Upon Arrival
Unpack at once. If plug flats are covered with netting, cut this off with scissors. Do not attempt to slide the flat out or damage may result. Inspect for any plugs that may have come out of their cell in shipping and place back in their respective cells. Water, if dry. Note that some types of Sedum are shipped on the dry side on purpose to prevent mold in transit.
Holding plug flats until planting
Plugs and liners require fresh air and should be kept in a well-ventilated and well-lit area that is free of cold drafts for about 24 hours after arrival. Keep out of direct sun and keep a close watch on moisture. Plugs can dry out rapidly when exposed to wind and sun. Make sure that the plugs and liners are always upright, and not lying on their sides. Plant into the desired containers or beds as soon as possible.
Fertilizer & feeding
Before you transplant plugs and liners into the garden or landscape, feed them in their trays with a liquid fertilizer solution that is labeled for feeding your particular plant. This helps promote early growth and can reduce transplant shock. Water your plants and liners to keep the soil moist, but not soggy until you are ready to transplant them into pots or your garden. If you’re keeping your plugs and liners outdoors, a shaded location can help prevent drying out of the soil and minimize problems.
Planting out
Water your plugs and liners about one to two hours before planting. Remove the plug or liner from its tray by pushing up on the bottom. DO NOT PULL PLANTS OUT OF THE TRAYS BY THE STEMS OR LEAVES! This can break the stem and/or damage the roots!
When you plant your plugs or liners, cover the top of the plug with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil, but no more than this. If you are not yet ready to plant in the garden, transfer it to a small pot or a seed tray that is filled with general purpose potting soil. Do not use garden soil in pots. Water the planted plugs and liners thoroughly at planting and then do not water again until the soil feels dry. In the days following transplant, keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. After the first week, reduce watering to weekly intervals, or as required by your particular species of plant.
Protect new plantings from frost and freezing. While most of these varieties are perfectly hardy, new young growth may be damaged by a freeze or frost.
Variety identification
Plugs are identified according to variety by either a tag taped to the cardboard insert containing the flat, a label within the flat, or a sticker on one end of the plug flat. Mixed Sedum flats will not have individual varieties specified unless special-ordered to contain specific varieties.
Pruning plugs
Pruning at planting is usually not necessary unless the plugs are of a trailing type and have become tangled. Small scissors can be used to trim away excess growth. Please note that for management reasons, we frequently prune plug flats during production, and sometimes just prior to shipment. This is especially true for ground cover type items that spread.
Dormant plugs
Plug and liner flats shipped late fall through early spring may be dormant. New growth may take 2-4 weeks to commence, depending on weather conditions and time of year.
Warm season perennial grasses will not show growth until soil temperature is at least 55 degrees.
Dividing plugs
We do not recommend dividing plugs at planting. One exception is the sagina subulata (Irish and Scotch Moss) group, which can be carefully divided in two in order to fit between pavers or stones. However, do so at your own risk!
Lavender plugs
A note on Lavender plugs: Lavender stems are brittle by Nature, and will break easily if not handled with care. Lavender is also very sensitive to over-watering. Keep on the dry side.