This is a bad swap time except for very mild winter areas.

Were they potted up 2 months ago so they will have had time to form a root mass?

If they have a root mass, they probably will be safe if that root mass is kept intact as they are placed in soil.

Generally rhizomes are planted (with the tops of the rhizomes exposed) 6 weeks before the first frosts dates to allow root growth before frost.

Some people in cold winter zones report success placing pots (or the bare rhizomes) in a garage or basement and planting in spring after freezes are over.

Top photo shows this lavender plicata, color and pattern, well for trading purposes. I would probably post the trade offer in May. Many people with noids (no identification name) do not have a photo and you have to rely on their color description. After bloom, the rhizomes may be dug and cleaned, roots & foliage trimmed, dried, and mailed. They can be cushioned with crushed dry newspaper.

Thanks SO MUCH for your advice! I'll just stick these pots in the basements until Spring. :)

You are very welcome.

No need to put them in the basement. They will be fine outside in zone 7. I have about 30 in pots now and last year it was over 100 and lost none. I am in zone 5. If the rhizomes were out of the ground for several days all the roots will most likely die but new ones will grow right away.

Mike G

Thank you for the idea's here on Iris you all encouraged me to take my iris out of the shed in zone 5 and put them on my veggie garden sprinkled some nice compost soil over and put some leaves on top lightly, and we got a nice snow here in Mi. and it is dipping down now in colder nights. So they will be ready for some plant swaps with the roots in the soil all winter,then in the shed. Thanks Bonnie Dec.29