What should I do with my tiny plug plants - can they go outside?

Ornella

I bought a mix of perennials (https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/best-value-perennial-collection/ka9820TM), which came as tiny plug plants. 

I planted them into a range of pots with 1-3 plug per pot, they had a layer of top soil at the bottom and compost for top half as I didn't have enough compost. 

Are they ok to be outside in these little pots until they get bigger? I'm worried they might die in frost. I don't have a greenhouse, but I have some space inside where I could put them as an emergency (depends how long for), though they wouldn't get as much light. 

Thank you very much!!
 

amancalledgeorge

They ideally would be happy in a greenhouse or conservatory. Keep an eye on the predicted temperatures at night and maybe given them some cover to protect them from the cold. If you have any spare bubble wrap or any cardboard boxes will do nicely. Plugs tend to be good value if one has the facilities to grow them on. But fingers crossed...they'd be equally vulnerable to slug and snail attacks. 

Ornella

Thank you - I've put them in clear sealed boxes, which I moved inside yesterday night. So hopefully I can keep doing this until there are no more frosts!

Fairygirl

These offers are only as good as your ability to nurture them.
Regardless of what they are - they need protection until they're much bigger,and not just from weather. Slugs/snails etc will annihilate them instantly.

Keep them inside for a good few weeks yet, regardless of frost or anything else. 

Ornella

Thanks - can you suggest a plant height that would make them safe to move them outside?

Loraine3

Ideally each plug should have it's own pot.

Fairygirl

Like lots of  things - size doesn't matter  @Ornella
Wait till they're rooting properly in the pots you have them in. That will depend on the type of plant, how quickly they establish, and how big the pot is etc.
Then move them into pots of their own - 3 or 4 inch. Then wait until they're filling those. You can pinch out the tips of many of them too, which helps them become bushier, sturdier plants. You can also put them outside for a little while each day at that sort of point - assuming the weather suits. Keep them out of hot sun.
If you look at the bottom of the pot - you'll see roots starting to come through the holes. That's when they're ready to move on. 

Ideally yes @Loraine3, but these ludicrously tiny plugs would be lost in anything other than a very tiny pot. They're nothing more than seedlings/cuttings. I have some tiny pots, but many people don't, so having two or three in a slightly bigger pot is the next best solution. With a small amount of effort, they'll be easy enough to separate at the right time.