Hi Vanisie,

Well, I’ve read pros and cons regarding that question. Some folks feel that potting-up is helpful and some disagree. Then too, it probably varies with different plants. Some transplant easily, and seem to benefit from it, while others resent being transplanted.

From my own experience, it does seem to be helpful to start small and pot-up later. It might make a good experiment if you tried both ways, to see for yourself, what actually seems to be best for your plants.

Below is a link to an older thread that you might find helpful.

Art

Here is a link that might be useful: Potting-up.

Thanks, art33, for the comment and link. Comparing small-pot or soil block starts with those in larger containers would be interesting but I doubt I could be well enough organised - or in control of all the variables - to do the experiment justice (considering that my Longkeepers sometimes grow up to be Principe Borghese :))

But I may give it a try. If it seems to prove anything I'll post the results.

I always use 4" pots when I plant seeds. It works fine for me. I don't use grow lights. I grow mine in a southern window and it works fine.

I use soil blocks and will never go back to mini pots. I can fit 40 or more on a flat.
I don't have space for 40 big pots inside.

I do put more than one seed in each block .

Oh oh, I lied.

just realized that I have direct sown some seeds to hanging pots because I placed mesh on the surface to keep squirrels from digging. The plants just grow up through the mesh.

sorry,

pants on fire...

I asked about starting in final pots in the vegetable gardening forum and no one wanted to discuss...

It seems counterintuitive that plants benefit from being transplanted. Is this really true? What is everyone's experiences? I will be starting Peppers, Eggplants, Tomatoes, Cabbage, and Broccoli indoors this year. I had major issues with rootbound transplants I purchased last year and don't want to repeat. I was just going to start in nice large containers until I read this whole potting up thing.

I think if there is no consensus I may try both ways.

The issue with the small seed starting trays also is that they very rapidly dry out, a matter of hours in my dry heat home.

Peter, in my 30 plus years of experience, it always pays to repot into a bigger container. I rarely experienced transplant shock. Maybe you can mist your plants that get so dry or start them in 4" pots like I do.

Zackey, so what sized pots exactly do you use to start, and final size before transplanting?

Those seed starting trays are tiny...

I start all my seeds in shallow 4" x 5" (recycled mushroom containers) and transplant when they have grown true leaves. I find it is easier to keep a shallow container moist without over watering and get good germination this way.

Tomatoes especially benefit from being transplanted. I bury the stem up to the leaves when I transplant. Roots grow all along the stem for a better root system. I transplant into colored 32 oz plastic drink cups and they stay in them until time to plant in the garden.

Both containers have holes in the bottom that I put in them

I start my seeds in 4" pots and I don't transplant them. I start them about 5 weeks before I need to put them in the ground. You just have to be careful not to over water them.

There are any number of discussions on the various forums that the search will pull up for you about 'potting up' and the many advantages it provides the plants. "Staged transplanting" is another good search term. I linked just a few of them below. Some include links to the studies done and include photos as well.

The primary benefit is root development as the act of re-potting is the actual trigger needed by many plants to begin developing fibrous roots (the important feeder roots). Secondary benefits for the plants include slowing top growth so that root development can keep up with it and preventing the most common error all those who grow from seed do - over watering the seedlings. Third benefit is that most home growers end up with leggy seedlings due to insufficient light and excessively warm air temps. Those plants have weak stems and easily killed. Potting up those seedlings allows planting them deeply, burying most all of that weak stem. Not only is the stem then supported but additional roots develop all along that buried stem making a stronger, healthier plant.

A young, just sprouted seedling can easily drown in a 4" pot as the amount soil in that size container will retain far more water than a young seedling can cope with. That same seedling can thrive in a 2" cell simply because the amount of soil in the container will not retain as much water for as long a period of time thereby allowing more pockets of air to exist and the roots to thrive.

It would only be counterintuitive from the point of view of someone who doesn't fully understand how young plants grow and so wants to skip steps to make it easy on themselves rather than do what is best for the plant. What is counterintuitive from a plant's point of view would be expecting a newborn baby to wear his 5 year old brothers clothes and run and swim just as fast as his brother can. :)

Bottom line - pros do it. The commercial transplants you buy at a nursery have been potted up 2x to get to a 6 pack, 3 times to get to a 6" pot and when you buy them they are very likely already getting rootbound in that container and due for re-potting yet again.

But it is your choice. Try both ways with some of your plants and you will clearly see the difference in seedling survival rates, root development, and proportionate top growth.

Starting Seeds in larger pots?

Why start seedlings in small pots vs straight to 4' pot?

Advice needed on potting up

Pot up before transplanting?

Dave

Thanks for all the info, and the thread links.

I thought only tomatoes grow roots from the stem?

digdirt, I understand what you are saying. I only use larger pots than necessary with seeds. So far in the 3 years I have done that it has worked fine. I always used the clothing example when I was a salesclerk at a garden center.

I thought only tomatoes grow roots from the stem?

Not at all. Many plants do including peppers, artichokes, eggplant, potatoes, and corn just to name a few. But all benefit from the additional stem support of transplanting deeper. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, many flowers, etc. can't support even a few leaves on a leggy stem much less support a head or a set of blooms.

Dave

edited to correct spelling

This post was edited by digdirt on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 13:40