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seeds-digest Digest

My question is only marginally about propagation so I will follow
suggested protocol.
Tradescantia virginiana/ Spiderwort
I had them growing in an iris bed. At the last minute last fall, I dug
up the bed, large clumps of soil and stacked these clumps in the garage
to deal with at a later date. I am finally dealing with it.
A Garden of Wildflowers by Henry W. Art 
Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers by Herry R. Phillips 
are my sources. These sources suggest stem cuttings in the summer as the
easiest way to propagate. Seeds can be collected and planted in late
summer or early fall. Or plugs can be cut from the sod.
I understand what the authors mean by a tangle of fiberous roots. There
are a couple hundred plants. Those that were at the edge of the stored
soil clumps desicated but that still left many healthy root systems
within the clumps. 
My question now, after I have separated individual root masses, is how
to store them without actually planting them, until I can plant them
directly outside in the spring, about April. I haven't the room to pot
up this many plants.
Basically I have put them in several community trays and pots,
surrounded on all sides with Wal-Mart's Magic Earth, watered lightly and
returned them to the garage (which is heated to about 40F) I didn't
water much as I don't want them to rot but watered some as I didn't want
them to dry out and die. Did I do right?
Any other suggestions?
As I recall, they are a lovely color so are worth saving and replanting.
Thanks for the help.
MJ Hatfield
middle of Iowa
Zone 5a (they say) but every 5th year we are Zone 4b (or 4)
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