I don't know where you read that, but in my opinion it isn't true. If it were, none of my 650 daylilies would have lived. It's best not to plant them when temps are already in the 90s, but I've even done that and they survived and flourished. As long as you're not paying $100 a fan for new intros, I would go for it.

Debra

You can always start them in a pot, keep them watered, but never soggy, and they will do fine. I too plant them when I get them and never worry about the temp.
kay

I would endorse what Kay and Debra both say...we have purchased plants annually from Ashwood Gardens in Ohio (we're on the far side of Indiana). We make an annual 4th of July trek to Richard Norris' place and bring plants back and put them in the ground immediately. We water when dry and they have all thrived. Some have rebloomed that same summer after planting. Other smaller ones ordered through the mail have been potted and kept moist and done very well, to be put into the garden later.

The only caution I would make is to not plant southern-grown ones late in the fall in the north. They won't have time to get established and you may have them frost-heave or freeze out over winter. We make sure to plant southern mail-ordered plants earlier so they can adapt before fall and winter. So, there's three votes saying GO FOR IT!

Everyone assumes that when you are buying your new daylilies they will be bare root. Already potted daylilies would obviously not have any problems at all........ I'm biased somewhat since I pot most of my daylilies, but I'd go along with Kay if you have any doubts about it. Plant your new daylilies in a pot for greater control of watering and soil (use a good well drained potting mix). You can always plant them later this fall after they are established...........Maryl

Thank you all for your help and advice.

Follow up questions...

If I buy 3-4 bareroot fans of a particular daylily and decide to plant it in a pot just to be sure I can regulate the temperature, what size pot would I need? And would I want to plant it in potting soil/miracle grow or would it be best to plant it in the dirt from my flower garden?

big enough pot for teh roots not to be too crowded. Don't plant to ddp the crown doesn't need to be covered..you can see how deeply it was planted before. I plant in potting soil...

kay

I planted a bunch of them about 4 or 5 years ago in upper 90's temp. in pots and set them right out in the sun for several months before planting them. now they back in pots again, since I moved,and they will stay in pots now, they ae all in 2.5 gallon potsand do fine in them.if they get too crowded I divide them out and put some in another pot and share some.

jean

Whatever potting mix you buy make sure it is well drained. Miracle Grow without amendments has been too heavy in my experience. If you add some additional perilite to it (about a small hand full per gallon (10 inch) pot, it should work out in a temporary situation. When you get your bare roots or if you have seen them before note that they have "swollen" tubers and many of the roots are thick. That's a method the plant uses to store moisture. That translates into watching how much you water. Plants such as roses and many annuals have thin roots and require more moisture then daylilies do. Just keep the soil moist, not wet, especially until the new daylily settles and starts to put out small feeder roots. Until then over watering can cause root rot....I'm sure we'd all be interested in what you select and how it goes for you. Best of luck and watch out for the daylily bug. Once it bites you, you may never be the same. Look at all of us-lol.........Maryl