Repotted to 4 inch pots

kpatrick925 · April 12, 2011

Hi All, I started everything from seed this year and am afraid I might have been a little too rough when replanting.

I tried the thumb method of pushing the sprout into the grow mix with my thumb. With the first tray it was definetly a learning experience and the second tray I did better I think.

I am going to try and add pictures. I am just wondering if with the first tray did I do unfixable damage? Or should I just be patient and see how if they pull out of it.

I love these smiles by the way.

The first three pics are the struggling flat. Almost all of the first leaves are drying up. The true leaves on most look ok so far. In the "good" flat, all the leaves still look good. Hopefully you can see what I am talking about. Thanks for any advice you can share.

bullish · April 18, 2011

They look ok to me! Goodluck!

lurley · April 18, 2011

As long as the stem doesn't snap in half you can pretty much man handle seedlings and they will be fine. They may look sickly for a few days until they recover from transplanting and start sending out new roots. Just make sure they don't dry out and once they recover in a few days you will notice them starting to take off more and more every day. I don't know if anyone else does this but once they recover I will cut off the seed leaves and any lower leaves or leaf tips that hit the dirt when they are watered so no part of the plant ends up lying in or touching damp dirt.

kpatrick925 · April 18, 2011

They are picking up now. Also, I think it was the wind as opposed to my manhandling.

I put them out for a while to get some sun and forgot they were there and the wind picked up. The very next weekend I did the same dang thing with the "good" flat and the first leaves started the wilty thing. I don't think it was the sun as it wasn't overly warm. So I now have lights set up in the house and I rotate them in the house until the winds stop their dang blowing. They are all looking good again and hopefully the lights will stop their leggyness. Thanks for your responses. I appreciate the encouragement!!

cleo88 · May 7, 2011

Is it possible that the damage to your seedlings came from sun rather than wind? If they have been raised under lights or in a window where the sunlight comes through glass, you have to introduce them to unfiltered sunlight gradually, aka the process of "hardening off".

kpatrick925 · May 9, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleo88

Is it possible that the damage to your seedlings came from sun rather than wind? If they have been raised under lights or in a window where the sunlight comes through glass, you have to introduce them to unfiltered sunlight gradually, aka the process of "hardening off".

Thanks for the reply Cleo88. I'm not really sure. We haven't really had any strong sun yet but the wind was really blowing so I think it could have been a combination. I still have some leaves that show signs of damage but mostly everything is picking up. Luckily I had the foresight to plant lots of extras so I think I will end up with way more than I need.

**nctomatoman** · May 9, 2011

Ah, good to see people using the "tough love" approach! Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant seedlings are incredibly resilient to the transplanting step. The impact of weather afterwards is a bit tougher on them, esp until they adjust a bit - I now use a 2-3 day resting period in my garage for the flats after transplanting, then ensure they are well watered once they go out.

whistler · May 9, 2011

nctomatoman:

What temp water is preferable for potting up? Room temp? Warm?

I know that hot water is bad, given that the seedlings on which I used hot water wilted and died... Oops. Hot must only be for wetting the mix when starting the seeds. Oh well.

Thanks for your help.

April 18, 2011	#2
bullish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oceanside, Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 48	They look ok to me! Goodluck! __________________ Chris

April 18, 2011	#4
kpatrick925 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Lorenzo, CA Posts: 112	Thanks for the responses They are picking up now. Also, I think it was the wind as opposed to my manhandling. I put them out for a while to get some sun and forgot they were there and the wind picked up. The very next weekend I did the same dang thing with the "good" flat and the first leaves started the wilty thing. I don't think it was the sun as it wasn't overly warm. So I now have lights set up in the house and I rotate them in the house until the winds stop their dang blowing. They are all looking good again and hopefully the lights will stop their leggyness. Thanks for your responses. I appreciate the encouragement!!

May 9, 2011	#7
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Ah, good to see people using the "tough love" approach! Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant seedlings are incredibly resilient to the transplanting step. The impact of weather afterwards is a bit tougher on them, esp until they adjust a bit - I now use a 2-3 day resting period in my garage for the flats after transplanting, then ensure they are well watered once they go out. __________________ Craig

April 18, 2011	#3
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	As long as the stem doesn't snap in half you can pretty much man handle seedlings and they will be fine. They may look sickly for a few days until they recover from transplanting and start sending out new roots. Just make sure they don't dry out and once they recover in a few days you will notice them starting to take off more and more every day. I don't know if anyone else does this but once they recover I will cut off the seed leaves and any lower leaves or leaf tips that hit the dirt when they are watered so no part of the plant ends up lying in or touching damp dirt.

May 7, 2011	#5
cleo88 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sharon, MA Zone 6 Posts: 225	Is it possible that the damage to your seedlings came from sun rather than wind? If they have been raised under lights or in a window where the sunlight comes through glass, you have to introduce them to unfiltered sunlight gradually, aka the process of "hardening off".

May 9, 2011	#8
whistler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 100	nctomatoman: What temp water is preferable for potting up? Room temp? Warm? I know that hot water is bad, given that the seedlings on which I used hot water wilted and died... Oops. Hot must only be for wetting the mix when starting the seeds. Oh well. Thanks for your help.