Potting on.

I know this is a very silly post, but I've never quite understood the need to pot on, say, plug plants before planting in their final position rather than doing it in one move providing there's no danger from frost. Perhaps someone will kindly enlighten me.

Many thanks

Neil

 

Thats not a silly question Neil.

You could put them straight out once the frost has gone, but in the meantime its best to fit the size of the plant to the size of the pot for optimum root growth.

If they get pot bound, they'll waste energy trying to put out new roots once planted out.

Its also to do with watering, if a plant was in a pot that was too big for it, it would be hard pressed to get rid of excess water if it got saturated.

Best to pot on into slightly bigger pots a required, rather than small to huge in one go.

 

Ziggy's right. It's one of those things that makes sense when you do it! Unless conditions are just right to plant out your plugs straight away when they arrive, (which would be fine) you'll see the results from potting on into a pot with a nice bit of space all round. You usually see the benefits from proper horticultural practice by the contrast with when you don't do things properly! ...that little corner of the seedtray where the seedlings were left...compared to the ones pricked out into little pots, (even after a couple of days) The way a plant makes new roots and seems to double in size when it's been potted on. When you see a young plant that's been put into a big pot, it looks very sad and doesn't seem to get going as quickly as one that's been put into the correct sized pot. A plug plant that's been left to get rootbound takes much longer to become established once planted out, even if you try teasing out the roots a bit.

 

Now there's a first

 

So pleased you two agree!

Basically, then, it's a case of not allowing the plugs to get pot-bound or saturated and, if planting out straight away, doing so when there's no danger of frost.

 

Yep, thats about it Bigger, stronger plant means less likely to get eaten by slugs too, they nip tiny plants off at the stem base.

 

I pot on into the next size pot when I see roots coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom of it's current pot, this means the roots have reached the base and can go no further which is when they start to spiral around the pot. Giving them the next size pot allows their roots to continue growing outward as opposed to around. In turn, this helps them establish and grow on better when eventually you plant them out in the garden.

Steve...

 

Thanks, then, y'all!

 

There's also a danger that plants could struggle to get enough water if the pot is too big for it, as it drains beyond the root system.

I have to admit I'm lazy with potting on though. Usually module/tray -> small pot -> big pot / final position. Could do it better, but it works!