ASK The Experts
I started too many seeds in the cells of
A
ormally, growers will put more than one seed in a
germination cube or organic medium cell with the
expectation that at least one of the seeds will germinate so
that all the seeded germination cubes or cells will have one
viable plant. If more than one seedling emerges, then the
plant number is thinned to one by cutting the top off the
unwanted seedlings. Trying to pull a seedling, or seedlings,
from the germination cube or organic rooting medium can
damage the root system of the remaining plant. In addition,
when trying to extract a seedling for planting into another
cube or rooting media cell, the root of the extracted seedling may be significantly damaged, thereby reducing its
survival potential as well as its development into a healthy
plant. Remember that a seedling’s root system is tender and
the emerging root will quickly penetrate into the germination cube or rooting medium. If more than one seedling
emerges, the roots of both seedlings will become entangled,
so trying to separate the seedlings will damage the seedling
roots of each plant. Letting the seedlings grow together
until beyond the early seedling stage before trying to separate them will not increase the survival rate.
crowded seedling tray is a common occurrence for
horticulturists. In order for those seedlings to perform up to their potential as adult plants, they need to
be thinned out while they are young. Unfortunately, any
time a plant is transplanted, stress will occur. The key is to
minimize this stress as much as possible. Seedlings crowded
in a tray offer a heightened challenge as the roots are most
likely intertwined with each other. The best time to separate
most seedlings is when they have their first set of true leaves
and are roughly 2-in. tall. The first step is to make sure
the soil or medium is moist. If it’s too dry, it can be brittle,
making the separation process more difficult. Assuming
the roots aren’t too tangled, a grower can usually separate
crowded seedlings by removing them from the cells and,
while gently holding the stems near the base, lightly pulling them a part. Some growers find this easier when done
under running water. The water cleans some of the soil or
medium away from the roots and lubricates the separation
of the roots. If you choose this method, be sure the water
temperature isn’t too hot or too cold. After gently pulling
the seedlings apart, they can be planted in individual seedling tray cells or small containers, prepared in advance. A
way to help reduce transplant shock is to administer a small
dose of vitamin B1 to the fresh transplants. It’s also wise to
avoid sudden changes in the seedling environment after
transplanting. Do not suddenly change the lighting, feeding
regimen or atmospheric conditions until seedlings have had
time to recover from the transplant (usually three days to
a week). After recovering, the seedlings can be treated like
any other small plants in the garden.
Sincerely,
Keep on growing,
Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr.
Eric Hopper
Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr. has 50
years of experience growing plants
hydroponically. He is an emeritus
professor at the University of
Georgia, Athens and has his own
consulting company, Grosystems.
Eric Hopper has more than 10 years of
experience in the hydroponic indu stry
as both a retail store manager and
owner. He continuously seeks new
methods and products that could help
maximize garden performance.
my seed trays. What’s the best way to
get them into an organized arrangement
without sending them into shock?
-Thomas S.
N
20
Maximum Yield USA | May 2014