What about plantlets that have grown too big after sowing? Simple: you start pricking out and give them their own pot. The more space they have, the healthier and better they will grow. But how does pricking out work and more importantly, how do you do it? Read on below, we provide step-by-step tips.
Why is pricking out important?
If you have pre-sown something, your seedlings are often too close together to grow optimally. So it is important to give those plants their own pot. A bigger pot too, because often these plants have to survive until after the ice saints in May. Even if you pre-sow in seed trays, pricking out is important and you should give the seedlings their own pot with peat-free potting soil. You may not have to pick off the roots - because you can just push out the plug - yet it is necessary to give them their own pot to grow bigger and stronger. Seedling soil is also often a lot poorer than potting soil - to which organic fertilizers are usually added.
Is pricking out important for any plant?
No, pricking out is not necessary with every plant. The vast majority of everything you pre-sow does, but a small portion does not. Poppy, daucus, carrots and parsnips, for example, do not like to be pre-sown. They have a long taproot that grows straight down and thus should not be disturbed. With such plants, pricking out is out of the question. But speaking of zinnia, cosmos, dahlia, tomatoes and so on, it is necessary to eventually give each plant its own pot. Pricking out sometimes takes some thinking as a starter, but once you know what can and can't be done, everything goes naturally.
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In this video, Angelo shows you step-by-step how to prick out your seedlings.
Pricking out step by step
We make the distinction between sowing in a tray or sowing in a seed tray. In a seed tray you will have to carefully pick the fragile roots loose, while in a seed tray you can just push out the plug and plant. When to prick out? Seedlings are ready to be transplanted when they show their first true leaves. The first leaves you see when a plant sprouts are called germination leaves or cotyledons. Only when they develop their first real leaves are their roots firm enough to be detached. So be patient, and only then prick out.
1. Fill a P9 pot with peat-free potting soil.
2. Place the soil in a turret, don't push it, but make a hole in the middle with a stick or your index finger. This method is now called Angelo's piles, don't ask.
3. Carefully loosen the seedling with a small spoon or verspeenlatje.
4. Place the seedling in the pot and press from the outside inward.
5. Press the seedling, tap the pot and set aside. You are now a pro at pricking out!
After pricking out: how much water do you water?
After you finish pricking out, it's important to water right away. You don't want your seedlings to wilt. Fill a bowl with water and let the pots soak up water on their own. Do that for an hour and then discard the excess water. Do not water again until the soil starts to get dry. This is because too much water can encourage mold.
