Bare root seedlings in winter

[dbonsaiw]

Looking at some prior posts, not sure I understand what to do with bare root (deciduous) seedlings received in winter. Do I need to keep them from freezing if I pot them up? I want to use them for root grafts, so can i just take them out of the pot when time to graft?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Depends on the species.
But if they are dormant, pot them up and leave them be.
If they are not dormant, best to provide some protection.

To plants in dormancy, this is like a early spring repot followed by some late frosts (they just last for the second half of the whole winter). They should be able to survive that.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Depends on the species.
But if they are dormant, pot them up and leave them be.
If they are not dormant, best to provide some protection.

I'm looking at JM, trident and Chinese elm. All will be used for root grafting in late winter.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Personally we just pot the seedlings up and mulch all pot in the winter storage area with the other trees. Then pull them out for project work when needed in the late winter early spring. Sometimes later depending on the conditions and ability to provide suitable siting.

Just received a dozen seedlings, runts and normal sized, JM from kaede bonsai-en yesterday. These are potted up and mulched in awaiting inclusion in a couple forest/clumps started over the past two years. Addition of seedlings each year or so helps build reality into the composition.

Just a couple thoughts.

Cheers!
DSD sends

 

[dbonsaiw]

Just received a dozen seedlings, runts and normal sized, JM from kaede bonsai-en yesterday. These are potted up and mulched in awaiting inclusion in a couple forest/clumps started over the past two years. Addition of seedlings each year or so helps build reality into the composition.

Thanks. That's where I was looking as well.

 

[Dav4]

I used to order palmatum and trident seedlings- bare root- every winter with root grafting in mind. They were usually shipped with the roots wrapped in wet newsprint. With the goal being to keep them viable but dormancy, I'd just leave them alone with roots wrapped, keeping them cool/cold without freezing until it was time to perform the grafts. I figured the less I messed with them the better, and they were always ready to go at re-pot season.



... and I eventually started growing my own whips from seeds, as that was easier and cheaper than ordering the seedlings.

 

[dbonsaiw]

keeping them cool/cold without freezing until it was time to perform the grafts.

Thanks. Guaranteeing they won’t freeze is hard for me.

 

[Dav4]

Thanks. Guaranteeing they won’t freeze is hard for me.

It's been close to 10 years, but I'm pretty sure I may have kept them in the garage fridge crisper.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Quite a number of folks with this same concern use the crisper. We don’t, for two reasons.

Maples are pretty tough and secondly our ground doesn’t freeze as often/deeply as folks in the Midwest and n the NE states.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

They were usually shipped with the roots wrapped in wet newsprint. With the goal being to keep them viable but dormancy, I'd just leave them alone with roots wrapped, keeping them cool/cold without freezing until it was time to perform the grafts. I figured the less I messed with them the better, and they were always ready to go at re-pot season.

This is more like my approach (without the worry of freezing). Bare root seedlings are dormant so they don't need to be potted individually. Throw the whole bunch into a pot and pack anything that will prevent the roots drying - soil, potting soil, damp sawdust, mulch, whatever. They won't care if they are all together as they are dormant.
I've also found they don't really care if the roots are 'messed with' while dormant either. Some of my trident seedlings get pulled up and replanted 4 or 5 times through winter as I take some for various jobs or to sell. None have ever objected or failed to grow come spring.

Good luck with the grafting.