What kind of plants are we talking about?.........it can make a difference. And what zone are you in? When does your ground tend to freeze.

It also makes a difference how old these cuttings are and how well-rooted. If still quite immature, it may make more sense simply to pot up and keep under protection for the winter (but not indoors).

i wish i can tell what bush it is, it is clipped from my neighbours privacy fence and he has no idea either. i think we are zone 5b. the roots are about 1/2" long, they have been outside while rooting, but it gets cold at nigh, tonigh it was almost down to freezing. if i potted them, what kind of protection did you have in mind?
thanks

Without knowing the plant(s) in question and with such an underdeveloped root system, these should really be potted up and grown on before planting out directly.

They need to be kept cold but above freezing.....somewhere around 40F is ideal but you can go lower. Avoid temps much above that, as it can encourage them to emerge from dormancy too early. So a crawl space, unheated basement, garage, etc. Light is not important if a decduous shrub. But they will need to be checked for water now and again. They shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely.

crikey ...

they are from local established zone appropriate plants.... based on that it doesnt matter what they are .. they arent foo foo stuff ...

frankly .. in my z5... transplanting should have been done about a month ago ...

and that was with well rotted plants ...

i would leave them right where they are ... so as to not stress them too late in the season... unfortunately.. since you know how long the roots are.. i suspect you already dug them up ... oh well .. ask first next time ...

move them in spring.. if they look alive ... in april or so ...

a pic might get you some ideas about protection... and maybe even an ID if there are any leaves on it ...

ken

Ken, if you re-read the first post, it is obvious these are newly rooted cuttings. And as newly rooted cuttings started in sand, they couldn't possibly survive outdoors overwinter in that condition and maybe not even if potted up and heeled in. Nothing foo-foo about that.....just good common sense when dealing with late season cuttings.