I would like to be prepared ahead of time but I have little idea how to deal with the plants coming from Wolfgang.
I'm assuming they will be small, with some roots, and considerably stressed by a long trip in a dark box. And they will be arriving likely in the July heat, with August around the corner.

Can I plant them directly into my full-sun semp beds where the daily highs will be 85-95?
I'm wondering if I should instead put them in little pots in a tray so I can move them in or out of shade as the weather dictates. And let them spend the first winter in a rain-free, unheated greenhouse. I think that might be the best route.

What's your plan?
Anyone with experience with this?

They will NOT be small. Thjey will NOT be expensive. I'll give you pictures of the plants before to be sent off. Anyone who wants can say to go out of that deal, any time. I'll do my very best!

I am going to plant in pots, shade for a few days, bright shade for a week and then reassess.
I'll fertilize weakly, weekly with half strength Quick Start. Any plant that's doing very well will go in the nursary garden. Only a little direct sunlight in that area.

I suppose any plant not doing well by late fall, will be brought onto the covered porch. It's an amazing little micro climate up there. And I can control how much water they recieve. Protection from the slashing winter winds too. Does this plan sound reasonable?

I already have most of the soil mixed for the new bed and EU semp pots!
I should have used Bill's electric cement mixer, it wouldn't have taken so darn long!

turini said:They will NOT be small. Thjey will NOT be expensive. I'll give you pictures of the plants before to be sent off. Anyone who wants can say to go out of that deal, any time. I'll do my very best!

I appreciate that, Wolfgang. I am not complaining at all. I'm trying to make sure that everything you send to me survives. Perhaps I worry too much. I have no experience in international shipments.

I have complete faith in what you will be sending Wolfgang.

All that are participating in this venture, understand that they can go for very long periods of time packaged up and in the dark. Would six months in a dark garage with no dirt, roots exposed and piled high on top of each other qualify as a test? Ask dirt.

I always plant the ones that have had a long distance travel into small containers. That way I can control moisture and sun, moving them as needed. In the fall when the rains have returned I usually put them into the raised beds.
The only ones I have ever had problems with are the ones that had all roots cut off.

I don't think a six month confinement in a dark garage is a good plan. I think potting them up is a good idea and when the cool Fall weather starts, I'll see how they look and make a decision at that time. I do remember keeping some semps in a greenhouse last winter and they seemed quite happy. I don't want to lose any because they are not replaceable.

Yes, you do want to err on the side of caution.

valleylynn said:I have complete faith in what you will be sending Wolfgang.

I feel the same way Wolfgang.

I already have my dirt mix placed inside 30-40 small containers and on top of large tray so that I can keep them together and move them together to less or more lighting. I will keep them in pots thru summer and if I had precious land to plant into, I would consider putting the new ones that seem to be doing OK in the ground in the Fall. It only makes sense that if some aren't looking well to hold off planting them until they become/look more acclimated. I think a lot of how well they will do will depend on how diligent we care for them initially. Lots of monitoring of all and of each individual as not all semps are created/grown equally.

Wow, Bev... you really are prepared. I feel like I'm way behind now, I'd better get busy. I think I'll start filling filling pots today, and maybe pick up a bottle of QuickStart while I'm at it.
What size pots are you using? Two inch, four inch or six inch?

Using small 2 inchers already filled , but have larger empty ones standing by. I don't anticipate large offsets (I don't even anticipate wish list of 50 to be filled in its entirety) and as they grow and need larger pots I can accommodate later. My first goal is to keep stuff alive.
I've even collected bottles of Oregon rain water just to make them feel special!

And don't forget to make your plant tags ahead of time.
@turini Wolfgang, what size containers do you think we should use for these new semps?

I agree with Bev, each semp cultivar is a genetic individual with some what different needs and abilities to get going. But over all they should all be very easy to make happy.

Wow, good thinking Bev. I never thought about saving rain water for them.

tcstoehr said:

I appreciate that, Wolfgang. I am not complaining at all. I'm trying to make sure that everything you send to me survives. Perhaps I worry too much. I have no experience in international shipments.

