How to make strong indoor plants

Question

is there a way to genetically make indoor plants more stable at 1-3 weeks old? cause i plan to plant them outside after about 4 weeks. i don't want the stems to fall when i put it outside any ideas?

Answer 1

Strong light is essential as suggested.Secondly buy some potassium nitrate fertilizer.You may have to order it through a garden center or on-line.Once they seedlings are up about 2" give them a watering every other week.Put 1 tablespoon in a gallon of hot water stir well.It should be dissolved well when it has cooled.Potassium will quickly fatten up the stems.Thirdly lightly brush the seedlings with your hand back and forth a few times daily.This will simulate wind movement, and promote the production of lignen, a chemical compound in plants that strengthens the cell walls of the stems.Don't worry about the nitrogen content in potassium nitrate it is 13-0-44, that's 13%nitrogen and 44% potassium.The potassium is the key element here for the stem.It is used by all professional growers for the reason stated.It is laughable to say the nitrogen content is to high. In the germination stage water alone is used.The first pair of leaves to appear are called seed leaves.They are full of stored starch for growth. The second set of leaves are called true leaves.Soon after they appear the seed leaves fall off and fertilzer is needed. The most popular fertilizer in the industry to grow off seedlings after initial treatments with potassium and calcium supplementation is standard Peters.We buy it in 50 lb. bags.That is a 20-20-20 fertilizer(20%) nitrogen.In comparison you can see that the potassium nitrate is much lower in nitrogen.The major factor to prevent slender weak stems is sufficient light, not low nitrogen, although you would'nt want to go over 20%. Ideally, place your seedlings in a south facing window with supplemental lightining.You want to get a full spectrum light with high wattage.Allowing the soil to dry a bit betwen waterings as suggested is beneficial not only to prevent root rot, but it also stimulates root growth.The small fan is also a good suggestion.In the greenhouses our cooling fans provide the movement needed.Since you plan to plant out 4 weeks after seeding, and if you are growing entirely under artificial lighting cut the potassium nitrate to 1 teaspoon per gallon after the first true leaves appear.You will not need the Petters for seedlings that young.I start my seeding about 12 weeks before the sales time and move the seedlings from plug trays to nursery flats after a month.We begin using Petters at this point.

Answer 2

Do not use nay nitrate based fertilizer as suggested..this is full of nitrogen and will make your plants grow tall and leggy and fall over..The trick is is to let the plants soil at the top go a little dry inbetween waterings..do not water heavily especially through the germiation period..Have your lights (if flourescent) no further than 4 inches from the top of the plants..with flourescent lights I use one cool light bulb and one full spectrum bulb per fixture..and here is what is important..keep a small fan circulating on them at all times..this simulates a slight wind that you receive outdoors and makes the seedlings grow a stronger stalk due to the slight breeze and keeps them from getting leggy as well..use no fertilizer at all other than what is in your seeding mix..use no soil for you are asking for diseases..I mix my own..but you can buy it premixed..I use 1/3 peat moss..1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 perlite in my mix..plus I add very little slow release  fertilizer 10-10-10 to my mix..other than this use no fertilizer...If you keep the mix in the plants too wet you end up getting dmapening off disease on them and they can die...I grow seedlings and seel commercially just like you buy in the stores..I do cuttings from other plants and sell them as well..I sell veggies out of my garden..this is my sole means of income..and I do quite well in small areas..here are some pictures..I'm still laughing at this so called horticulturist that suggested all that nitrogen on seedlings...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28022122@N0...

Answer 3

The seedlings need strong light and dryness. Only wate if they show signs of wilt.

High light is most valuable.