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transplanting seedlings to new soil type

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PotWWD

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Hi, glad to meet you all. My first time grow seedlings all of a sudden stopped growing. After some research and speaking with people it was determined that the soil conditioner I used as the only soil was the culprit for not only being the wrong PH and about worthless as far as nutrients. It was suggested I get a specific type of soil to put them in and not this contiioner. The problem I am facing is getting these lil seedlings and their roots completely out of the wrong soil and transplant them into this new mix. You guys ahve any suggestions on doing this without completely stressing or killing these little guys by removing the plant and root system only cause I am not finding the exact method of doing it. Thanks
 
What size container is it currently in?

Likely, you will be able to transplant it into a new container with better soil. To do this, you don't need to surgically extract the root system of your seedling, you simply take the entire soil mass from the small container and move it into the new one.
 
Hi ChadWestport, these are in a solo cup. Had a question on your statement. If I transplanted the entire soil mass to the new container (likely another solo cup for now as they are still smaller), wouldn't it turn into the same issue since technically it would still be surrounded by the bad soil rather than in the new soil?
 
Roots are very sensitive, you haven't posted any pictures, so I don't know exactly what size of plant we are working with. But roots are growing in the cup already, if you take it out and try to remove the dirt to only leave exposed roots, you will likely damage them and cause stress to the plant. That isn't the ideal way to do it, but it can be done if small enough.

What I suggest is to take a new container and fill it with the good dirt. As you fill it towards the top, you can put the solo cup in there as you pour the dirt around it... this is a quick tip time saver, your transplanting hole will now be the exact size you need.

So after you have filled the dirt in the new container around your solo cup, remove the cup, put your hand over the mouth of the cup, letting the stem rest between your fingers, and then tip the cup upside down, the dirt and root mass should come out of the cup, quickly put that into the hole in your new soil. Your roots will grow from the old soil into the newer, healthier soil.
 
Hi ChadWestport. I hope it is ok to post pics here. If not, forgive me. these are the only two left and the ones I want to transplant.
 

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u can post pics mate u will be ok transplanting them mate with them being small becareful u dont break them or make the hole in new pot put the old one in it then cut down bought sides of pot and remove it mate
 
Thanks for the reply. So good to just make the new soil hole as big as the cup to transplant it as it with the old soil around the plant? also being so small, should I try anothe solo cup stiil at this point.
 
I've learned a valuable lesson. Don't transplant seedlings into hot soil. Hot soil being something like Fox Farms Ocean Forest. It has lots of nutes in it at the get-go. I've found seedlings to get stunted and burned when I go directly to it from a towel rooted seeds. My neighbor had the same issue. When the plants get some leaf sets going, it perks up. And who doesn't like perky weed? My solution? Dilute it with something neutral when I go solo.

What is your final medium? Brands and junk and stuff. What is the medium you are using? Other brands and flavens and whatnot? You said you are growing in straight soil conditioner. What you have looks like what I grow orchids in. Some kind of bark. There is nothing in that stuff. Someone is going to correct me. What you have is more suited to a soilless grow. DWC like. Roots are going to encase the bark as they do soil. When transplanting, listen to what the other good folk say.
 
PotWWD said:
Hi ChadWestport. I hope it is ok to post pics here. If not, forgive me. these are the only two left and the ones I want to transplant.
Click to expand...

The good news, they look healthy :)

That does seem to be a bunch of chips, is it all chips? If it didn't contain small particles, like dirt, then it might actually be rather easy to remove the roots....... but some might have latch onto the chips..... hmm....

You can still move the whole contents of the cup into the larger pot. I guess my best answer will depend on if it is all chips in there or if there are any smaller particles, like dirt.
 
Thank you, that paints a perfect picture. I looked the first one up online, I'm familiar with the new stuff you are getting. The Timberline looks like it has some fine soil type material in it as well, not just large chips. Knowing that, I would go the route of transferring the entire contents of the cup into the new soil using the method I described a few posts up. That it seems like would be your best bet for survival.
 
Transplant day 1:
Should I continue my same 18/6 light schedule and watering when 1" of soil is dry now?
 
Yes, keep the lights as normal. I like to water the soil in the new pot before transplanting. I'll let it drain for a little bit or maybe let it sit a day or two and then I transplant into it. Thats just a preference, not a "make or break" kind of deal.

Another good trick for knowing when to water is by weight. If you fully water the pot and then feel it, you know about how heavy to is. When the pot is almost to half that original weight, its usually time to water again. Ultimately, your leaves will be good indicators of when you have let it go too long without water.
 
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