Req 8b3b — Transplanting Seedlings

Transplanting is one of the most common operations in horticulture. Done correctly it accelerates growth; done carelessly it causes transplant shock—wilting, stunted growth, or death. This requirement gives you hands-on practice with the full process and a month to observe results.

What Counts

• 12 individual plants moved into larger containers (not 12 of the same pot—12 separate plants).
• They can be seedlings you started yourself, seedlings purchased in a flat, or rooted cuttings from a previous propagation attempt.
• “Larger container” means meaningfully bigger—not just the same pot. Moving from a 4-cell tray to a 4-inch pot, or from a 4-inch pot to a 1-gallon container, both count.
• Grow them for at least one month and observe their progress.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Prepare containers. Fill new pots with appropriate potting mix—not garden soil, which compacts. Leave about ½ inch of headspace at the top for watering.

2. Water seedlings first. Watering 30–60 minutes before transplanting makes the root ball easier to handle and reduces root damage.

3. Remove carefully. Squeeze flexible containers gently from the sides to loosen the root ball, or use a dibber to ease seedlings out of trays. Hold the plant by a leaf, not the stem—a broken leaf is recoverable; a crushed stem is not.

4. Set the depth right. Most seedlings should be planted at the same depth they were growing. Tomatoes are an exception—bury them deeper to promote extra root formation along the stem.

5. Firm and water in. Gently firm the mix around the root ball to eliminate air pockets, then water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom.

6. Reduce stress. Keep newly transplanted seedlings out of direct midday sun for 2–3 days. This “hardening off” period lets roots re-establish before the plant is asked to support full transpiration.

What to Observe Over the Month

Keep a simple log noting:

• Date of transplant
• Any wilting in the first week (normal if brief; concerning if it persists)
• Signs of new growth (new leaves, elongating stems)—this signals the plant has re-established
• Any problems: yellowing, pests, root-bound signs after a few weeks

Your counselor will want to see or hear about the plants’ progress, not just that you moved them.

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