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Shipping stage TC III plantlet |
The TC Stage III plantlets that we ship should ideally be potted up within a couple of days of arrival. They can be stored for a week or so under growing lights at 60-70 degrees F or in a refrigerator at 40 degrees F. We use a plug-type potting mix with some added ground limestone. Plants in culture containers have not developed a moisture-retaining waxy cuticle layer on their leaves and will need to be protected from drying out until the roots have become established and new leaves have appeared. For heuchera, heucherella, and tiarella, this may take 2 to 4 weeks. A mist chamber or humidity domes over the flats will be ideal for this. Otherwise, the plants can be handled like seedlings. TC Stage III plantlets will need about 3 months to fill a 2.5" pot; liners from 2.5" pots when moved up to gallons will grow quickly, making a salable plant in 4 months or so. We recommend ordering TC III plantlets for late spring or summer delivery and planning for finished plants by the following spring. Potted plants of all of these varieties will do best kept in light shade. They should be thought of as all-season foliage plants, and their best leaf color will be shown if they are not being stressed by excessive heat, light, or drought, which will cause burning and greening of the foliage of some purple forms or suffusion with red in many of the silvered forms. The Petite heucheras do best for us in terms of growth habit and coloration in almost full sun in the open garden, but may overheat and dry out when kept in pots in full sun. All of them will look their best when well-fed and grown in a moist, open mix that has not become sour and waterlogged. |
