Plants by Post.

I recently find myself buying more and more plants by Post. Many of them come with quite contradictory info re. planting. Some say water and plant out immediately others say keep in a shady area for 24hrs to allow plant to recover from being in the dark. Some say nothing at all. Does a plant that's been trussed up in a dark box need it's freedom ASAP or does it need to be slowly introduced to daylight?

 

Depends what it is. Bare rooted hedging will require different treatment than plug plants, for example.

 

I buy lots of plants online and I unpack ASAP. Yes, they will suffer some sort of shock in the dark, because of transport vibration and rough treatment so they will need to re adjust for a few hours or so.


The regime then depends on time of year..........plugs in early spring are freed of any hessian around the roots, potted into 9cm pots, watered and then kept in warm conservatory. I cover with fleece for 24 hours or so.
Bigger plants are treated similarly
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Plants received at this time of year are unpacked ASAP, potted on if needed, watered well and placed outside out of the sun for a couple of days then moved into sunnier spots.

I don’t buy bare roots and would never recommend buying this way.

 

Morning wiseowl. I've had plugs of Fuschia "Tom thumb", Cupressus "Totem pole". 9cm pots of Verbena Bonariensis, Tulbaghia Violacea, Rhododendron Yakushimanum, Geranium "Orion" and various David Austin roses. All were held in shade for. 24 hrs except the Totem. All are doing well now except the Totem. One is bent due to bad packaging and I'd be grateful if anyone could suggest how I can get it straight again.
Thank you Verdun for your regime. V. Helpful. Maybe I should leave the plants in the shade for a bit longer as I'm on the south coast and when it's sunny, it's SUNNY!

 

Who am I?
Insert a cane, or two, and gently tie in Totem from the bottom, middle and loosely at the top. It should straighten out relatively quickly. As it straightens tie in a little more firmly

 

Thanks again verdun. I had tied it in previously but probably not enough ties. I'd removed the cane to illustrate the problem. I've used more ties now. Fingers crossed.

 

Excellent
You can probably pot it on in September too

 

@Verdun. Out of interest why wouldn't you buy bare root plants by post. As Im getting more adventurous I see things on gardening programmes and want them and as I don't go out much and also garden centres have limited choice I thought it might be the way to go. Im after some 'Blue Paradise' Phlox in particular just now.

 

@Who am I? Love your username. Who are you? Im a ewe! No who are you? I said Im a ewe!

Sorry couldn't resist the quote from the film Babe. I'll get my coat shall I?

 

Because often they have dried out and shrivelled and sometimes take a season to grow again and are a boon for cheap skates to sell on plants cheap I think Cindy
I much prefer to look for smaller pot grown plants, esp in autumn and winter, that are just as cheap and grow away without any bother.
Check out for yourself ....you can buy plants in half litre or 1 litre pots in the dormant season and be pleasantly surprised at how good they can be. Many excellent online suppliers now competing very well

 

Cindy,have a look at Ballyroberts website....half litre phlox blue paradise for £4.99. I often buy from them. Fast despatch and excellent plants.

 

@Who am I?
No afraid not. My birthday is in August and the more I have the less I like it.
@Verdun I will do that. thanks for the tip

 

I have bought loads of hedging and a few trees bare rooted in the winter months and have never been disappointed. It's a fraction of the cost of potted shrubs and if planting a long hedge cost is a major consideration.