Hostas and Ferns -- and time running away

SkyKero

I bought some "bulbs" for both Hostas and Ferns -- and I didn't get them in the ground -- and the next frost could come by November 15th here in Atlanta. To not lose the "bulbs" -- I plan to do the following ---
Please let me know if it makes sense.

I plant to put each "bulb" in a large 1 gallon pot either -- put them in my garage or inside the house for a month or so -- then put them outside so they get their "required" freeze -- (they do need to freeze? or just be cold)
And then plant them in the spring.

Do you think they will survive -- any ideas?

Thank you for all your help --

Silvia -- who doesn't know where the time goes!

rainbowgardener · Mod Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 6082 Location: Ohio, USA

THe hostas do not need to freeze, just to have a month or so of cold (around 39 degrees). People that live in warm climates put them in refrigerators to give them the cold dormancy they need.

Your problem is with not getting them planted, they didn't get time to establish roots and harden themselves off to get ready for winter. So then you pot them up, bring them inside to have a chance to get established and then you immediately throw them outside into the worst of winter (which may not be very worse where you are Smile

). The question is having given them a chance to establish roots etc, can you find a way to give them a bit more gradual transition to winter? Perhaps put the pots outside in the daytime but bring them in during cold nights for a week or so, to help them transition?

"Ferns" covers a lot of ground from temperate varieties to giant Costa Rican tree ferns that don't have dormancy.... If you have temperate varieties that need dormancy, I imagine the above would apply.

SkyKero · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

YEs! I can put them in the basement the garage -- it stays cooler there than the rest of the house Smile

And put them out during the da

I will attempt this -- I need to remember that I am still a baby at this .. and I want to just run and get these plants growing...

Though -- i do have my outdoor plans for the winter --- TACKLE the ivy in the back yard -- I will be busy Smile