Burying seedling leaves

I have been busy potting on seedlings - some of which have got quite big. I am in the habit, sometimes intentional and sometimes not, of planting the seedling deeper and burying the bottom leaves.

I don't seem to have problems. But can this be harmful, bearing in mind that for some larger and better established plants you are specifically told not to do this? And are their any general guidlines about when you can and when you can't?

 

I've generally found the same as you, Peter. I find they stand more upright, and I get fewer floppy plants when I do this. It isn't always necessary, but for quite a few species, I've found it the best method.

 

The bottom 2 leaves or the first 2 leaves which ever way you look at them, hold the plants food, they drop off later when the plant has more leaves and can grow without them. I would not bury the first 2 leaves.

 

Personally I dont like to actually bury the first two leaves, I do prick seedlings out and plant them at soil level, often, if its something that goes a bit leggy.
If I see signs of roots appearing just above ground level on older plants I do tend to plant them a bit lower sometimes, good example is tomatos.
There are some plants where the first "leaves" dont actually surface anyway, I think peas and beans do this.
Vaguely remember reading about cotyledons somewhere. :D

 

I don't think we're talking about burying the cotyledons, are we? :eek: I certainly didn't mean that, I mean the first pair of true leaves, if the seedling has got rather leggy. The cotyledons are by that time rather unnecesary......

On general principles, it's probably not the best thing to do, but sometimes it works when you have weak-stemmed seedlings that in your experience have tended to flop disastrously - or at least, that's what I've found!

Strongy's probably the best person to talk about this, after all, he probably brings on far more seeds than anyone else!

 

Ah, I think we could all be barking up different trees here :confused:

 

Yes I am talking about larger plants with several sets of leaves and as Dendro says burying some of the true leaves. Perhaps I shouldn't have called them seedlings. Sometimes they get bent stems or get leggy and burying them deeper is a good way of making a better looking plant. And sometimes I do it a bit quick - and behold it is now a shorter plant than it was. I am not aware of having had any problems. But with mature plants purchased from a garden centre they always say don't do it.

I would like to understand the science of what happens when you bury leaves. Of course with some mature plants it is an accepted way of forcing new shoots to grow from below the ground.

Just earlier tonight I hear a lady who got a gold at Chelsea for her Clematis say that you should plant large flowered Clematis 4 inches (deeper - I presume) and small flowered Clematis 2 inches deeper.

 

They always recommend that with clematis - plant deep!

I think with some plants it's a way of getting roots to develop in the place of the leaves, in the way they do if you make cuttings, and strip off the lower leaves, putting them in water or compost. Versatile things, plants!

 

Right, so I got it wrong, sorry. :D
Again I think it depends on the plant and what it is, as I said earlier it definitely starts a new root system on toms, but I dont think I would do it, say, with a pelargonium, unless I was feeling lucky.
The old clematis chestnut eh, think its suposed to give you a chance against wilt if there are some buds below ground level.