Monday, June 12, 2017

Tips To Successfully Use Starter Plugs For Plants

By Debra Baker


Growing a garden can give a person a great deal of satisfaction. Unfortunately, a lot of people struggle with getting their seeds to actually sprout. When the germination process seems to be too much trouble, one may want to consider using starter plugs for plants to make gardening much more pleasurable and successful.

A plug is a germinated seed or rooted cutting that has been started in an individual growing compartment of a seedling tray. They have been raised in soil conditions that have just the right nutrients, aeration, and moisture retention, required for the most efficient growth of healthy root system. They can be made from many materials, including mineral fibers, peat, cardboard, or organic substances.

There are advantages to starting one's garden - regardless of whether it be vegetables, flowers, succulents, or greenery - in this way. For one, they save a lot of time getting things going because the plant has already done its most crucial period of growth prior to being transplanted into its final place in a container or bed. Time is not wasted waiting on seeds that never germinate, or seedlings that are failing to thrive.

Until a plant is firmly established, pods need to be carefully handled to avoid damaging the growth. This is a tender development period so when getting ready to remove them from the seedling tray to transplant them into their maturation pot, remember to use caution and care. Upon initial removal, the root ball should be completely and gently drenched with water.

The maturation container needs to contain a peat based potting mix that has little to no soil but does use either vermiculite or perlite to help encourage proper drainage. The seedling is them placed in the center at a depth that is the same as the size of the pod so that the root system has room to expand. The mixture is then firmly packed around the stem, being careful not to be rough, and then watered well.

The plant should remain in this container for several weeks being given plenty of attention to ensure strong growth that will allow it to survive in outdoor conditions. This includes making sure it receives proper light, being turned regularly so that all leaves are able to feed from the sun. It also requires protection from extreme temperatures and needs to be fed with a water soluble fertilizer regularly.

Following several weeks being cared for in their protected environment, the plant needs to be introduced to outside conditions in a process known as hardening off. This begins with spending a couple of hours outside daily to be exposed to more realistic temperatures, lighting, and wind. If during the first week they show no negative effects, they should be left out overnight, still being watched for symptoms of shock.

When they are ready to go into the ground, remember that the stem should be handled as little as possible. A proper planting mix should be used to fill in the hole around the ball to ensure that the root system will be surrounded by proper nutrients, and then thoroughly soaked to encourage the soil to settle into any air pockets. For best results, water with fertilizer initially, and every two weeks after, until well established.




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