I just recently planted up 12 Dawn Redwoods. Might very briefly have had them in a bucket of tepid water while transplanting into pots, but they can go directly into soil without a problem. Keep them very cool put protected from heavy frost before the Spring--I have mine in a garage with temps between 45-50 F.

Can I grow them in just regular Miracle grow potting soil with maybe some perlite mixed in for drainage?

You could, if the soil is workable and you can dig it I would just plant them immediately, they'll make it. I planted some two foot tall bare roots in chicago two years ago in mid november and they did fine, had some minimal die back on the top but quickly regained that the next year. Just don't let the roots dry out. I would get them in some soil as soon as possible.

boy your zone is foreign to me ...

but i have a few thoughts..

dormant is dormant... if the soil is workable... plant them ... and let ma nature take care of them ... any time you add variables.. like pots... you are increasing your odds of messing it all up ...

if you have experience with pots its one thing... but if you dont... let her take care of them ...

second... most peat based soil-less mixes... hold way too much water in the long run ... it isnt that it will hurt initially ... the issue is that they may NOT dry out sufficiently, since your inclination will be to keep watering them .. dormant plants need a bit of moisture to keep from drying out.. but they really dont 'need' water.. if you can see the difference ...

when i pot any kind of trees or conifers... i use 50% peat mix.. and 50% mini bark chunks.. water flows in the top.. and right out the bottom ... retaining just the VERY LITTLE the plant actually needs .... and i might only water them once or twice a month .. MOST trees just dont need that much water ... and you will do more harm than good trying to grow them as a perennial or swamp plant ... even those plants that can tolerate swampy conditions in nature.. will not appreciate a swampy pot ...

and do NOT over think a DORMANT plant .... its asleep ... dont provide things that an active tree needs ... no fert.. not too much water.. and not too much heat.. all of which ma nature can provide wih little or no effort from you ...

come summer .. its a whole nother ball of wax.. you are responsible for all water for two years .... only in drought the second ....

you will have to work real hard .. to kill these things... by loving them up too much ...

good luck

ken

Haha. My zone is foreign. Thats funny. Thanks for your help you guys. I hope they grow insanely fast like Dax's did.

Being bare-rooted actually means these are more vulnerable to cold weather than they would be if received established in pots. Most bare-rooted stock is planted in spring because of this. However, since this is a hardy tree and you are in USDA 7 planting them out immediately should be tried - unless you are having an Arctic spell, as we are here. In that case they should be stored for planting later, during non-frigid weather.

Mulch well after planting. If severe cold occurs before spring, consider sheltering the tops during the cold period.

Bare-rooted woody plants coming from commercial warehouses have few live feeder roots left, making them basically big hardwood cuttings.

Thank you. I wrapped the roots in some wet paper towel. I also potted up one of the dawns to grow, as I would like to plant these on our new property (we will eventually move, not sure when). What is the best way to store them?

So, I potted them, now should I put them into my garage where it gets cool so that they can continue their dormancy?

From the very first response to your Thread, by njoasis:

"Keep them very cool put protected from heavy frost before the Spring--I have mine in a garage with temps between 45-50 F."

Good luck.

Josh

Oh sorry. I seem to be bad about doing that. Thanks!

You're welcome ;)