Perennial plug plants

Buggins

Hi
Can anyone tell me the best way to care for these little plants over winter? I have potted into larger pots and brought them into conservatory but don't know how much water to give them over the winter months. Do I just keep them damp or let them dry out between good soakings every so often.
Any help gratefully received!

RAS

Hi

if they are perrennial they may be better off outside and in the ground with a fair bit of grit ro protect them from drowning?

Buggins

Thanks for reply but they are so small I think they will get eaten so was hoping for them to be more robust before putting them in the ground!

TonyMMM

Depends what they are ...

Buggins

Hi
I've got the following:-

Achillea millefolium Cassis
Echinacea primadonna rose
Geum lady stratheden
Salvia blue queen

They are all only just over one and a half inches!

Sunny_Saver

Did you buy from Thompson & Morgan?

Buggins

Hi
I got them via Telegraph but I think they were sent by T & M.

madjackslam

I think RAS is right, they will still be better off outside.

Pot them up into smallish pots (probably 3") and cover the top of the compost with grit. If you can, make up a mini cold frame for them. This might just be a couple of bricks and a pane of glass or plastic to protect them from the worst of the winter wet. Protect them from slugs and snails.

Echinacea, achillea and geum are all pretty tough and should survive the winter.

I don't know about that salvia. Sometimes they can be a bit tender, but I'd still be inclined to go for outside with protection.

It puzzles me that such small plants are offered so late in the season. For achillea, for example, you could have sown seeds (or bought plugs) in spring, and these would now be sizeable plants, in the ground, ready to survive the winter. Now is a good time for planting out, but not for such small plugs. I know T&M, etc, are just after a sale, but it seems irresponsible to me.

Buggins

Thank you ... I was surprised to see how small they are. I will rig up something and keep them outside - and try to remember to water them occasionally!

RAS

Hi - having a bit more info, I basically agree with madjackslam but if possible I would put all four plants in one large pot.

Because a bigger pot will be less inclined to get too dry, too wet, freeze that four small ones; the bulk moderates the extremes. That means it is less vulnerable if you are away/sick/busy and the weather does something extreme.

Sunny_Saver

When I got mine from T&M in September, I was told to keep inside over winter. If I'd Known I wouldnt have bought. They're ok not great.