Hello I ordered a batch of trident maple seedlings in the mail with the intention of growing them in the ground with a tile. Unfortunately they came earlier than I expected and the temperature in the area is fluctuating for the next 10 days, going all the way from 70 F to 30 F. Should I wait before planting them? They've been chilling in my garage for the past week so I wasn't sure where to go from here. Thanks!
Planting seedlings in the ground when it's still cold
- Thread starter BigAbs321
- Start date
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
If you can't plant them immediately your seedlings will survive just fine right though to leaves opening if you pop them in a pot and cover the roots with something damp - soil, potting soil, sawdust, etc. I transplant several thousand of these every year and keep them 'heeled in' like this for 3-4 months.
If hard freeze is past in your area it will be fine to plant them into the ground. Mine manage a few deg below freezing with no problems every year but it never gets really cold so I have no idea what the lowest safe temp after transplant would be. Bear in mind that the soil is a good heat sink and insulator so the roots will be protected from short term dips in temp.
If hard freeze is past in your area it will be fine to plant them into the ground. Mine manage a few deg below freezing with no problems every year but it never gets really cold so I have no idea what the lowest safe temp after transplant would be. Bear in mind that the soil is a good heat sink and insulator so the roots will be protected from short term dips in temp.
I see @Shibui , so if I want to keep them in a pot until the weather is nice with potting soil or something, should I remove the seedlings from the wet moss bundle they're currently in beforehand or just keep it as is in the soil? This is what they currently are in:
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Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
You did not mention the roots wrapped in moss and plastic. They should actually be fine in the bag of moss right through to buds opening. I usually send trident seedlings with the roots wrapped in damp newspaper in a plastic bag. They manage that way for a couple of weeks. In the moss the roots are far better protected but if you are not comfortable with them in a plastic bag just open and put it all in a pot with soil or more moss to maintain moisture. It will not matter if you keep the moss in a pot or replace with soil.
Does not really matter what you use just so long as the roots don't dry out too much.
Does not really matter what you use just so long as the roots don't dry out too much.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I would not wait planting them.
I created a large trident maple forest late Jan. Sat through -15C/5F weather a few weeks later. They are budding now. (https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/sapling-division-leatherback-maple-forest.47926/). Properly dormant trees can handle much worse than many give them credit for.
Protect agains dry winds untill established though.
I created a large trident maple forest late Jan. Sat through -15C/5F weather a few weeks later. They are budding now. (https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/sapling-division-leatherback-maple-forest.47926/). Properly dormant trees can handle much worse than many give them credit for.
Protect agains dry winds untill established though.
Thank you all for your advice! I think for now, since I have a total of 10 seedlings, I'll leave 5 of them as is and plant the other ones over a tile. I'll be sure to protect against winds as you mentioned @leatherback . Is it okay if I work the roots a little bit when planting in the ground?
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
I agree with planting them out if possible.
You should do root pruning before planting. The work you do now will pay off big time later. I cut trident roots really hard before planting out so I know that will not hurt them.
Gotcha, thanks. Just wanted to be sure it would be safe given the weather
