What do I need to know about buy flower plugs? Do I need to start them indoors under lights, can they be wintersown in jugs? What special care do I need to give them? It is my understanding that I would start them in a multi cell tray? What has been your experience in doing this?
Purchasing flower plugs?
I believe plugs are small plants, a bit bigger than seedlings. If they are perennials in your zone and you buy them early, you should pot them and keep them in a bright window till you can put them outside. What kind of plant are your expecting?
Plugs are the "test tube babies" of the plant world. Some are grown using tissue culture, some are seeds grown under controlled conditions. I got a few at a recent plant swap. They were tiny begonias which would dry out fast if not placed in bigger pots. The potting mix was as big as my pinkie fingernail. They are growing and doing fine - a couple in the garden, a couple in pots.
Pot on into 21/2" pots, put under lights if possible til they get a bit bigger, depending on what they are as to how fast they will grow. Plugs are usually sold to growers from other growers (ie nurseries, trays range from 64,88, 120 or 244 plants. I picked up some trays last year at nursery that recycles pots, they used them (the plugs) to fill haning planter. In potting on things that I had hundreds of, I found they were great. Good Luck, Kathy.
