Tutorial A low trauma way to transplant using larger size cups....

A few folks have asked about this method, so here it is! It's applicable to most any size cup, styro' or plastic,... personally I like to use 24-32oz styro' because of the good volume size (can stay in a bit longer), good drop depth, and easier to work with... styro' is excellent at insulation too, a plus for outdoor growers who have their seedlings in filtered Sun, preventing potential overheating. A plus to doing a transplant is that you can have some time to assess the seedlings quality before going into final pots... so if you get a mutie, or misfire, etc., it's less hassle to deal with and less wasted resources, space, etc.,....
I moved this seedling early to do this (about 12 days old or so, suffered a little damage from a spray gone foul), since things were already prep'ed for others,.. It could have stayed several days longer... This is an F1 auto/photo cross, just for clarity's sake, but it doesn't matter if it's an auto, or photo,... the point is the get your baby moved without any trauma to the roots!

1] get your next step/final pot prep'ed by filling it up around the exact same seedling pot nested inside....

2] Next, gently roll the cup between your hands on the side, to help free up what's sticking to them on the insides,.... then slice around the base, leaving just a little attachment point,...

.... Then up the side to make halves, again leaving an attachment point,....

3] ...remove the base piece gently,...

4] .... and then slip it into the pocket,... snip the top attachments free,....

5] Now the tricky-ish part! First note the soil level in the final pot, vs. your cup,... it should be a bit higher (1/2" or so) than the final pot, to compensate for the base, and in my case, some perlite that was at the bottom of the cup..... Remove one half at a time, rock it back and forth a bit, tug up a bit, to start dislodging it; place your fingers over the top of soil to keep it from getting knocked around or lifted up,.... then repeat for second half, which usually comes out easier,... Voila'!

6] If you like, apply some root tonic, and foliar too,... like Jump Start or SuperThrive, but there's lots of choices to help with any potential shock, and stimulate more rooting-

...enjoy the happy campers in their new shoes!

 

[Auto melt]

Like a pro

 

[Autoseeds.com]

Very clear and informative. Potting on Autos is something many people avoid because they worry about the stress. However as long as you are careful and use this excellent advice above, there is nothing to fear from it.

 

[Waira]

--- thank you @Auto melt and @Autoseeds.com ....
...typically I plant directly into final pots, but sometimes the styro' cups can be helpful for saving space while juggling plants coming and going,....
Yeah, there's all manner of beefing over transplanting! I think the key (trauma aside) is in how big the starter pot is, and how long/how large the plant stays and gets in it,... there's a definite window to catch, most importantly well before cramping starts and the plant responds to this restriction,..

 

[Mazar]

I do the first step where you cut the bottom off, then I just plop it on the top, pushing down slightly. In a couple days roots have adhered the cup to the pot the rest of the way. I like keeping the solo cups in there because they're labeled and I don't have to redo labels

 

[TheMongol]

Great write up and good way to transplant

 

[VitaMan]

A very kind way to do it!

 

[VitaMan]

With bigger, longer growing Auto's, would 2 transplants be pushing it?

Say insta-cup into 2+ quart styro or bottle using your tech, then later into a 5 gal pot or outdoors?

 

[Autoseeds.com]

I dont think so, although i cant see the advantage of using the "middle" pot. why not just go from first pot straight to final?

 

[Tom&Barbara]

Hi Waira,
This was one of the very posts I looked at before joining and before germinating an auto.
It is excellent but I also anecdoted it to friends in a humorous way to highlight the sensibilities of the little ladies. Your system is so considerate I wonder if you were in bomb disposal at some time.
In blighty we aren't very styrofoamy anymore and the only I could find had a three-week delivery wait. Untenable with seeds in hand! So I used 3 litre pots and were as gentle as an understanding gynecologist and all would be well if some had flowered and some had smelled!
T&B