To start off the growing process, growers typically plant many seeds in small pots because you won’t know if all of them will sprout (or germinate), and you won’t know if all of them will be female (only females produce buds).
It’s hard to plan out your garden space and plant seeds directly into the ground if some seeds don’t make it; and you don’t want to plant a seed in a giant pot and potentially waste a bunch of soil if it won’t make it either.
So for the seeds that do make it, they will need bigger homes after several weeks of growing and will need to be transplanted either into a bigger pot or directly into the ground.
Why transplant?
As we mentioned above, transplanting is an essential step in the cultivation rocess. for you to know the stage of development in which the plant is, to control its size and its rooting, in addition to knowing more about its health. After all, below is just as important as above! If the roots have problems, you will want to resolve them as soon as possible so as not to compromise your plant!
Our main tips right now are:
It is important to guarantee that the pot is ready to receive the new plant
Start small: sprout your seed and put it in a small place first, like a plastic cup or mini vase.
Do not use clear glasses! Light can compromise its roots and put work to waste.
Are you going to put the plant in a plastic cup? Drill holes in the base before transplanting, so that no roots get stuck or go through any damage or stress and also to allow for water to drain from the bottom.
Some growers recommend some transplants until you leave your plant in the final pot - and it's worth remembering that the final pot should be one big enough for you to put the plant in bloom. With some transplants, you will have a better chance of closely monitoring the development and health of your roots. But it is necessary to know how to measure: repeating the process can often stress the plant! Once or twice may be enough.
Smaller containers are also a good way to start. After germination, use a small pot. This will help in the development of the roots and decrease the chances of you watering too much and throwing a waterfall of water on your little plant. (Yes, we already killed some seeds by throwing too much water, don't do that migues)
To find out if you should transplant, tap the side of the container/ vase to loosen the soil/roots from the walls. Turn slowly and feel with your hands if the plant loosens itself in a square filled with roots, or if the earth starts to disintegrate.If the roots of the plant hold the medium, it is the right time! If the soil loosens, it means that it does not yet have enough roots to be transplanted to a bigger pot.
Use the biodynamic calendar! Flower days are the ideas for transplanting. We have approximately six flower days per month. Mark them on your private calendar to do this - and to defoliate as needed.
Another important reason to transplant is to enable the growth of your plant - or even stop it. For those who grow indoors, it is best to stop transplanting when the plant height is good for your growth. Increasing the contact surface and root space allows for continuous growth, and when planting in the soil, cannabis can reach many incredible meters!
WHY IS TRANSPLANTING YOUR CANNABIS IMPORTANT?
Unlike with hydroponics, growing in a solid medium like soil or coco makes transplanting into bigger pots necessary as your plants grow. Why is that?
As the roots expand into the substrate and seek out nutrients, their network will grow to encompass as much space as possible. When the roots have completely filled out the volume of the pot, running circles around the inside perimeter of the container, growers refer to these plants as “root bound”. Vegetative growth will slow down, ultimately limiting the potential of your yields as well.
By transplanting to bigger pots early on, we can prevent this from happening. Transplanting ensures the roots always have space to grow freely and vigorously.
WHEN DO I NEED TO TRANSPLANT?
When cannabis 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
The Benefits of Transplanting Cannabis
Plants do best when grown in appropriately sized containers. This is true about all plants in all media, but it is particularly true about cannabis plants. In both soil and coco, transplanting helps promote the ideal conditions for early growth. Keeping small plants in small containers makes it easier to achieve the correct air to water ratio and encourages denser root growth. The risks of transplant shock are minimal even for new growers. Therefore, the benefits of transplanting cannabis plants clearly outweigh the risks.
The Benefits of Transplanting Cannabis Plants in Soil
When growing plants in soil, transplanting is critical for several reasons. As with any media, plants started in small containers grow faster, develop better root ball mass and greater root density. However, in soil, there is an even more important reason to start small and pot-up: air to water ratio.
Transplanting Promotes the Best Air to Water Ratio
One of the key benefits of keeping small plants in small containers is that they do not become water-logged. Soil retains too much water, and roots suffer from oxygen deprivation immediately following watering. With large plants, the roots themselves help absorb the water and keep the soil from remaining water-logged. However, when small plants are in large containers, they cannot absorb sufficient water through their roots and the soil remains saturated. This will stunt root growth and can lead to “damping off” and eventual plant death.
New growers often think that starting a plant in a large container of soil will be the easiest way to grow. However, you really need to be an expert gardener to be able to water small plants in large containers of soil without over or under-watering. The truth is that it is easier to learn how to transplant than it is to effectively water small plants in large containers.
