False economy to buy pot-bound end-of-season plants?

amcluesent

So, dropped into my local Van Hage mega-shed where they are selling off the perennials at 50%-70% or three-for-two offers.

I picked up a Verbena bonariensis at half-price, of course it's badly pot-bound.

I'm always doubtful if these end-of-season sales are worth it, as the plants never seem to come on that well.

What do peeps do to help unpack the roots and give the plants a chance to establish?

jacgab

Plants want to grow - it's what they do - if given the right conditions.

I often buy these plants as I find them very good value for money and have always had 99% success rate. I tease the roots out and snip off any dead or dying part, then plant with some decent compost tucked around their roots and water well.

In March I bought a foot tall varigated holly which was covered in glitter, left over from Christmastime, it was only a £1.00 and now its coming along a treat - nearly 2 foot now and beautifully green.

Buy plants that still have around a half of green left and treat it well - it will reward you.

Good luck.

sassyblue

Nooooo, l buy them and they're usually ok. If it's already starting to wilt and die though l chop them right back so the energy goes into producing roots and surviving, not to the leaves.

a good feed and a nice warm, sheltered spot and the're usually ok - or ok for next year.

wssla00

I LOVE getting these plants! I got some amazing ones this year, including some hardy fuscias for 10p, cottage pinks for 20p and some annuals for 20p. I do what all others do, tease out the roots gently, soak them in some water to give them a good drink for a few hours before I plant them then cut out all of the dead or dying pieces of the plant. It then gets the plant to focus on the roots then once it's established itself it can start to flower. All the annuals have flowered and are looking beautiful and the cottage pinks and the fuscias are all flowering too which look lovely.
At the price they are, they are worth having a go with.

SallyForth_2

and don't forget that with some of these plants you can take cuttings, and thus making lots of new plants!

amcluesent

I think I'll try being radical, get some on 3-for-2, cut off this year's flowers, divide and pot-up with some blood/fish/bonemeal in the compost and overwinter in the coldframe.

cjb02

love end or year plants sales... last year I bought a grape vine "boskoop glory" that was very small and just alive for £1.50, this year it is 8ft tall. next year grapes.... I love it. I also bought a kiwi "boskoop" for £4.50 and that to is also doing very well. They had both been £6 in wilkos. good buys this time but only because they survived.

katiel

The verbena bonsieresis you mentioned will spread itself by self-seeding (at least that's what it seems to do in my garden) so I would just pop that it where you would like more and leave it to go to seed.

roosterpotatoes

I took a gamble and bought a blueberry "twig" from wilkies, it just looked like twigs with dried up leaves.
Now its doing brilliantly, got loads of luscious green leaves and more side shoots forming, its is now looking really healthy. The best £1.50 ive spent lol.
I know ill not get berries for a few years but it will be worth t in the end

wssla00

Rooster- I got one of those from B & M for £1- Woo the cheapies!

Zazen999

Verbena Bonariensis will self seed, and I've had a couple that have also survived the winter and flowered in Yr 2 so go for it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/961.shtml

I've bought grass plants for 20p for 6 in the middle of winter, covered in snow and they are still growing strong. Repot and tease the roots out when you do, give them a feed and they should give you either seeds or a show....depending on the plant and the weather of course.