Caring For New Plants

You just received your new plants, now what? 

Here is an outlined process for receiving dahlia cuttings and other plants through the mail. 

Water: Your new plants need water as soon as you take them out of the box. We recommend bottom watering your plants. For this you will need a shallow dish or tray. A clean one from your kitchen will work just fine. Pour water into the dish or tray. You do not need to fill it all the way up, just a little will work. Once you have water in the tray, you can now place pot(s) on the tray. The roots from the plant will soak up the water it needs. 

Rest: Although we know you are excited for your new plants, they do need time to make the transition from shipping. We recommend giving your new plant(s) at least 24 hours to rest before disturbing the root system, potting into a larger pot or to begin hardening off outside. During this time, make sure they have access to water and the appropriate amount of light. Indirect light from a window is ok.

Damage: Sometimes the leaves touching the packaging may get damaged from excess moisture during shipping. With a clean pair of snips, you can cut off the problematic leaves and new growth will come. Sometimes because of packaging, leaves will look twisted, etc. They will sort themselves out once they have time to acclimate. If however, there is an issue with your order, we ask that you email us within 24 hours of your delivery with photos of the problem.

Hardening Off:  The hardening off process typically takes 7-14 days. Although this seems unnecessary, we assure you it is the most important step to successfully growing your plants. If you've never done this before, hardening off means slowly exposing plants—previously grown indoors under stable light, temperature, and wind-free conditions—to the harsher outdoor environment. This prevents your plants from burning, wilting, and overall, from an untimely death.

          Days 1–2:

• 1–2 hours outdoors in shade, sheltered from wind.
  Days 3–4:
• 3–4 hours; introduce dappled sunlight.
  Days 5–6:
• 5–6 hours; allow some direct morning sun and light wind.
  Days 7–8:
• Full days outside; bring in only if nights drop below 50°F for warm-season crops.
  Days 9–10:
• Leave out overnight if temperatures are safe.
• Please water your plants during this time. You can use our bottom water method, or you can now use the shower setting on your hose to water.

Every climate is different, so we recommend using your best judgement for your area. Watch your plants carefully. Once your plant(s) are acclimated to your outdoor climate, you are now ready to plant outside.