Once Hardened always Hardened?

jimshuejohn · May 15, 2013

I had hardened all my plants over the last two weeks. I didn't plant 4 of my 36 just in case some of the currently planted (container) didn't make it for some reason. We just had a cold snap and I brought these 4 plants in the house for 4 days. I lost one of my plants. I replanted one of the hearty plants that was indoors and it died over night (wilted and shriveled). I'm wondering if I needed to re-hardened these plants? Any body with firsthand experience?

feldon30 · May 15, 2013

Hardening off is a thickening and toughening of individual leaves to handle all day sunlight (and wind). If you harden off a plant and then take it indoors for a week, any NEW growth would not be hardened off, but existing growth would not lose its hardening.

If you then planted out directly, those new leaves might show damage, but existing leaves would be just fine. Not sure why the plant would have wilted and shriveled.

Tormato · May 15, 2013

I've had no problem with one to two days indoors. Beyond that, I put them outside during the day, and take them in at night, unless there is heavy wind. If it's going to rain, they go under a pane of glass.

Gary

b54red · May 15, 2013

That sounds more like bacterial wilt or some kind of damage to the stem or roots. After four days inside you shouldn't have lost the whole plant to sun scald. You might have a few leaves that would get burned somewhat.

WVTomatoMan · May 15, 2013

As feldon said new growth indoors will be tender and will need hardening off. With respect to the plant dying overnight, I'd look for other causes.

Randy

May 15, 2013	#1
jimshuejohn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: cincinnati oh Posts: 8	Once Hardened always Hardened? I had hardened all my plants over the last two weeks. I didn't plant 4 of my 36 just in case some of the currently planted (container) didn't make it for some reason. We just had a cold snap and I brought these 4 plants in the house for 4 days. I lost one of my plants. I replanted one of the hearty plants that was indoors and it died over night (wilted and shriveled). I'm wondering if I needed to re-hardened these plants? Any body with firsthand experience?

May 15, 2013	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Hardening off is a thickening and toughening of individual leaves to handle all day sunlight (and wind). If you harden off a plant and then take it indoors for a week, any NEW growth would not be hardened off, but existing growth would not lose its hardening. If you then planted out directly, those new leaves might show damage, but existing leaves would be just fine. Not sure why the plant would have wilted and shriveled. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

May 15, 2013	#3
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	I've had no problem with one to two days indoors. Beyond that, I put them outside during the day, and take them in at night, unless there is heavy wind. If it's going to rain, they go under a pane of glass. Gary

May 15, 2013	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	That sounds more like bacterial wilt or some kind of damage to the stem or roots. After four days inside you shouldn't have lost the whole plant to sun scald. You might have a few leaves that would get burned somewhat.

May 15, 2013	#5
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	As feldon said new growth indoors will be tender and will need hardening off. With respect to the plant dying overnight, I'd look for other causes. Randy