The Benefits of Transplanting Cannabis Plants in Coco
Coco coir mixed with perlite is an incredible growing medium because it always retains enough oxygen in the media. This means that even after a watering the roots are not water-logged; they still have access to oxygen. However, the air to water ratio is still superior when the plants are in the appropriate sized container. Furthermore, air to water ratio is not the only benefit to transplanting. As with almost all plants in almost all media, transplanting cannabis plants grown in coco is critical to help promote the best root structure and root ball mass.
Transplanting Cannabis Produces the Best Roots
When plants grow in containers, their roots quickly seek the bottom and colonize primarily along the bottom of the container. Transplanting through a series of steps encourages roots to colonize the full volume of media.
You can think of potting-up through a transplant strategy as being a form of root training. At each step, the plant establishes a new zone of root density before potting-up. This creates a final container that has root density throughout the volume of the media rather than primarily at the bottom.
Small containers early in life encourage root ball formation and lead to greater density of roots throughout the plant’s life. Conversely, if a small plant grows in a large container it will send roots to the bottom. This leaves a huge vacant mass of medium with relatively few roots. As a result, the medium takes longer to dry and there is less oxygen available to the roots. The roots will not colonize the middle of the pot after they have grown past it. Therefore, starting plants in a large container effectively reduces the potential root area and the potential harvest.
Seedlings Grow Slowly in Large Containers
Starting plants in large containers not only limits their potential, but it also slows them down. Large containers often do not retain adequate oxygen for root growth in the center of the media and the roots will grow at the edges and the bottom. This forces seedlings to invest additional energy in root growth at the expense of above ground growth. Since the above ground growth is the source of all energy, this has a compound effect in slowing vegetative growth early in life.
Starting seedlings in small containers and potting up encourages more balanced and faster growth. Roots quickly reach the bottom and colonize the seedling pot allowing the young seedling to work on above ground growth. Potting up to a second container and then the final container continues this process of balanced growth and root colonization.
How to Not Suck at Transplanting Cannabis?
Transplanting. Sounds risky, right? There are some risks involved, but when executed correctly, transplanting your cannabis plants will help them develop a stronger root system and lead to enhanced flower production. If you are a beginner, plan for some expected loss or delays when you transplant. Shock can lead to stunted growth and sometimes even the death of a cannabis seedling or clone. Throughout your grow, you may need to transplant a few different times.
Get your shit together (all your shit):
Seedlings or clones
Solo cups or pots (containers)
10-gallon pots
Professional mix soil
Nutrient Program
Water
Factory products
Nonwoven fabric material, allows roots to breathe and grow healthier, boosts plant growth and yields
Promote faster plant growth through better aeration.
Keeps plant warmer in winter and cooler in the summer
Prevents circling roots and air-prunes the plant's root structure.
Heavy duty & durable; Reinforced handles for easy movement
Provides aeration, enhancing root structure, resulting in a vigorous plant with more flowers and fruits and increased insect and disease resistance.
The Start of Your Grow
Whether you are growing from cannabis seedling or clone in a marijuana grow tent, your first transplant will most likely be into a red solo cup. If you are growing more than one strain, be sure to label your cups with the strain name.
First, poke good-sized drainage holes in the bottom of each cup before you begin to transplant. Ideally, you want water to be able to drain after you have packed soil into the cup. Next, add water to your soil mixture to create a rich base for your plants to grow in. Then, take a handful of the mixture and fill your solo cup or small container. Finally, leaving space for your seedling or clone, make a thumb-sized hole in the packed soil and place your plant in it.
If you have checked the roots and they have taken up most of the container with healthy roots, it is okay to transplant. Sanitary is primary. Make sure you wear gloves or wash your hands so you do not contaminate your roots-they are delicate!
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that you should not water your plants right before transplanting. Refraining from watering allows the soil to be a little more sticky and it will hold together better when you are removing the plant from your solo cup or starter container.
Be gentle! Do not damage the roots. When roots are disturbed or agitated, the plant goes into shock. Intense lighting during transplanting can also send your plant into shock too. A healthy root system is a robust root system. It also means your plant is being well fed and will grow successfully. When it is time to transplant your babies from their solo cups into a standard 10-gallon pot the plant’s root system will be very long.
Once your 10-gallon pot ( or container of your choice) has been filled with your soil mixture and you have made a solo-cup sized hole, gently give your plant a push upwards from the bottom of your cup and squeeze the plant out. Next, twirl the clone in a clockwise motion to easily place the roots into the pot without tangling or damaging them. Finally, softly pack more soil into the pot and around your seedling or clone.
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. What's more, if you are a beginner, full spectrum LED grow light can be your great choice.