Frugal and Eco Ways to Care for Seedlings
May 9, 2012 by Aimee • 9 Comments
Ways to care for seedlings. {Gardening}Here are a few biodegradable ways to plant your seedlings as they transition
from the ‘sprouting’ stage to the point they’re ready to be planted in the garden.
from the ‘sprouting’ stage to the point they’re ready to be planted in the garden.
Recycle-Recycle-Recycle
1. Plant the seedlings in Newspaper.
2. Plant the seedlings in Toilet Paper Rolls.
3. Plant the seedlings in an egg carton.
Frugal NoviceTips for caring for your seedlings…
- A plant will have trouble getting the nutrients it needs when it has grown wider and twice as tall as it’s pot. {Usually around 8 weeks}.
- The plant needs more space if the roots begin to grow round and round the edge of the pot, definitely time to transplant!
- When a plant is ready to make the move outside, first you will want to allow it to acclimate to the outside temperatures for a day or two.
- It’s tempting to plant on a nice sunny day, but transplant seedlings would much prefer the transition to occur on a dreary cloudy day. Doing this will allow them to adjust to their surroundings without drying out.
- When planting the small plants into your garden, firm the soil around them and water them well to ensure that the roots are kept moist.
- Fertilizing plants is great, but wait until the plant is on it’s second set of leaves and don’t fertilize dry soil.
Good tips! I always move my seedlings outdoors on a cloudy day, preferably when the forecast is for extended cloudiness, or at least I put them in the shade of a tree. They shrivel up and die if set out in the sunshine, as you mentioned. I’m hoping my little Carmen peppers and Early Girl tomatoes are happy. I moved them outdoors yesterday, but I have to have the ability to cover them at night, just in case the temp drops too low.
I just put out my seedlings and spent way to much money on a growing kit. I wish I had read this before hand! Genius! Thanks so much
Oh what great tips and oh so Eco Friendly!!
I’ve tried tomato seedlings this year for the first time… So, thanks for your tips…
great tips! hope to see you share this post over at my garden party! would love to have you link up!!!! xoxo, tracie
I love the way you have recycled those items for your plantings.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
I could use all of the gardening advice I can get. I never thought of starting seeds in toilet paper tubes, what a great way to recycle!
Great tips! looking forward to starting our vegie patch!
I tried my seeds in egg cartons but I have them outside. None of them has sprouted in over a month
I simply don’t have the space to do this indoors…..I’m going to try again in some plastic fast food salad containers with lids.