Best method to reintroduce severely dehydrated plants to water without leading to rot?

[zagoric]

Hello.

I received a shipment of bare root plants, mostly Astrophytum, that are severely dehydrated with dried out/dead root systems. What's the best method to introduce water and encourage new root growth with minimal risk of causing rot?

These are from the northern hemisphere, so they are dormant. I'm in Los Angeles, so it is also winter here, although temps are 45-50F at night and 60-70F during the day.

Thanks.

[jfabiao]

Pot them in dry substrate and mist them occasionally, in the morning on sunny days so the plants are dry by night. When spring comes start watering them slowly, they should have made some roots by then.