Given that it is only going to be for a few weeks, I'd put them outside during the day, if it is going to be above freezing, and bring them inside at night. If they arrive horribly rootbound, you should pot them up, which means they should stay in the pots for about 2 months before planting.

I'm not going to get into any specifics on timing, since our springs behave very differently from yours. Ours are much slower and much less erratic. I will say that *freezing* is a total non-concern. The temperatures for worry are around 25F. So here, hardy plants are planted in early May, when temperatures below 28F are usually over, but a month before tender plants can go out.

John - thank you so much for your thorough advice! I think I can set something up in my attic. I have plenty of clear plastic tubs, and I am pretty sure I have some 18-24" fluorescents from my many, many failed attempts at seed starting. I only have one band coming on this order, the poor thing! I hope it doesn't freeze on the way.

My attic is unfinished. Should I put some Christmas lights near it for a little added warmth, or will the plastic bin be enough?

@mad_gallica Thank you! This week, we are having a wicked cold snap for our area (high around 25 tomorrow). The temperature fluctuations already have my tulips 6 inches up, and and now it's going to freeze again. The other problem around here is the wind, which can easily take 10-15
degrees off the air temp this time of year, as well as desiccate a
plant.

I think I will set my baby up in the attic, and once the weather moderates, do as you suggest, outside during the day, inside at night. I have a perfect bright shaded spot that will be greater for acclimating all my new OGR bands this year. Experience tells me that the really cold weather will be over the first week of March, with a possible 24 hr cold snap in early April. This is my first year with bands, so I am a little nervous. Up until now, I have always planted bare roots, but this year I am getting some dreamy OGRs, so it's time to learn to speak band!

Quiltkitty, you're welcome. As far as mad-gallica's caveat on freezing temps not being a worry, I was talking about protecting tender new growth that hasn't ever been outside a greenhouse (or the light set-up), which will get burnt at 32F, or even at higher temps if it frosts. On a band you want to keep every leaf. For hardened off plants, 28 is indeed the accepted cutoff point. So if your baby is dormant or has no new growth, the in-and-out is fine, 28F being the danger point. If it has new growth, you can still in-and-out (I think I'd still keep it in a partially covered tub until it adjusts, especially to moving air...today we're having winds of 20mph!), but I'd keep it above 32. Since you have just this one, this would be the simplest strategy.

John

OK, I think the "plastic tub in the attic with lights" plan will be my course of action. I am hoping that the band will arrive dormant, because I'm thinking it's going to be a lot trickier if it's not. This is one of the roses that I am extra-excited about this year, so I want to make sure I take good care of it until it's ready to be planted. The rest of my bands will be arriving in March. By mid-March, we will have warm enough days that the things will break dormancy in my attic anyway!

Those little things are much tougher than you may think. Years ago, we did a lot of rooting in the basement. Since most of the roses didn't root until late August, they spent their first winter in the basement under lights. Even though it was fairly cool and damp in the basement (it is a basement after all), we did have an outbreak or two of spider mites. The cure was to take the roses and bung them outside in the snow. Spider mites really, really hate snow. A couple of days later, the roses came back in, unharmed and spider mite free.

Of course I'm playing this game with roses I had multiples of, but they can handle a lot more than many people give them credit for. Overdoing the pampering is good way to kill plants, but YMMV.

So here is a related question that I guess will apply to all my new bands - let's say I have properly hardened off my little bands and planted them on a nice, overcast, not windy day. Then, because this is Mid TN, the National Weather Service predicts temps in the 20s or teens overnight. Is there anything that I need to do? Cover them? If so, how? Plastic? Milk jug? Drop cloth? Leaves? Have a cat curl up next to them? And then tuck in the cat?

If these were mature roses, I would not cover them. I expect my plants to hold their own in our screwy spring weather, and roses generally do. But since these are more tender, I am not sure how to proceed.

I will also make this statement - I have never once, not once, successfully transplanted a seedling started indoors. Never. I finally gave up. I would have beautiful seedlings, harden them off, plant them with love, and then it would snow on May 3rd, or the cat would sit on it, or a sharknado would come through, or Godzilla would stomp on them. Or they just languish and then die.

Just saying ... I am nervous about my bands.

I just checked the weather map. My little rose will be traveling through a winter storm to reach me! Goodness!

lol...I vote for the kitty, if you can get it to cooperate. Seriously, if the temps do fall that low, I would definitely cover. It doesn't matter so much what you use, but whatever it is can NOT touch the rose at any point. It will freeze anywhere it touches the cover. And the larger an area you can cover with one cover will create a larger dead airspace, therefore more insulation. If you have single roses spaced far apart, cardboard boxes (with a some weight placed on top) work really well. If you have a LOT of far-spaced baby roses, then use blankets, sheets, whatever. Remember, don't let the cover touch the rose. I use short stakes, just taller than the rose, in a triangle or square, then place the cover over the stakes. If it's windy (like it usually is here when the temps change that drastically), you'll have to weight the corners of any fabric cover. You CAN use plastic, the important thing is dead air space. But it's even more important to not let the roses touch plastic. The year we got the Easter Freeze (low of 14F and under 25F for 48 hours!) I used blankets under plastic over a huge perennial bed. But WOW at the work involved. I wouldn't be able to do it now.

Have a cat curl up next to them? And then tuck in the cat?

that statement was fricking awesome. It's been a rough day, and that lightened my spirit. Ok, after typing this, I read the rest of the post, which was even funnier. I like the way you think.

I have to admit it made me smile :)

John

Well, once I plant the Nepeta border, they are going to be out there all the time anyway. Might as well make them start earning their keep!

Put them in some protected spot (under a shrub if you have to). My smaller pots are on the East side of my house. Make a cave of pine straw all around the sides and tops. Kind of like a pine straw igloo. I'm in Nashville, this works for me. If I receive bands in the spring I grow them on in a gallon. If they are ready they go in the ground early September, if not they winter over in a pot. I second what Mad Gallica said about roses. They are tougher than we think!

Susan