From the end of September plants begin a period of rest which will continue until the end of the winter: this is when they can be transplanted and bare root or plug planted. For planting, it is essential to select the ideal position: exposure should be sunny in very cold regions, in partial shade and sheltered from the wind in very hot regions. For pot planting, a wood or terracotta pot is recommended, avoiding plastic and other materials that prevent the roots from breathing. It is essential toavoid using flowerpot plates to prevent water stagnating. For ground planting, dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant’s roots; on the bottom layer, put a draining material such as gravel or sand so as to avoid water stagnating, and cover everything with a neutral compost and distribute a little organic fertiliser such as bone meal or pelletized manure. Once transplanting has been carried out, do not leave the soil dry but water generously at once and when necessary, always in the morning. This is also the right time for propagation: the seeds recently collected should be planted and left under the soil for the whole winter; it is also possible to carry out grafting or division. If the axillary buds are easy to identify, you can begin pruning and cleaning the plant, taking great care not to compromise future shoots. However, at the end of the winter, the operation will be much easier. As for the risk of disease during this month, no particular care is usually necessary. The clear yellowing or reddening of leaves, sometimes spectacular in certain varieties, is down to the normal life cycle of the plant, as is leaf loss.
