August 05, 2020
When you started growing plants in your indoor grow tent, you know about there will be a process-transplant.Transplanting medicinal plants is the best way to develop a healthy root mass and ensure vigorous early growth. Whether you are starting from seeds or clones, in soil or coco, plants will do best in appropriately sized containers. This is true for all medicinal plants.
There are advantages to transplanting your medicinal plants, and this transplant guide and tutorial will teach you when and how to transplant your pot plants perfectly every time. But why should growers transplant their medicinal plants in the first place? Why not just plant them in their final container from the beginning? The reason is that a proper transplanting regimen actually makes your plants grow faster in the vegetative stage!
The most important rule to keep in mind when transplanting is that transplant shock causes a lot of stress to your plants. Be extremely careful; the less root damage, the better! This is not a process to rush.
Another important factor is cleanliness. Ensure your working area is clean, and wash your hands before you handle your plants. Better yet, wear gloves.
Do not transplant during the day in the bright sun or under an intense grow light. To avoid exposing your roots to undue light, transplant at night.
TRANSPLANTING: STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
1. When transplanting your seedling, water them 1–2 days before transplanting. The soil should be moist but not wet. For later transplants, a drier soil will help the root ball stick together.
2. Prepare the new pot by filling it with good-quality soil. Don’t fill it all the way up and don’t overpack. Water the new pot. Dig a hole in the centre large enough for the new plant.
3. With your hand, cover the soil in the old pot (with your plant) and carefully flip it over. The plant should stick out between your fingers.
4. Carefully slide out the root ball and remove the old container. If the root ball doesn’t come right out, gently squeeze and pat the sides of the pot to loosen the soil. If still stuck, lay the pot horizontally on the floor and try to slide out the root ball. If it still won’t come out, use a knife and cut around the outer rim of the soil to free it (use this only as a last resort). Do not grab the plant and try to pull it out with force!
5. When the plant is finally freed, keep a hand under the root ball and transfer the plant to its new hole in its new container. Use extra soil and fill in the gaps. Pat down the soil just slightly to keep your plant in place.
6. Lightly water the plant to help it settle into its new home. This is a good time to use a root stimulator. Root stimulators help ease transplant shock and promote root development.
Pro Tips:
• We recommend preparing your new soil with Easy Boost organic plant nutrition. Add about 50–100g Easy Boost per 20l of soil. Easy Boost is an organic fertiliser that provides your plants with food for 10–12 weeks.
• How long does transplant shock last? It depends, but a few days of slow or stunted growth after transplanting is normal. Allow plants to recover for at least two weeks before inducing bloom or carrying out high-stress training methods.
• If plants are looking weak right after transplanting, support them with stakes.
• Sterilise old containers to reuse in the future.
Most medicinal plants growers opt for standard white plastic pots with drainage holes in the bottom. Why white pots? Black or other dark colours will generate heat as the sun beats down, whereas white containers will help the soil stay relatively cool. Alternatively, some growers like to use air grow pots or fabric grow pots, which naturally "air-prune" the roots and allow for optimal health and development. For seedlings, growers tend to use plastic solo cups or specially designed seedling pots.
When medicinal plants grow, the roots develop first, followed by the stems and leaves. Most seedlings can be transplanted to small cups in about a week. After that, watch for the biggest set of fan leaves to extend past the lip of the pot. When that happens, it's time to transplant.
Typically, the first few transplants will only be about a week apart, then they should slow down to about once every two to three weeks until the plants are ready for their final and largest container as you prepare for the flowering stage.
Those are just rules of thumb. Some plants will need to be transplanted earlier. Some can wait longer. If you're in doubt, too early is always better than too late.
If you see any of these signs, it might be time to up-pot your plants:
Plants dry out quickly
Frequent wilting
Visible signs of nutrient burn
Growth slows down
Sudden stretching
Plants look too big for the pot
Red stems or other signs of deficiency
Just like the strain of medicinal plants you choose to grow is highly important to the outcome of your yield, transplanting is important. Knowing how, when, and why your transplant medicinal plants will enable you to master this technique so you every grow you start is successful.