After a Trade

What does everyone do with a plant that you received in a trade, through the mail, to help it adjust?

Do you keep it in shade, even if it loves the sun?

Do you treat it with anything special (i.e. root stimulator)? Any other kind of special treatment?

Your comments would be appreciated.

Steve

I do pot mine up and shade them, the southern sun can be too much for a transplant even if it's a sun lover. I keep them well watered until I know it's over being uprooted and shipped, and no ferts until I notice new growth. At that time I'll add liquid ferts like miracle gro or equivalent. Usually just common sense stuff and they do fine for me.

Diana

Thanks Diana.

That sounds like my approach also! Since I've been hearing so much about it, I now give bare root plants a nice little soak with Super Thrive before potting them up... but I'm not sure that does more than a nice little soak in plain water, LOL.

Critter,

What is Super Thrive? I have a liquid root stimulant, and I was wondering if that's the way to go.

Steve

I'm not sure what all is in it... vitamins, hormones, etc... The advertising on the packaging makes it look like a "snake oil" type of product, LOL... but some folks here swear by it. I found my little bottle at my LGS, but I think some people got theirs at Walmart. At a drop of two per gallon, that little bottle goes a long way. I'm not sure I've seen any miracles with it, but I think my plants liked having it added to their water over the winter.

I would think a "root stimulant" would be OK... Anything with a lot of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, should probably be avoided, as you want the plant to settle in well rather than to be forcing lots of new top growth. My perennials and transplants typically seem to do very little their first year.

Where do you buy super thrive, I can't seem to find it locally.

As I said above, some people say they can find it at WalMart. I got mine at my favorite LGS (local garden store).

Sharon,
If you can't find any - I can send a bottle with your plants in the house plant swap and you can send me the $$ for it. PLMK

Steve,
You didn't mention (or I missed) what type of plants you were referring to. What everyone said sound great except if your plant is a cactus or succulent. Those you want to wait to water for about a week - same directions as above regarding sun.

No succulents - I just got 35-40 tropicals from a friend. Cannas, gingers, heliconia, EEs, etc.

Steve

Steve,
Wow!! I want a friend like yours!!!
Chantell

Steve, I pot them up and keep them in indirect light. I water with a dilute solution of liquid kelp. That stuff has done wonders in the greenhouse this year.

Thanks, Melissa. I'll look for some.