Use these tips on when to transplant starter trays to keep your seedlings strong and healthy.
That’s because the cells in a typical seed-starting tray do not give them enough room to continue growing.
Larger containers also prevent drainage issues and allow you to thin out extra seedlings.
Credit:Ed Gohlich
Repotting also refreshes the potting mix and offers more nutrients to your plants.
Slower-growing seedlings, such as herbs and some flowers, may not need to be repotted before transplanting.
Or, if you might wait, directly sow these plants outdoors in spring.
Growing plants and seedlings in oversized containers increases the chances of overwatering, whichleads to root rot.
If they need more room later on, repot them again into even bigger pots.
Commercial potting mix often has nutrients added and temporarily eliminates the need for additional fertilizer.
Be sure to handle seedlings carefully while unpotting and hold them by their roots to avoid breaking tender stems.
Beans and cucumbers should only be planted as deep as they were growing in their seedling cells.
Water them regularly to keep the soil moist.
Its normal for seedlings to wilt slightly after repotting, but they should bounce back within a day.
When nighttime temperatures rise above 50F and thedanger of frost has passed, its time totransplant your seedlings outdoors.
