Help! I just bought two 1 gal. Echies Sombreros on clearance at HD. I was shocked, as they were only $2.88 each. They need to be divided badly. I don't think that I want to plant them in the ground just yet, as our winters lately have been too wet. I want to plant them in larger pots with well draining soil, as I think that they will survive the winter better that way. Should I divided them at that time, or should I just loosen the rootball and plant it as is in the larger pot? I'm a little new to growing these plants, and it's been a little challenging with our changing weather patterns lately.

I have not dealt with this particular situation but in my part of SC, which is at least a zone or two cooler than you, I would throw it in our windowless unheated garage and only water very occasionally. Let it go dormant and then divide and out out in garden in late January/early February. I bought some tiny Cheyenne Spirit at a nursery last February, which was still frost danger for us, and planted them out. They did fine.

I would plant them now and divide in the Spring. I have always found they have better survival rate when dividing during the early growth of Spring.

I'm sorry I have been MIA as I've been out of town dealing with a family emergency. Things are stable now, and I'm back at home. , Judy and Bob for your responses. Judy we are in the zone; I'm about 2 1/2 hrs away and only a few degrees warmer. I checked my other planted echies, and see that they are pretty much staying green depending on the extent of frost/freeze damage. They are located in a sunny area. So, they are not completely dormant. Therefore, I think I'll either plant these or sink the pots in the ground now and mulch with straw or shredded oak leaves. Then I'll divide them in spring.

If you bury the pot, just make sure it has excellent drainage.

Karen

Karen. I'll double check the pot.