Potting climbing plant plugs

[whiskyman]

Just received 3 climbing plants, two of which are plugs. As the days are colder would it be wise to bring the potted plants inside to help to grow a root system?

The two plugs are Jasmine Stephane and Graham Thomas honeysuckle.

[WendyC]

No leave them outside. If they are warmer they will just grow lank pale stems. Pot them into 3" or 3.5" pots and stand them somewhere like a cold greenhouse, cold frame or even up against the house wall.

[Guest]

If potting on I would bring them in. I am also rubbish with jasmine so that would come in any way. Honeysuckle is usually tough as old boots, but the fact you are saying you 'just received' makes me wonder if it is from somewhere where it has been nurtured to the highest point possible. If it looks pretty, leafy and green now - then it is likely to be on the tender side anyway and will need to be indoors.

[whiskyman]

Ok none of you helping, one saying leave them outside and the other inside

They from Thompson & Morgan, three free plants(just pay postage), they woody but only 3 inches tall.

My intentions was to allow them to grow/expand their root system before introducing them to the colder weather so about a few weeks or a month.

[veggiechicken]

Ok none of you helping, one saying leave them outside and the other inside

They from Thompson & Morgan, three free plants(just pay postage), they woody but only 3 inches tall.

My intentions was to allow them to grow/expand their root system before introducing them to the colder weather so about a few weeks or a month.

Then do it your way
I had 6 of those little cuttings last year. I potted them up, think they stayed in a cold GH. The leaves fall off and you're left with a pot with a bit of stick in it. If you're lucky, it will put on new growth in the spring, or you may empty the pots thinking that they're completely dead.
Good luck

[whiskyman]

I was just wondering the best way to give them a better chance of survival for such young small plants at this time of the year. I do have a cold frame which I have to put the window frame back on as it was moved. I recycled 3 double glazing window frames so its pretty heavy. Am I the only one with a double glazing cold frame?

[Guest]

Never thought T+M would send plugs this time of year. T+M usually send planting instructions and should it go horribly wrong they do have good after sales service even on freebies. (in my past experience)

If they are woody you will be fine. I personally would not pot them on though as I don't like plants sitting in wet compost over winter.I would try and find pots/ cells as close to the size of the plug.

Sorry to confuse you, but like so many things gardenwise there is no right or wrong.

[WendyC]

Ok none of you helping, one saying leave them outside and the other inside

They from Thompson & Morgan, three free plants(just pay postage), they woody but only 3 inches tall.

My intentions was to allow them to grow/expand their root system before introducing them to the colder weather so about a few weeks or a month.

Phone T&M and ask them or read the booklet they usually send out with the plants.

[Alison]

Phone T&M and ask them or read the booklet they usually send out with the plants.

Good luck with that, their customer service is terrible - there's been several threads about problems on here.

Whatever you do, don't cosset them too much and if you are giving them more protection hen keep them there until it starts warming up a bit as the shock won't do them any good at all.

[Kristen]

I would get them under cover, but with no heat (so cold greenhouse / cold frame, not in the house). They will be liable to get very wet outside, which may mean the rootball gets waterlogged and the fledgling roots then suffer, plus the pot will freeze solid in cold weather - which would be fine if the compost was on the dry-ish side, not so good if sodden and the water expands as it turns to ice. Don't over-pot either, as the plant will struggle to drink the water in the pot if the pot is large, so smallest pot you can get away with without the roots being pot-bound.

Don't let them dry right out though, a little water during the winter just to keep the plant on tick-ver.

Even so I'd only give small plugs a 50:50 of surviving until next year, I don't think companies should be shipping them at this time of year - but I suppose T&M will offer something if they fail, so perhaps nothing to lose (although theT&M tend to provide a short-duration customer service voucher, so you might not be able to get the same plants, as replacements, within the lifespan of the voucher). Alternative would be to deliberately grow them on with warmth and light, but a windowsill won't really be enough light during the Winter, so personally I would use supplemental light to bring something on at this time - wouldn't be worth the cost of the electricity for small plugs though (although that, alone, is not a reason not to do it of course!)

[whiskyman]

Sorry for the late reply.

T&M recommended I pot them on in 9cm pots. Although at the time I thought I was buying 3 grown plants, not two being plugs but that probably error on my part for not reading probably. They are bigger plugs than other plants(plenty of root system) I bought before so maybe that why T&M supplied them?

I never thought of them getting waterlogged. I will move them to the cold frame, I think that the best alternative between getting plenty of natural light and not getting too wet.

Thank everyone for the suggestions.

[Kristen]

They are bigger plugs than other plants

That sound encouraging there are different sized plugs of course, but I tend to think of "plugs" as being tiddlers. Fingers crossed, particularly if they were a good deal

How We Grow and Send Your Plants | Thompson & Morgan

has everything from Mini-Plug



to Garden-Ready_Plant plugs:

[ThompsonMorgan]

Hi Whiskyman, using a cold frame would be ideal! Your plants are Hardy and very robust but can be susceptible to the frost in their first winter while they are still young. I would recommend keeping them potted up overwinter in your cold frame until all risk of frost has gone. Make sure you pack the cold frame tightly with pots, and add leaves or mulch over the soil surface and into any significant air gaps as this will stop the cold from getting to the roots. Once the warmer weather has arrived, acclimatise your plants for 7-10 days until you plant them out into their final position I hope this helps!!