I have put probably 400 or so of Bluestones plants directly into the ground with no problems. Since we are now getting near June, the heat of the hot sun could be hard on the tiny plants, so keep them moist for a couple of weeks for sure. Shading them for a week or so will help but I have never had any problem with the ones I put out in full sun. I have always made sure that I planted them out in early May.

I've been growing all my small plants in pots for awhile before putting them in the ground. I would put the larger size Bluestone plants directly in the ground, but the little ones I definitely put in pots first.

Part of it might depend on your gardens. Our house is new so the gardens are just beng built. They get walked in a lot, and little plants would get lost and possibly stepped on.

I've been having the same question batting around inside my head since small plants were delivered last week from another source. The poor little things are rootbound in what I consider to be too small 2" pots and it's a bear to try and maintain correct moisture level.

Since I don't have beds completely amended I can't plant everything now and the little plants will get trampled as I work in gardens.

Scored a load of shipping pots and trays from Home Depot on Thursday. They were just sitting tossed here and there in the outdoor garden section. Asked the cashier if they save them and she said they just collect them at the end of the day and toss. Let me take as many as I could fit in car with all other stuff I bought. Bleached everything, going to reduce excessive drainage holes and use to pot up tiny rootbound plants until I find them permanent home.

Took me over a week to figure out I can't hold them over in their present containers and there wasn't enough time before they're damaged too far that I won't have to worry about planting them when beds are ready.

Buckets of rain soaked clay soil and haven't been able to work on amending beds for improved drainage.

Got email yesterday about Bluestone's sale and was sorely tempted. Think I'll go for some affordable one quarts or gallons at local nurseries so I don't have to face this situation again. Moving them in and out to harden off, trying to maintain proper moisture and worrying about rootbound state isn't something I have extra time for at this point in gardening season. Everything seems to need close attention this time of year!

I don't even know "what I don't know yet" about all this gardening stuff...LOL.

I always decide when they come.
If the roots look small, or the plant looks stressed and it needs some TLC, I pot it up. Or it the weather report says dry and hot, I'll pot the plant. I have a better time caring for things in my pot ghetto than in the ground.
Sometimes the plant looks very nice and the weather is good, so I'll plant direct.
Remy

I have raised beds that I use as a holding area. It's easier to water them there than in pots.

I usually pot everything up until it's true 4" pot size or larger. It depends a lot on the time of year and where I plan to put the plants. I do it because my beds are very densely planted, and often tiny seedlings just aren't up to competing with mature plants, and because my climate is very dry. Plants generally need to be 4" or larger to make it here.

Thanks for all the replies. I took a chance and popped 'em in the ground today. Now, where did all these rabbits and groundhogs come from? ;-p

"Moving them in and out trying to harden them off.."

Not sure why you're putting yourself through this. Almost all perennials are hardened off when you receive them--a few nurseries send greenhouse raised plants, but they always tell you in the shipping information, and Bluestone is not one of them. And in any case, the problem would be with frost, something you're not going to have in 6b this time of year.

I've gotten a ton of things from Bluestone and I've never potted them first. In fact I've just planted six tiny dianthus that had been sitting on my lawn for close to a month just waiting to go into the ground. And yes, they were rootbound but I just sliced into the potting mixture and teased out a few roots.

The only time I've heard of someone doing this is if they wanted to test out whether the area they wanted to plant would work for that particular plant.

As for me, I generally wait until evening when the temperatures are cooler before I plant my new specimens. By doing this I reduce any stress that might occur.

Heather