Cindi, depending on how fast they grow, you could pot them up and then bury the pots in the ground over the winter. Throwing mulch on top of the plants should help them survive your cold winters. Alternately, if you have an interior garage space that is not heated, you could store the pots in the garage over the winter. An unheated garage will provide them with enough cold to keep them dormant during the winter months.

We have an unheated garage but things still freeze out there, is that ok? I've always been a bit confused when I hear people talking about overwintering things in a unheated building. Would you mind explaining that procedure to me exactly?

We also have an unheated basement but there are no bright lights down there. Things do not freeze there though, is that environment good for overwintering anything?

Thanks!
Cindi

Cindi, keep the plant outside until topgrowth is killed off by the weather and move it into your basement. You want cool temps so the plant won't get tricked into thinking that it is spring and tries to start growing. If it is dormant, the lack of lights shouldn't be an issue.

Ok, now that makes sense to me. Thank you so much for explaining it to me. I can be real dense sometimes.
Cindi

Cindi
I started mine mid winter inside and planted them out already- I feel they can put pretty good growth during the summer. As contrary to some other clems I have grown from seed, stans seems to be pretty robust. I would keep it in pot for little while and see how it does for you.
Normally I keep my seedlings for year or two in pot and then plant out but this one is vigouros enough.

I have the seeds but haven't gotten any to germinate yet. I've tried keeping them in the refrigerator but next winter will try planting seeds in fall and keeping the pots outdoors all winter. What did you do, Cindi and Lindalana?

Nancy,
stans is easy warm germinator, you should not have much trouble with it- gentle bottom heat and light all it takes. I also winter sown them as well- read FAQ on Winter sowing forum- and have seedlings from it.
Sometimes seed source could be in question. Check out Gardens North- I had very good germination from them. Also JLHudson, seedsman.

Hi Nancy,
I bought my seeds from Gardens North. Since it was warm outside I just put them in a seed tray with pro mix, watered them with fungicide, kept them moist and left them outside. I did not add any bottom heat. They sprouted within 7 days. I've never had them inside, they've always been outside. I started with the tray in the shade but shade is hard to come by around my property. Eventually they ended up staying in the sun all the time but I always kept them moist, still do. The growth is slow but they are healthy seedlings and they are responding very well to the sun they get.
The hardest thing for me was and still is finding any information on the plants themselves. I like to read about things that I am growing but this one isn't even listed in my plant encyclopedia!
Cindi

I got my seeds from JL Hudson, and the instructions I could find were for cold stratification, and I have had no luck. I'll have to try some outside. Thanks for the tips!

I just googled and the first hit has a very lovely photo.

Here is a link that might be useful: photo