Ditto. I also have no experience with international, group purchases. After only 3 yrs., I consider myself a noobie.

And, I'm with Lynn! I have complete faith in you, Wolfgang. I'm very happy with anticipation!
Also happy to hear the plants won't be small. I just want to do my very best to see that my new plants thrive regardless of their size.
I'm delighted to have been included in this project so late in the process.

I thought I was organized, but Bev's got me beat.

I have 4, 6 and 8 inch clay pots, my soil is mixed and I have 10 nursary trays for transporting. I think they hold 18, 3" squares. I better check to see how many 4" clay pots fit on each. I suspect I'll be starting with 4", maybe a 6" pot for any big guys.

When I recieve new plants, I always do the same thing for everyone. Basically what Lynn described above. After acclimated though, the all get to try out the 3 different areas and I can see where they're happiest. I love that part! And, most will be moved to a bed or one of my "rock pots".

WOW, your'e all are ahead of me. I will plant in 4 inch bigger if needed. I'm just so excited, I can't stand the anticipation!!!!
The only thing that would be better than getting this shipment would to have gone shopping with Wolfgang. These plants will be amazing!!!!!!!

I had almost complete survival of the last year's shipment from Erwin and the year before's shipment from the UK.

I put the German plants in 6" pots on my patio where they got light but NO DIRECT LIGHT. They can't take it right away. Keep the soil moist but not sopping. I gradually weaned them to the light before transferring some to soil in the fall. Others spent the winter on my patio and were planted out in March, during a rainy spell.

If you plant in the garden directly, you can cover the plants with berry baskets that provide shade and keeps the plant from sun scalding.

Hope that helps!

Kevin

JungleShadows said:
Hope that helps!
Kevin

Yes... it helps alot. That, and other folks' responses, is exactly what I'd hoped to get from this thread.

Agreed! Exactly what I was hoping for as well!
Berry baskets, brilliant! Thanks, Kevin!

Well, I'm pulling up in the rear here.
Wolfgang we are all like a bunch of kids on Christmas
Eve here. Please do not feel criticsm.
These plants are just so precious to all of us because we cannot just go to the nursery here and get them. We are in awe of the work that you have done to get them for us and we do not want to lose a single one because we cannot get another and you worked so hard to get them to us.. Those of us who have not done this before are like nervous parents with their first child.. fuss...worry and fuss some more.
Since I am a nursery grower everything is in pots. The order that I got in May from SMG is in 5 in. square pots: one variety per pot. I kept them in the greenhouse until just this week. They are making really good progress. I am sure some will fill the 5 " pot by fall.Then they will come back in the greenhouse as the soil mix is not suitable to be outside over winter. I did the same with the ones I got from Greg and Julia and they are doing well too. The ones I got from Lynn at the workshop are very close to filling their 5' pots and have babies already. They could be moved outside. maybe tomorrow. I used the 5 inch pots so I do not have to transplant before next spring. I think that if anyone is concerned that these will be in transit longer than the ones we order here you could get some liquid kelp, make a weak solution and soak the roots for an hour or so before planting. Superthrive (weak solution) would also be a good soak for roots that may be a bit on the dry side. But do not use both. I used kelp on the order from SMG as I felt the roots were a bit dry. They adjusted very quickly and started growing right away. I do not use any fertilizer until the plants have been in the pots for one week to 10 days. I want the roots to completely re hydrated and maybe even put out some root hairs so they can absorb the fertilizer. Kelp soak really helps this. After a week or 10 days use Quick start of course. I am pretty sure that I would plant in pots in the green house even if I had an outdoor bed as crows and jays like to uproot newly planted semps at my place. They can't do it with bigger plants that have deep roots. We have all been sucessful with even the littlest bit of a trade or gift cutting so we can do this. And i am not worried about pictures.

I agree with Jo Ann. Wolfgang there is no need to take time to do photos of the plants. You already have enough to do.