Buying trees during winter with high temperature differnce

[Unagi]

Hi Everyone, I have just ordered cuttings / young plans (chinese elm 'seiju', acer palmatum deshojo, arakawa, zelkova serrata, etc) from Kensho Bonsai Studio Portugal to Switzerland. Unfortunately, they cannot deliver them to Switzerland, and we are looking for alternatives.

I live far away from the German / French border, so we can't deliver them to Germany/France to one of these packet point.

Another option the owner proposed was to deliver them to Hungary in December when I will travel there.

What I am afraid of is the temperature difference between Hungary/Switzerland and Portugal during winter. In Hungary/Switzerland, it is not rare to have -5/-10C during winter, while I have just checked the average temperature in Portugal in December, and it is more in the range of 5-12C. I am afraid that the trees will not go proper dormant state in Portugal, and it will be shocking for them to suddenly arrive to -5/-10C. I don't have the possibility to keep them inside, all my trees overwinter outside.

What do you think, is it safe to deliver the trees during winter?

I like the species/varieties I ordered, the prices of the shop, and Jelle had a very good feedback about the seller, but I don't want to lose trees because of something I could already see ahead.

 

[leatherback]

normally they should be OK, as temps swing between these temps all my winter. But you never know. Do you have an unheated shed? Maybe you can place them in there for a week to adjust? That should really follow the average temperature over days, rather than the peak downswings overnight. Could even consider putting a little electric heater in there beforehand to warm it a little.

SUrprising that you far from another country. I would have said Switserland is a small country!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I've gotten plants delivered from them when it was +17°C over there and -5°C here.
Nothing bad happened when I put them outside, but they were conifers.

 

[Unagi]

Do you have an unheated shed? Maybe you can place them in there for a week to adjust?

Unfortunately, no. We live an apartment. Hmm... maybe in Hungary there is an option! Good idea.

SUrprising that you far from another country. I would have said Switserland is a small country!

Who needs a car when you have the perfect Swiss public transportation? Joke aside, it takes 2x ~3 hours to reach Basel, costs about about 75 EUR, and I have to go there the next day when it arrives that I might cannot do because of my work. Problematic.

Ok, I will give the winter delivery a try. Thanks for the help!

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Unfortunately, no. We live an apartment. Hmm... maybe in Hungary there is an option! Good idea.


Who needs a car when you have the perfect Swiss public transportation? Joke aside, it takes 2x ~3 hours to reach Basel, costs about about 75 EUR, and I have to go there the next day when it arrives that I might cannot do because of my work. Problematic.

Ok, I will give the winter delivery a try. Thanks for the help!

If you live in an apartment where are you going to grow all these temperate zone trees—got a patio or a plot of land somewhere?

 

[Unagi]

got a patio

I have an open balkony where I setup two benches.