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i did it! now when can i take it outdoors?
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Posted by scorpiohorizon 6 OH (My Page) on Thu, Apr 2, 09 at 19:30
| Last fall, I managed to successfully root a cutting of Queen Elizabeth from my late mother-in-law's garden. I didn't know what to do with it over winter, so I put it in a sunny basement window and accidentally forgot about it. It lost all its new leaves, but the stem was still green so I left it alone. Then about 2 weeks ago, I remembered it again and found it with 6 new leaf sets, grown about 10-12 inches! So I started watering it again--heh. The fact that I managed to grow this rose is a total fluke, but I don't want to mess it up now, so at what point can I set this little guy outside? I am on Lake Erie, zone 6, and right now the average day temps are in the 50's, overnight can go to the 30's but it doesn't fall below freezing anymore. I am afraid of shocking it with sudden temp change. Any suggestions on when, and in what manner, I should get this rose into the great wide open?
Thanks!
Jennifer |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: i did it! now when can i take it outdoors?
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| Pick up the plant, open the door, and walk outside holding it. Now it's outside! Put it in a place where it will get some shade. I usually start plants outside on the front stoop which is on the north side of the house. After they've been there for a week or so, they can move to a sunnier spot. Don't worry about temperatures unless the forecast low is below 30°F. If it looks like it will get that cold, bring it back inside. Given the amount of moving I've done to plants over the years, I personally don't believe normal, non-ficus plants have any ability to be shocked by temperature changes. They can get sunburned, and they can get frozen by temperatures below their ability to handle. Anything else isn't a concern. |
RE: i did it! now when can i take it outdoors?
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Jennifer,
Congratulations. Your plant is not accustomed to direct sunlight; all leaves will scorch and fall off. To prevent this, you need to get a translucent milk jug, either 1/2 gal or 1 gal depending on size of your plant. Throw away cap of jug, and cut out bottom; cover your plant with inverted jug. A stake may be needed to keep jug from blowing away. After a couple of weeks, new growth will come through mouth of jug, and jug can be removed. |
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