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In late spring, I am a repotting queen! I use plug flats and cell packs to start my vegetable, flower, and herb seeds – they’re extremely efficient in terms of space – but, they don’t offer a lot of root room. After 6 to 8 weeks under the grow lights, many of the seedlings need to be repotted into larger containers to ensure continued healthy growth until it’s time to move them into the garden.
You’ll know your seedlings are ready to be repotted when their roots have filled their current containers and their foliage is crowding out the neighbours. Still not sure? Use a butter knife to pop a plant out of its pot and take a peek at the roots. If they’re well developed and encircling the soil ball, it’s time to repot.
Moving your seedlings to larger containers will help ensure a healthy root system and top-quality transplants for your garden. New containers should be about twice as large as the old ones.
Repotting 101:
- Gather all your materials (pots, potting soil, tags, waterproof marker, butter knife) first so that repotting is quick and efficient.
- Water seedlings before starting. Moist soil will cling to the roots, protecting them from damage and drying out.
- No tugging! Don’t pull the baby plants from their cell flats or plug trays. Use a butter knife, narrow trowel, or even just a long nail to prick the seedlings from their containers.
- If there is more than one seedling in your container, gently tease them apart for repotting.
- Place them in the new pot, lightly tamping the soil.
- Have a stack of labels ready to go and give each pot a fresh tag. Alternatively, use a waterproof marker to write the name of the plant on the side of the pot.
- Water with a diluted liquid fertilizer to settle the roots in the new soil and encourage healthy growth.
Do you have any more repotting tips to add?
I’m stuck on what to do so my seedling near enough died I cut off all the dead bits and then they have grow brilliant (now I’m caring for them properly 😔 😔) but they have gotten very high and there roots are coming out the holes in the bottom of the pot but they still look like seedlings and I dunno weather to re pot them??
Good question! How long until your last frost date has passed and you can transplant them outdoors? If it’s just a week or so away I’d start the hardening off process by putting them outside daily – first in the shade, and then gradually introducing them to more sunlight over 5 to 6 days). If it’s several weeks away you may want to repot them into larger sized containers. Good luck! – Niki
What do I do with 2-3″ leggy tomato plants. It has rained so much that I couldn’t harden them off. Have them outside today for 1 hr to start the hardening process. What next ? Thanks Gracie
Beginner question, if I have seedlings growing in the same pot and its time to separate them, but I don’t have the other stuff to transfer into. Can I seperate them and then re-pot them again, or should I wait til I have the stuff and re-pot them then?