A Beginners Guide to Transplanting

Discussion in 'First Time Marijuana Growers' started by jay719, Apr 17, 2015.

  1. #1 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    It's time to transplant my latest batch of seedling so I though I would do a guide. Hopefully this will help some of the beginning growers here at GC. As with many aspects of growing there are different ways to accomplish the same goal. The method I am going to detail is how I transplant. My main goals when transplanting are to minimize stress to the plant while ensuring that the plant is centered in the new pot and at the correct depth. With this method the roots are exposed for mere seconds and you don't end up trying to hold the plant with one hand while trying to pack new soil around it in the new container. In this example I am actually working with coco going from solo cups to one gallon nursery pots, but the technique works just as well with soil or different pot sizes.
     
  2. First, and one of the most important keys to transplanting is timing. Too early and your root ball can fall apart causing undue stress. Too late and your plant will become root bound in a small container. Neither of these are impossible to overcome but its better to time it right. With 18oz solo cups I normally transplant between one and two weeks depending on how fast the plants are growing. With this group, they are 9 days from seed and I can tell they are ready.

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  3. Qq I always keep an extra container the same size I am currently using to grow the plants just for this purpose.

    Take your new container and fill the bottom with soil until your spare container sits at the same level that you want the soil height in the new container. At this point if you need to bury a stretched stem you can just set the spare container at a slightly lower level so the extra soil buries the stem.

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  4. #4 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    Leaving the spare cup in your new container, begin to fill with soil. Add soil, compacting slightly as you go, until the soil reaches the top of your spare cup around the outside. If you end up filling the cup too, that's ok.

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  5. At this point water slightly around the outside of your spare cup. This will help compact the soil and eliminate air pockets as well as help the soil hold together. Gently spin the cup while lifting upwards and it will slide out of your new container leaving a perfectly sized hole where you will be placing your plant.

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  6. #6 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    Well Now our new container is ready. Take the current container holding it from the bottom with your hand. Gently run your other hand around the container. Doing so will help the soil break loose with little effort. Place your hand over the soil with the stem resting between your forefinger and middle finger. You want to give as much support as possible to the root ball without damaging leaves or branches. Once supported, flip your container upside down and the container should come off leaving your well formed root ball.

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  7. #7 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    All that is left is to drop your plant in its new home. The hole should be the perfect size so no need to pack more soil around the plant. If needed add a bit of soil to the top of the container and then water in lightly.

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  8. #8 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    Finally, put them back under your lights and water once they start to dry out. Easy as can be, very little room for error, and your plants will be kicking tail in the new home within a day or so.

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  9. #9 jay719, Apr 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2015
    Hope this helps someone out there. It seems in all the tutorials there are some steps are left out on exactly how to best do the little things.
     

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