I think that in general whenever a plant is introduced to a new type of soil, there is a chance that the plant could go into shock. Because of this, I think that when you dig up plants you should shake off as much of the old soil as you can before planting it in it's new location. Also, I don't recommend potting the plant up before giving it to your friend. Get it to them ASAP to lessen the stress of being dug up as much as possible. However, if it has to sit for a couple of days (for whatever reason) wrap it in moist (but not completely drenched) paper towels and keep it out of the sun.

I'm sure in colder climates the warmer soil of pots would be a critical difference. I wonder if it would be here. In summer one thing we don't lack is warm (hot) soil. When I potted up these giveaway plants, I took them "as is", garden soil and all. I'm not sure my situation is relevant to my question as much as to the question "does a little pruning help to revitalize plants that have not been growing". However, I have been considering the reverse situation - potting to provide colder soil temps in winter. I read that hostas can do better here if planted in the ground in pots and then pulled out in winter to receive greater exposure to the little chill we get. I was wondering if that would benefit Hybrid Perpetual roses such as Baronne Prevost and Marchesa Bocella. I plan to un-plant BP into a pot and maybe sink it in the ground during hot weather only. Anybody have a guess if these colder climate roses would benefit from chillier roots in winter? Sherry

Anybody dare take a shot at the flowering plants?! I'll try with major fail: 1. Rhododendron 2. Rhododendron 3. Bromeliad 4. Bromeliad 5. Wandering Jew 6. Bromeliad 7. Bromeliad 8. Orchid 9. Tropical Hibiscus Annual Vinca Fan Palm Lantana/Verbena Annual vinca although I cannot convince myself those leaves don't look a lot like Kalmia. Dax

I wouldn't count on it. But give 'er a whirl, spend very little effort to re-plant and see what happens. But they will be unattractive and problematic and hopefully in a decade or so they will have survived and suckered into something controllable for you. If you are down here on the Front Range they usu. don't grow well here anyways - and when they do they sucker everywhere and are a nuisance - so good chance nothing lost. Dan