Those with thick roots or tubers and bulbs, definitely ship dry (daylilies, lilies, dahlias, iris, hosta, etc.). Those with only fine roots (epimedium, dianthus, astrantia, etc.) I would ship with the moisture content that comes would come naturally from a moist soil, as if just dug, and no extra moisture added. All of the workhorse microscopic root hairs will die (as always), but they regenerate quickly. It's the larger roots we need to keep intact.
Regarding my previous martagon post, I neglected to add that I have never had sulking when I replant directly into the garden, rather than a pot. (Realize too, that I have never bought a martagon type lily that needed to be shipped.) In this pic, the first three rows (in front) were transplanted fall 2011, and all came up the following spring. Row 1- L. (martagon type) 'Super Tsing',Row 2 - asiatic crosses, mostly from seed from Øystein, Row 3, L. martagon 'Claude Shride' and L. (martagon type) 'Terrace City'.
