HOW TO THIN OUT SEEDLINGS – So you’ve planted all your seeds in a tray and now they have sprouted into seedlings. In order to allow them to grow further you will have to separate your seedling into their own pots. The guide below show you how to successfully thin out your seedlings.
Step 1
Seedlings are ready to thin out once the leaves of each separate plant starts touching the others or they have grown to a height of about 3 or 4 inches. If your seed tray is looking a little crowed it is time to thin them out into individual pots to allow them to flourish.
Step 2
Take some good potting compost soil and fill individual pots. Think about the size of the plant that you are growing and how quickly it will grow. If you use larger pots then you won’t have to worry about re-potting the plant for some time.
Step 3
Take a dibber, or a lollipop stick, and lift out each seedling gently by pinching a leaf – avoid touching the roots with your hands – at this stage the roots of the plant are very delicate and you could kill the plant by handling its root system.
Step 4
Take a pot with soil in it and make a hole with your finger. You want to create a hole that is large enough to accommodate the roots of the plant and deep enough so that the first leaves of the plant are approximately 1/4 inch above the base of the soil.
Step 5
With your fingers fill the hole and firm the soil – DO NOT compact the soil too much as this can, and often will, restrict the roots from spreading.
Step 6
Apply water but DO NOT soak the pot and seedling.
Step 7
To help you remember what your seedlings are, take a lollipop stick and write on it and place it on the side of the pot.
