Keeping Seedlings Alive

I have tried growing seedlings a few times over the years, and it usually goes VERY badly.  Things start off very well, but then slowly but surely the plants all die.  Sometimes the thin seedlings wouldn’t even make it outside, but if they did, at most they would only last a day or two.  Then I learned I was doing it all wrong. 

You need to start taking care of those seedlings BEFORE you even try to move them outside.  Grow lights help a ton, but the plants need to be toughened up to make it.  After they start to grow inside, put an oscillating fan near them.  This helps the stems to thicken up and get tougher.  If you don’t have a fan, then you can brush your hands on the tops of the plants every day.  To me, that seems like way too much to remember with everything else going on in life.  So, I highly recommend just getting a fan.

Then you have to SLOWLY acclimate your plants to the outdoors.  Don’t just put them out for half a day with the wind and full sun.  Yes, I have done that and some of the seedlings didn’t make it.  You need to take BABY steps to get the plants ready for their new lives outside.

The first day, bring them out somewhere in the shade, and preferably when it is not crazy windy.  The winds in New Mexico can be intense in the Spring, so it can be tricky to get this done here.  After an hour, bring the plants back inside to the grow lights and fan.  Make sure to keep them hydrated because the outdoor elements will usually dry them out a lot faster than living inside.    

The second day, bring the plants out and give them an hour of direct sun (preferably NOT at peak times – between 10am and 2pm).  After the hour, bring them back inside again.

Continue everyday giving them an additional hour of sun and bringing them inside.  After a week or so, you can just leave them outside even overnight. 

When you actually put them in the ground in their final home, try to do so late in the day and water them immediately. 

That’s it.  Sure, it sounds simple, but these few extra steps make a world of difference.  This year I followed the rules, and my seedlings are doing FANTASTIC!  I planted them in the garden a little over a week ago and they are so happy.  I check on them daily, and they keep getting bigger. 

This is one process that you really can’t skip or shortcut if you are growing seedlings inside and want to move them outside to finish growing.  Take the extra week or two and slowly acclimate them to the sun, wind and temps.  Before you know it, your little plant babies will be getting huge, and you will be ready to harvest!