In article , torgo
wrote:

I placed an order in two parts with Fork and Spade before the end of
their season. The first part arrived last Thursday (having been
shipped the previous Friday).
....
The Ugly: I'm stunned that the roses weren't utterly demolished in
packing and shipping. They were simply put all together into a single
plastic bag, which was then put in a cardboard box for shipping. No
newspaper around the roots. No packing material of any kind around
the bag. Just bare root plants in a bag in a box. Fortunately,
there was no catastrophic damage. A few roots were broken here and
there, and many have "albino" growth (breaking dormancy in the heat
of the box with no sunlight whatsoever) but I don't see anything life
threatening.

....
I put them all into a cart of water to soak. I planted the Austins on
Friday, but due to the storms we've had every day since, the others
are still soaking in the cart. Oddly enough, the ones still soaking
seem to be doing better than the ones I planted. They're putting out
green leaves right there in the cart ! (Anyone ever try hydroponic
rose growing?)

Yes. I barerooted my own Joseph's Coat to move it this winter. It sat
in the water for at least a month with no ill effects, about to open
the first flush. This is contrary to everything we read about drowning
roots, etc etc, but it is commonly reported. So any time a bareroot
arrives looking less than optimal, I soak longer rather than shorter.
Two weeks is common. Late season planting really really really requires
mulching the canes until 2 inches of vigorous new growth starts.