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Wilting plants after transplanting
HH3
Posts: 13
I'm a beginner and some of the plants I've grown from seed seem to have wilted as soon as I transplanted them from the seed tray into small pots. One batch didn't recover and died and my latest batch seem to be going the same way. Did I damage the plant/roots? I was quite careful and most of my plants have done OK.
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Were they fairly big? It can depend on the plant as well as the size of the seedling. Also, did you grow them inside, to taking them outside after you potted them up? It's good to give seedlings time to 'harden off'. Just trying to think why they died, sorry for rambling.
They were about 3-4 inches. I started them inside, then moved them to the greenhouse and potted them in there. The first lot I thought might have been hit by the wind because I left them outside, when the wind was really strong, for a little after potting and brought them back in but I protected the latest ones.
When the seedlings have there first true leaves of the plant is when I prick them out.putting there roots in soft compost helps too , but don't firm it up too much around them.
All a learning curve HH3. It can be a tricky job getting the timing and conditions right and it's just practice. We've all probably had casualties at some point so you're not alone
Once you've got it right - you'll be able to do it in your sleep!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yeah, I'm just not exactly sure what I did wrong. I did leave them in the tray a little longer, because it wasn't too packed... I wouldn't have thought that would harm them too much. What would you normally do to save a wilting plant?
Transplanting them when they're a bit big is always risky because they get a bit of a shock. The root system isn't sturdy enough to support the top growth hence the wilting. As the others have said, this is why it's done when they're more evenly balanced small plants.Once they're in their own pot they can develop properly into healthy, strong plants ready for potting on or planting out. All you can do is keep them somewhere not too hot so that they don't lose moisture and get dried out. They will probably pick up well enough. Depending on the plant - you can pinch out the growing tip to get them bushier.
What sort of seeds have you sown HH3?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm wondering whether my greenhouse is too hot/humid (it's only a small, portable one) but it must have been to do with transplanting because they were almost wilting as I was potting them.
I was quite careful not to damage the stems. The Cornflower seemed to recover a bit but the leaves when sort of firm and skinny, rather than lush and they died The Sea Lavender seems to have recovered somewhat, although they don't look as healthy as they did before.
I am after some advice for later on. I have some Francoa bridal wreath seeds collected last year. These seeds are just showing through and they are really small and too many fell in one place when I sowed them .
How do you judge when they are big and strong enough to prick out and grow on.?
At least they won't cost me anything if they fail as I can probably split up and take shoots off parent plants.
I have not had much joy with seedlings in the past. They are at present on a double glazed window ledge in an unheated east facing bedroom. Thanks for your help.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
philippa smith2
Thanks. I was thinking about picking them up in clumps when they are big enough and just chopping off the extra ones if I cannot tease them out. The number of seeds was amazing. I will watch and wait for a while. No hurry.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'