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![]() ![]() Here is the MIgardener how-to video on how to harden off seedlings easily! House Plants Need Hardening Off Too! During the waiting period for your plant to bounce back, care for it as your normally would. Transplant shock causes your plants to wilt, brown, or leaves to curl and fall away. Another issue that may arise in your seedlings is transplant shock. Even if they do survive, they can be held up for weeks in their maturity. Some plants can recover from sun scald, but only if they have enough foliage to photosynthesize properly. If you've already transplanted your seedlings too early, cover them to shield them from the sunshine until properly adapted. Sunburn can be reversed if you catch it early enough! Don't prune away burnt foliage but wait until the plant has the opportunity to produce new growth. You'll notice your plants are sunburned if you see discoloration or thinning foliage. Seedlings that are not hardened-off can be at risk for s unscald/sunburn. All of your hard work, time, and love can go to waste after a couple of hours in direct sunlight without the proper precautions. Hardening off is truly the most crucial step in the seed starting process. Light from windows is definitely not a replacement for hardening off your seedlings outside. It's also important to note that sunlight is still filtered through them in some capacity, no matter how clear your windows are. The hardening-off process will be much simpler if endless rays don't spoil your seedlings at the beginning of their lives. This technique strengthens each plant and adapts them perfectly for life in the great outdoors. This time frame simulates day and night for your seed to start and gives them time to rest at the end of the day. We recommend leaving grow light on for no longer than twelve hours a day. However, lights should not be left on full time. It's very tempting to leave grow lights on as long as possible in the name of "jump-starting" your seedlings. Simulate Day & Night With Your Grow Lights Your seed starts will strengthen every day as they grow with this method. Place it in the corner of the room to circulate the air and add a gentle breeze to your space. A few tips: Don't place the fan in a location where the air is blowing directly on the seedlings. A fan makes the hardening off process easier for them to adapt to outdoor growing conditions. Adding a fan to the room where your seedlings sit is a great way to strengthen them as they grow. ![]() In previous blog posts, we've discussed tips for starting seeds indoors. ![]() Come back to your schedule after it passes. You do not want to introduce them to that intensity during this time. Important note: if you see a low temperature or a storm of some sort on your forecast during your hardening out process. (even on overcast days)ĭay 4: 3 Hours in a shady spot and 2-3 hours in the evening sun.ĥ: 3-4 Hours in the evening sun - bring them in after sundown.ĭay 6: Repeat day 5 (after checking your weather forecast), leave them out overnight, and bring them in an hour or two after sunrise.ĭays 6: Increase the morning hours and bring in before the heat of the day.ĭay 7: Continue to start them during evening sun, begin introducing them to an hour at a time of midday sun for 8+9ĭay 10: At this point, you should be able to leave your plants out all hours of the day and night. Your seedlings must first adapt to the evening sun before they can be exposed to the bright mid-day sunshine. Set plants in a shady spot outside for 2-3 hours before bringing them back in.ĭay 2: Have them spend 3-4 hours in a shady spot outside.ĭay 3: 3-4 Hours in the shade into an hour of the evening sun. Over this time period, you want to increase the hours spent outside in both shade and sun.ĭay 1: Start in the shade. This time frame lets them quickly bounce back from the typical transplant shock associated with transplanting them into their new home. A slow introduction allows plants to adapt to their new environment in stages. Start the hardening off process 7-10 days before your plants go out into the garden. Let's get started! Know The Hardening Off Time Frame Once you understand this process, your seedlings are guaranteed to thrive year after year. The phrase "hardening off" is used to describe each seedling's strength growing over a period of time. Wind, rain, UV intensity from the sun, and temperature fluctuations can potentially harm seedlings that are not properly adjusted. Seedlings need time to adjust to the outside garden environment before they can grow up as healthy plants. Hardening off seedlings is one of the most vital steps to starting seeds indoors.
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