I personally like the idea of bubble wrap, since it is waterproof if applied properly, plus will tend to moderate temperatures because of the air pockets, preventing extreme swings on sunny v.s. cooler days. I would also strongly advocate a dry mulch to help keep moisture and rot at bay. My thoughts on the pups and resultant looseness of the rootmass of the parent.....It would have been better to remove the pups earlier in the season, to give the parent time to re-establish some roots. For now, I'd put down a thick mulch layer to help the parent continue with some limited root growth (keeping the soil area warmer), and don't give away all your pups, in case you have problems wintering over the parent. Maybe you'll be lucky, and the parent won't even notice! Good luck!
