Great to read your post. There is a small group of us on this forum in the Austin/San Antonio area and then another contingent in Houston. I am watching the weather too and I think the danger for frost is greatly diminished after tomorrow morning for me. I will probably move some out this weekend after a final review of Accuweather's long term forecast.

By in ground planting you will find they are slower to start out but slower to enter into hibernation on the end of season. They also require more frequent watering if its one of those years which bypasses spring and goes directly to full summer. Also soil temps will initially be lower which may prompt you to use a higher P fertilizer in April and/or May.

Kms, I have seen a couple of pictures that you have posted where it looks like your jeannie Jr and maybe your celadine and penang peach are in the ground. Is that how you grow many of yours and then dig them up in the winter? Also, why do you think they are slow to take off when grown this way? Is it maybe because the root mass is severed when dug up and then has to rebuild in the spring before taking off?

Welcome to the group, Chris!!!

Laura

Thanks!

I had several in ground. Jeannie Jr., Celadines, Samoan Fluff, Thubelina, Mini White, and some Giveaway Pinks. My opinion for the slow start is the same as yours. The roots require redevelopment every year so that happens first and then we see visible growth and blooms. I also think the soil temps can be a factor. Albeit a small one for me where the frost line on a cold year (like this one was) is effectively soil level. But on the flip side soil temps are slower to drop at the end of the year which I think is to the benefit of the plants as the season wraps up.

A good hybrid solution to try is to either fully or partially plunge a container in the ground and let the roots grow out through drainage holes (I like to cut or melt lots of holes in the sides of the container to let roots grow into the ground.). Then you can use a shovel to cut the roots at the end of the year and lift out the whole plant.

Yah I have been thinking about the pot in ground idea too. If I plant them directly, I'm wondering if when I dig them up in the winter, I could pot them up and keep the pots warm to stimulate root growth through the winter to help jump start them the following spring...