considered telling someone that if I initiate the trade, I'm willing to send out their plant(s) first, and then they can send out mine if they are happy with what I've sent. That might work, but of course there's never a guarantee that I wouldn't get stung.

Pinkruffles, Maybe you could post here some of your daylilies that you can offer to trade. You may get some interested parties and get your foot in the door. Just a thought.

We would love to see pictures of your daylilies. Many of us here can't get enough of that even if we are not trading or selling or buying. We love daylilies.

If you need help posting pictures, we can help 'talk' you through that also.

Thank you for that idea, Sue. The thing that makes me uncomfortable about that way of doing it, is that I'd feel bad telling someone, 'Sorry, but you don't have anything that I want to trade for'. But I'm at that age where my energy and garden space is limited--unless I want to dig up more grassy areas, which I don't!!!, so I only trade for something I REALLY want. That's why I was looking at the 'want' lists for something I had to trade, and checking the other person's list to see if they had a daylily I wanted very much so we could both be satisfied customers!

pinkruffles said:...this situation sort of reminds me of employers who won't hire people unless they have experience, but no one is willing to hire them so that they can get experience!

I see what you're getting at, but it's not really the best analogy, because in this case you can easily do all of the things Daniel suggested without making a single trade. It's important to establish an online presence as an avid daylily grower, in order to give people confidence.

pinkruffles said: The many articles I've read about that say that you should take out the whole clump. Are you kidding me?? I have large clumps that are VERY heavy, and I only want 2 or 3 fans. So, I usually try to trade some of my smaller clumps, or ones where a few fans have come up away from the large clump.

Those articles are intended as a general guide for garden maintenance. As a general rule, articles about daylily culture vary wildly in accuracy and relevance. Try to get your information from "daylily people" rather than garden writers.

Regarding "trade bait", if I'm going to list plants for trading, I like to have them lined out in small clumps or growing in good-sized pots and well-fed. That way I can get at them easily. If I need to get some fans from a thick clump, I'll take a sharpshooter-type shovel, sometimes called a trenching spade, and take a 6" plug from the edge or the center of the clump, clean it off and pot up the pieces. A handful of compost and alfalfa pellets gets mixed into the soil when it goes back into the hole, and everyone's happy. The fans will recover quickly, and even damaged fans will be trade-ready in a couple of months. When I get a new plant, I'll try to slip off a small piece and put it in a 1-gallon pot in case I want to trade.

Another thing about clumps, daylilies decrease in "value", and by the time you have a big heavy clump, there may not be much demand for that variety.

pinkruffles said: I have considered telling someone that if I initiate the trade, I'm willing to send out their plant(s) first, and then they can send out mine if they are happy with what I've sent. That might work, but of course there's never a guarantee that I wouldn't get stung.

That's not a bad move. Don't expect a lot of action—I've sent quite a few messages to people regarding things on their want list and most of the time I never hear from them. Tastes change, people run out of space, and folks are wary of letting their address out. That's a good reason to get a P.O. Box or a drop-box somewhere.

Lastly, keep track of your trades using the plant list. That way you and your trade partners can provide feedback for each other in the "notes" section.

pinkruffles said:Thank you for that idea, Sue. The thing that makes me uncomfortable about that way of doing it, is that I'd feel bad telling someone, 'Sorry, but you don't have anything that I want to trade for'.

No one will care.

That's why I was looking at the 'want' lists for something I had to trade, and checking the other person's list to see if they had a daylily I wanted very much so we could both be satisfied customers!

If you list a few plants in your own "Have" and "Want" lists, the odds of finding trading partners goes up exponentially.

Not everyone keeps their database up to date, either. Sometimes I see someone has a plant, but it's a person that hasn't changed anything or posted in years. So another reason it's good to contribute a post or three in the "July Bloom" thread every now and then is that people see your name and see what kinds of daylilies you like.

pinkruffles said:I remember reading on this site somewhere that you shouldn't ask people to trade a variety unless they specifically have listed that they will trade it. So how does that work?

If I have something on a person's Want List, and they have something that I'm interested in but it's not listed as being for trade, I will contact them anyway. I simply ask them if they are still looking for that wanted daylily, and if they would be interested in a trade. If they say they are interested, I'll bring up those daylilies that they have that I'm interested in.
As another poster said, a lot of us don't keep their lists updated, especially -- for me, anyway -- when their lists get longer. I'm pretty good at the Have and Want lists, but fall behind on keeping up with those daylilies that have enough fans to trade.

Also, are you on Facebook? There are wonderful groups for buying, selling, and trading daylilies there!

I'm with Lyshack,
I am HORRIBLE at keeping my plant list up to date.

Here are my 2 cents. I've posted many pictures of plants over the years and added photos to the data base. I occasionally raise a question and add my thoughts to someone else's post. I have also just asked someone if they were willing to trade for a plant I really want. As an example, I have asked certain folks for specific Bud Bennett intros that I don't grow and tell them the reason why I really want that plant. We have either been able to work out a trade or I was able to purchase the plant from them. I always feel "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Many of us on these sites have been "burned" in the past with trades and purchases off the Lily Auction. I used to belong to the Daylily Trademart many years ago and it ran twice a year. It was a fun group and everyone posted feedback about the plants they received, so everyone knew who the good trading partners were. We were all invested in getting good plants, so we sent good plants. My rule of thumb is to send plants I would like to receive. I also have some large established clumps and they are a pain to divide, but if there is something I really want, I will bust up the clump.

I usually post a sales list in the classifieds and that is a way to also earn some trust with the members on this site. I have a few regular customers. Be on the look out for my list in the near future. I need to make some room for seedlings and plants that are in pots.

David

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat forever. Unless he refuses to bait the hook or even cast his line. Then he will be forced to buy daylilies... I mean fish.

Daniel---