transplanting into larger containers

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

This year I started my annuals (Ivy Geraniums and Calibrachoa) much earlier than in previous years so they would be larger and bloom sooner. I actually sowed them on Feb 14 and my usual outdoor transplant date is is between Mother's Day and May 15 depending on the weather outlook. Since my Ivy Geraniums germinated and grew so quickly I am wondering if (and when) I will need to transplant them from the 3.5" durapots that they are currently in. How do you know when they need more room? I still have about 5-6 weeks left of them growing indoors.

I do have taller 3.5" durapots which I've never used (almost twice the height of a typical durapot)....will that work OK or should I consider wider containers rather than taller containers? I would like to make use of the 3.5" taller durapots since they fit perfectly into my 1020 trays.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Featured Answer

Rick (zone 6b, MA)

10 years ago

Njitgrad, I have the same problem. This year I planted seeds in my seed trays several weeks earlier than I had last year. I was so proud of myself for having remembered to do it in February and was looking forward to having flowers and vegetables much earlier than I had last year.

But in the last week or so I've realized that I outsmarted myself. Last year I was able to transplant everything directly from the seed trays out into the garden (yes, including tomatoes!) without any potting up at all. I know this is highly unusual at least for many plants, but virtually everything grew fine. Looking back, I can imagine that a lot of what I planted was rootbound, but at the time I didn't know that that was a problem and somehow it didn't become a problem.

Now here I am this year, so happy about having started in seed trays much earlier, but finding myself with plants that will fairly soon be of a size ready to put outside but with weather and soil temperature in no way ready for that. So… I've already done a lot of potting up which I didn't have to do at all last year.

Call it having beginners luck last year or having too much knowledge this year, but I suppose the moral of the story is that when it comes to gardening, on some level doing things the right way doesn't always work out any better than not knowing a darned thing.

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Comments (12)

GardenHo_MI_Z5
10 years ago
You can check by root size..after watering, tip out plant and see if it's looking rootbound or not. I need to do this myself :)
digdirt2
10 years ago
Agree, just check the roots. Another sign - but not as clear - is when you have to start watering them more frequently. But with 6 weeks to go the odds are you'll have to transplant them anyway. As to which size pot to use - going wider/bigger overall is better than just going deeper but with the same size as a general rule. How tall are they?

Dave
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User
Original Author
10 years ago
Here are my Ivy Geraniums....
User
Original Author
10 years ago
My Calibrachoa....
User
Original Author
10 years ago
My Peppermint and Spearmint....
User
Original Author
10 years ago
And some Mojito Mint....
digdirt2
10 years ago
Good looking plants! You've really come a long way since that first year. Kudos!!

I would transplant the ivy as their drip line circumference is exceeding the current pot diameter and you still have at least 1 month to go. When the drip line over hangs the pot edge it is a sign that the roots are at the pot edge too and will begin to coil if not transplanted. Got any 6" pots?

The cali and most of the others look fine for a bit although the Mojito is getting close too.

Lots of mints! I assume you know they can all be very invasive if not well contained?

Dave
User
Original Author
10 years ago
Much better !?!?
digdirt2
10 years ago
Really looking good!

Dave
User
Original Author
10 years ago
Rick, my only real issue seems to be with the Ivy Geraniums. They germinated in something like 2-3 days and just took off from there. My Calibrachoas were started at the same time and they seem to be on a pace where I timed them just right. Next year I will start the Geraniums a month later.

FWIW, my schedule this year was:

Feb 14 - Calibrachoa, Ivy Geraniums, Mints

Mar 17 - Basils, Eggplant, Peppers

Apr 1 - Tomatoes
Rick (zone 6b, MA)
10 years ago
Good schedule. The seed packets on my Cherokee Purple Tomatoes suggested starting indoors 6-8 weeks before average last frost date. For us that's April 21-30, so starting the seeds March 1 seemed about right. Oh man, I really wish I'd started a few weeks later.

And any thoughts I might have had that this year (after such a warm winter and early spring here in Boston) we'd have an earlier last frost and I could put plants out early are being terribly dashed by the weather predictions for Sunday night through Wednesday morning. Tuesday pre-dawn temperature is predicted at 22, then Wednesday at 19.