I came across some wild female plants, and since I won't be living in the same state next spring I puked some rhizomes. .. But my question, and I'm asking here rather than some other thread because I really respect the opinions of you guys/gals, is can I just plant them on a pot and leave them outside, our should I leave them in all winter,or should I leave them in to routed and then put them out? I really don't want to kill them.... Especially since the cones smelled so tasty.
Any insight would be great, thanks.
How long ago did you pluck the rhizomes? Are they already currently planted/rooted? Or did you just recently harvest them?
If you just harvested them, there are two things I would consider. Hops require a certain length of time in dormancy before returning to active growth. This is normally achieved after flowering and subsequent deterioration of the above ground (herbaceous) growth and is promoted by decreasing daylengths and temperatures. If one is to remove a rhizome/cutting at this point before a a sufficient dormant period has been achieved, it will not actively root or produce new growth. This is because you've interrupted the natural process...
To overcome this requirement, I would recommend that you take the rhizomes, remove most of the debris by washing, etc. pat them dry (no standing water needed, that is conducive to rot), and follow by placing them in a sealed bag or container and evenly mist them or keep them in moist paper towels. Place them in your fridge, in a out of the way spot. Check on them periodically (weekly) to make sure they're free from any mold, etc.
What you should notice, after whatever length of time (likely several weeks) is the shoots (buds) will initiate growth when their dormancy requirements have been fulfilled. You'll like find that the shoots become etiolated (extended, leggy growth) and blanched. That's ok! Pot them up, find a nice, warm, sunny spot on a window sill and nurse it along until you can plant it outside. Even better, by a grow lamp and give it some nutrients. Or, if you have the capability, hydroponics!
Either way, this should be just enough to hold you over until spring.
So, a quick recap.
-Clean the rhizomes (preferably with distilled water, as even most city-treated water contains minute amounts of microorganisms).
-Pat dry, no standing water!
-Place in a moist towel, within a plastic container or sealed bag. Again, no standing water.
-Check them weekly, leaving the bag/container open to allow sufficient moisture to evaporate, though you could also clean the container with a towel to remove excess moisture. (Even though they are dormant, they are still respiring and using energy, and they need to replenish with some fresh air.)
-When they initiate new growth, plant them out and baby them until you can plant them!
Also, make sure your rhizomes have buds on them! I've seen a number of people take cuttings, only to realize they've crippled their plants by cutting roots and not rhizomes. (So not only do you lose your mature plant, but you get nothing in return!)
