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Just received plug plants-help!

clarawicksclarawicks Posts: 53
in Plants
Hi All
have just received a batch of perennial plug plants from Parker’s... they’re in plastic boxes as shown. What do I do with them now? I was going to pot on and put in my mini greenhouse but it’s going to be chilly, so I’m thinking water well and a windowsill until it warms up? Help please x
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Posts

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    I've just potted 40 of them on and I am keeping them in the conservatory on the windowledge until after the weekend (cold snap forecast) and then they will go into a greenhouse with a heater that just keeps it frost free.  If you don't have a greenhouse or a cold frame then you will have to keep them inside until it warms up.  Of course, if they are hardy plants they can go outside in a sheltered spot once the worst of the weather has passed.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited March 2018
    I agree with Yvie, also when you pot them up, carefully untangle the roots or they will continue to go round and round. 
    Just to add, after this cold weekend, they will be ok in the GH or a plastic GH without heat. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • clarawicksclarawicks Posts: 53
    Hi both
    thank you, I’ll keep them in the conservatory initially, and thanks for the tip about the roots!
    clara
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    I've found that plugs are often already root bound to the point where they can't be disentangled. Bad timing (or bad luck) from the growers I suppose. I have on occasions cut the roots vertically but I'm never sure whether that's preferable to a round and round rootball. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I think if you soak them a bit first they will unwind a bit. As long as some of them are untangled. I find a meat skewer or similar works. 

    Those plug plants from Parker’s are usually root bound, they are end of season lines, that’s why they are cheap, but if you look after them well, there’s no reason why they won’t be just fine.
    When I first had this garden, I needed to fill it fairly quickly, I bought all my plants from Parker’s sales, I was very pleased with them, ok, maybe lost a few, but thats a small price to pay, when you look at similar in the garden centres. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • clarawicksclarawicks Posts: 53
    I’m so naive, I didn’t even know what root bound or pot bound was... and yes you are quite right in that a few are very much root bound :(

  • clarawicksclarawicks Posts: 53

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Just tease them apart a bit with your thumb and finger, if the roots are very long you can cut some off, but you will have to do it or they will continue to grow like that. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    The last photo shows a typical congested rootball ; when planting out or whenever , just cut through the root by half , disentangle the rest and this will stimulate new and fresh growth underground .
    The plants will appreciate it !
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’ve never done that Paul, but I will, if it works for you it must be ok, thanks for the tip. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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