Keep the roots cold (40s) and dark until ready to plant…. If you don’t have a cold basement/garage for storage, they can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks. I’m in NY and, provided the weather was normal, would plant them in ground around mid to late April.

I always potted up those sorts of things as soon as I bought them. Sometimes I would grow on in the house under the lights until it was spring and time to harden them off, other times I would do in the in-the-garage, out-of-the-garage daily shuffle to expose them to warming spring temps during the day while protecting them from overnight frost nips of tender foliage. If you have a covered patio or covered porch you could do the same and throw a lightweight blanket over them at night, but you still have to watch out for hard freeze temps.

I potted it up a few days ago. I did not water, though the potting mix was slightly damp.

I store dahlias and tender things like those in a basement windowless closet, on the concrete floor. That's nowhere as cold as 40 degrees, though.

The coldest place I have is my attached garage, where I store the potted hostas. Though the temperature there will vary, or course. I could put a box over the top of the pot to keep it dark.

The peonies outside are shooting up fast. I'll start putting the pot outside, though keep an eye on the weather.

Yea, it's getting to be that time. April is touchy, though -- weather can turn on a dime, so good you have the foresight to keep an eye on the weather.