Perennial Plugs
What's a Perennial Plug?
To begin with a plug is essentially a very small or young plant.
These plants are not divisions but instead either from seed, from cuttings or from tissue culture. They are usually small plants that have been produced by a propagating nursery for sale to a production nursery. (Nurseries are very specialized today with very few of the really big nurseries propagating and growing the entire crop from start to finish and most of the newer specialized hybrids are coming from breeders who produce them in tissue culture).
Sometimes they will be overwintered plugs in which case they have been exposed to cold temperatures and can be expected to grow and flower in several months.
Advantages
The advantages are that they are relatively inexpensive when compared to their fully-grown counterparts. You're avoiding the nursery cost part of the equation and doing this yourself.
You can often purchase several plugs in the same order and the shipping costs will be reduced drastically over shipping fully grown plants.
Disadvantage
The disadvantage is that shipping perennial plugs is trickier than shipping fully grown or dormant perennials. They get thrown around the process and the roots are often damaged.
You also need to order larger quantities as flats are not divided up - if you can't use 24-72 plants of the same variety, then plugs are not in your future.
I get these plugs from suppliers as trial plants on a regular basis and I can tell you that I lose as many of them if the shipping is slow or sloppy so that I wouldn't order them this way myself.
If you do succumb to the temptation of ordering perennial plugs, then I'd be careful opening the shipping box/container and ensure the plants are still secured inside. Carefully remove them from the box or repot them into their pots.
Planting
These plants have not likely seen outdoor conditions (greenhouse grown) so you do have to acclimatize them to outdoor conditions before you plant them or leave them on their own. Treat them exactly as you would a tender annual plant. In and out for a few days increasing the length of outdoor time each day before leaving them out at night. Never let them get frosted if you can at all avoid this.
Sometimes I'll pot the plugs into a slightly larger pot for a month before transplanting into the garden. If the weather isn't going to be lovely for a month, they get potted up and held carefully to grow.
So yes, they are cheaper but perennial plugs do require much more care than regularly potted plants. They are baby plants - treat them carefully and you'll do fine.
Sources
Unfortunately, I no longer know of any large grower that ships small quantities to consumers; all propagators now ship only to commercial nurseries. You may be able to get your favorite local garden center to order some for you.
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