Not quite sure what you are describing but you need to look for the old stems. They go upwards. If you show a photo we can tell for sure. Keep them moist while you are deciding.

give us a pic ...

but remnants of last years stems.. should be hard and woody ...

and the roots should be a bit more like a limp carrot ...

one trick.. is to lay they horizontal ... until to buds out a tiny bit... so you can observe such.. and then immediately replant them.. roots down ...

do that in shade.. in about one inch of moist soil ... in other words.. trigger growth and SEE which end is up ...

i am wondering about the source of these plants.. they dont sound of the highest quality ...

ken

I uploaded a photo. Thanks for your help!

yikes...

hope you didnt pay much for that

i would .. GUESS ... the right is roots down ...

dont want to tell us your source??

ken