care of EdelweissThis plant is one of the most collected and most prized. It most certainly can grow below alpine status. I've seen huge clumps of them growing in zone 4 sea level!! The most important thing this plant needs is drainage. Hates too much water and wet feet. It needs a bit of babying until you are able to create its new home and acclimize it correctly before transplanting. Even if it is just from indoors to out of doors.
Keep them right there in those pots for the winter. Keep them brightly lit but NOT in direct sun. Try to not use tap water as those chemicals in our tap water are horrid for any plant and animal to include us but Edelweiss is very sensitive to crap water. Allow to dry out a bit, never completely. Lift the bottom of those pots off their surface to improve drainage, do not add rock or gravel between the soil and the drainage hole and for the winter keep them in ONE place.
If you are planning to plant them in your garden wait until the weather is predictable. Start hardening them off with a few hours out of doors NOT IN DIRECT SUN and increase the time spent out doors when they get a chance to endure a few days at a time at the same time allotment. They will do just fine left in the pots they now reside for this entire winter. Acclimate them then transplant in the garden early spring or transplant in a pot, clay, shallower than tall and allow to settle in. Very very light fertilizer! Osmocote using half the amount recommended will be fine every 4 to 5 months.
These look like they've decided to go into dormancy. The important thing to know is where these plants were growing before you brought them home! Were they out of doors in a nursery or were they indoors? Immediately, go find out if you don't know by calling that nursery. This is probably the most important thing to know, we need to know to help you acclimize even in Florida. Most of my recommendation here is based on far colder climes.
Before you transplant (next spring) let us know what soil you have in your garden is it raised or flat and if you plant in pots ONLY USE BAGGED POTTING SOIL. Preferably for 'cactus' type plants.
pH would obviously be towards alkaline. pH 6.5 to 7.2. Do you have a way to test pH? Try at least 2 store bought methods. You can raise the pH by adding lime if the pH is too low of course but wait until spring. Be nice to see what the pH of the soil those plants came in is...There are all kinds of pH testers but store bought pH indicators aren't perfect. For fun, get a pH test of the soil in the garden where you are imagining replanting them.
You know, Florida is just a different world than the one I am familiar. Have you got (of course you must) a cooperative extension service from a Florida University? I would definitely contact them for information. Talk to the Master Gardeners!! They understand your soils, climate, rain and how to grow Edelweiss in Florida best!! Nothing like experience and sadly I've only experience growing in ALPINE CONDITIONS!! Grins!! Lucky you. Keep them in these containers out of direct sun, slightly on the dry side but always some moisture and don't use tap water!! Get a couple of gallons of distilled/spring water to water them with. You might be able to plant them in the garden sooner than 'SPRING'. Get the pH settled, where you want to plant them and talk to the people who live and breathe in Florida!!
