Use these hint on when to transfer starter tray to keep your seedlings strong and healthy .
Ed Gohlich
With the right guardianship , many types ofseeds started indoorsgrow apace enough that the seedlings will require to be repotted at least once before they ’re quick to go out of doors in your garden . do it how and when to transfer starter trays of seedlings into bigger passel is primal to growing healthy flowers , veggies , and herbs from cum . This simple guide explain all the basics you need to know to successfully move your indoor seedling up in pot size , plus when to transplant seedlings outdoors .

Credit:Ed Gohlich
Why Potting Up Is Necessary
Some germ germinate faster than others ( target the tray on top of a heating system mat speeds up the outgrowth ) and the same applies to seedlings — they farm at unlike paces . Some seedlings grow so fast that they need to be transplant or " pot up " into bigger muckle at least once before they ’re transplanted into the garden . That ’s because the cubicle in a distinctive seed - starting tray do not give them enough room to go along growing .
create more space for root growth is not the only reason why seedlings require to be repot into big containers . Larger container also prevent drain exit and allow you to thin out extra seedling . Repotting also refresh the potting mix and volunteer more nutrients to your industrial plant .
Fast - growing veggies , such as tomatoes , and other plant life with great root systems usually need to be pot up before they ’re moved out into the garden . Slower - mature seedling , such as herbs and some bloom , may not need to be repot before transplanting .
Some plants , such as members of the cucumber family ( which admit melon , zucchini , and squash ) androot veggiesare sore to settle down ruffle . It ’s ordinarily best to begin them in biodegradable containers or deep and roomy pots so you wo n’t need to repot them later . Or , if you may hold back , directly sow these plants outside in springiness .
When to Transplant Seedlings
There ’s no dictated principle for when seedling should be repot into larger containers and some seedling may not require to be repotted at all . In world-wide , tight - growing seedling planted in pocket-size cum cells will need to be potted up sooner than easy - growing seedling in large seed cell and pots . However , repotting times motley significantly count on the character of plants you ’re grow and when you project to move your seedlings out into your garden .
A good principle of ovolo is to repot seedlings into bigger container about 3 to 4 calendar week after germinationifthe seedlings look like they require more roomandit ’s still too cold to transplant them outdoors . Some fundamental signs that it ’s time to move seedling into bigger pots let in :
How to Pot Up Indoor Seedlings
While it ’s beguiling to pot seedlings into supererogatory - big locoweed to wipe out the need for future repotting , this is n’t recommended . Growing plant and seedling in oversized container increases the chances of overwatering , whichleads to settle down rot .
Instead , repot seedlings into containers that are just one or two sizes bigger than their original seed get going cells . If they need more room afterward on , repot them again into even bighearted pile .
footstep 1 : Do Some Research
Before repotting seedling , dual - check your seed mail boat for planting pedagogy or do some research on the industrial plant ’s farm needs . Seed packets will usually let you sleep together if your seedlings involve repotting and the best clip to pot up your plant life .
footstep 2 : Water Your Seedlings
About one minute before repot seedlings , give your plant a inscrutable drink of water and pre - moisten the potting mix or seed starting intermixture you intend to repot your works with . Watering seedlings before repotting take in it easier to absent their roots from the seedling trays and it helps to protect seedling from transplant shock .
big seedling should be replant into standard potting mix , while delicate seedlings often do better when they ’re repotted into a lighter mix made with 60 % potting mix and 40 % come start mix , which is soilless . Commercial potting mix often has food contribute and temporarily eliminate the need for additional fertiliser .
Step 3 : Remove Seedlings from Seedling Cells
The easiest means to remove seedlings from their cellular telephone is to softly press a finger against the underside of the seedling cell until the industrial plant ’s root ball move up and out of the seedling tray . Be sure to handle seedlings carefully while unpotting and bear them by their roots to avoid break in ship’s boat root . If you could , annul vex the seedling roots and keep as much of the potting mix attached to the root word as possible .
footprint 4 : Repot
If you have multiple seedlings grow together , thin out extra seedling by gently bait their roots apart or clipping weak seedlings off with fingernail scissors . Then , sprinkle some refreshful potting soil or ejaculate embark on admixture into the bottom of your new growing containers , position the seedlings in their new pots , tot more soil , and firm the grunge around the seedling radical . you could immerse brassica , tomato , and other nightshade implant a small deeper in their growing containers to fix leggy stems and advance root development . edible bean and cucumber should only be planted as late as they were growing in their seedling cells .
gradation 5 : Continue to like for Your Plants
After repotting , move your seedling back to their gay indoor locating orunder their grow lights . Water them regularly to keep the ground moist . It ’s normal for seedling to droop slightly after repotting , but they should bounce back within a day .
pace 6 : Repeat(If Needed )
Vigorous agriculturalist , such as Lycopersicon esculentum , cucumber vine , and zucchini , may need to be pot up several time before they ’re transplanted alfresco . If so , select a growing container that ’s 1 or 2 sizes large than the original pot and repeat the above repotting steps .
How to Transplant Seedlings Outdoors
Repotting seedling into bigger containers is a way to maximise goodish plant growth while you hold off for spring . When nighttime temperature develop above 50 ° farad and thedanger of hoar has passed , it ’s time totransplant your seedlings outdoors .