beginner's corner
“
The most important
part of the transplanting
process is hardening off.
This is the part when you
allow the young plant
to gradually adjust to
outdoor conditions.”
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grow cycle
Also, check the weather and avoid trans-
planting if there is a heat wave. Heat can
overwhelm the plant and cause shock, so
wait for a few cloudy and moist days. Cover the plant intermittently over a
four-day period, furthering the gradual
transition process and minimizing the
possibility of shock.
Transplanting Transplant Shock
It is time to move the plant from its
protected and stable home to the wilds of
a garden. It has grown, been hardened,
and the soil is ready. Instead of pulling
the plant out of the flowerpot and stress-
ing it, push it out by loosening the soil and
gradually pushing on the bottom of the pot
(if the pot is plastic and moveable). This is
the gentlest way to remove a plant from its
home, and helps ease the transition. Always
avoid touching the main stem. It has been
acclimating to a new environment for the
past week and considered fragile. Instead,
use the lowest leaves to transfer it into its
new home. If they break off, it’s okay; it’s
better than if the stem breaks.
Once set in the garden hole, pack the
nutrient rich soil around it as much as
possible. Now that it has successfully been
moved, drench the soil surrounding the
plant with water. This reacts with water-
soluble nutrients and the roots will reach out
to grow in their new environment. If there is
any worry about transplant shock occurring,
try covering the plants from long hours of
direct sunlight or to retain soil warmth.
Transplant shock happens most often
because of damage a plant sustains
during the transplant process. If a
plant’s roots or stem are harmed, the
plant will lose nutrients and go into
shock. Some symptoms of shock to look
out for include reduced vigor (small,
less vibrant structure), and curled, rolled
or yellowing leaves. If you notice your
transplanted plant is in shock, keep the
plant’s soil moist and limit its exposure
to direct sunlight to a minimum to mini-
mize further damage. Eventually, the
seedling will return to health.
Transplanting is a delicate process, but
offers so many benefits to the garden-
ing enthusiast. Remember to follow
these simple steps: allow the seedling
to grow indoors until true leaves appear,
allow the seedling to harden over time,
prepare the garden, transplant care-
fully, and watch for transplant shock
symptoms for the first few days. Do those
things and your plants will flourish long
after the transplanting process is over.