Well, I've learned another lesson the hard way.

I'd just finished cutting back my foliage in Jan when I got my first two boxes of plants for the year so..................when I planted them I thought "I'll just cut these back too in case there is rust on the ones from FL." The plants that were in the garden and cut back are up several inches but the new ones are barely showing green from the tops of their cuts. I should have known it would stress them too much to have to re-establish the roots in their new homes and put up shoots.

Don't do this!

Thanks! Thats good info as I'm getting so many from Florida off the LA. They will come in May.

Well, I learned a lesson today myself. Dont order plants back in October and give your credit card info. Come the end of February, when your a tight budget, its not fun to get the email that $$$$$$$$$$$ has been charged to your account. YIKES. First time Ive not paid as I go, lesson learned. O well, who needed to pay the property taxes anyway

Yikes! Thanks for the advice.

I have a friend in southern Alabama and she said she has rust already this year.... Buy southern plants in the fall, I guess...

Ramona, spring and fall are the rust seasons in the south. If they have a warm winter the very southern plants can show it even earlier.

Leslie, did you peel the outer leaves away as well as cut them back? Maybe they are just slow to grow from the top while they are establishing the roots. Geez, I really hope they will be okay. Perhaps as the weather warms up more, the plants will adjust, and grow better.

I have been fighting rust like nobodies business. Especially on a few specific plants. As long as it had to freeze this week, instead of lamenting my losses, Im saying YEA, maybe it killed that rust too!!! I have a Gaskin...Sara Griffeth Jackson...or something like that, named for her Mother.
I have been fighting rust on that for months. Worse part is, it sits next to my beloved Dutch Yellow Truffle. ;-)

OH NO!!!!! Not the dear Dutch Yellow Truffle!

I'm sad to hear that as I have that Gaskins one coming this spring. ;(

Shirlee, I cut the foliage to the ground. They'll come back but I'm sorry I set them back so much.

My friend Memory Jordan burns her plants to the ground each year with a blow torch. That's how she makes sure not to have rust.

Leslie, as you know I have SGJ but I don't remember seeing rust on it at all last year here.

Leslie, it may take a bit to get adjusted to gardening in SC than in FL. I am sure they will recover so don't you stress too lol.

Thanks Ladies!