When should I transplant?

I have plants that are about 4 inches high at about 5 weeks, the question is... when should I transplant them outside? age? time? how much water should I give right after tranplanting?

H4nk3y said:

I have plants that are about 4 inches high at about 5 weeks, the question is... when should I transplant them outside? age? time? how much water should I give right after tranplanting?

thanks to all who respond ​

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hmm well 4 inches at 5 weeks sounds a bit small...but i need more info to tell you...whats the general area southeast, northeast, northwest ect?

it all depends. I transplant when they are around 6-8" tall or a few developed nodes. I start them out in small containers, and I'm usually able to turn them up and slide the whole root ball out in one move. I then transplant this into my hole / container, usually up to just below the first set of leaves.

I then water thoroughly, to ensure the roots spread out in search of h2o.

but everyone will tell you a bit different, there's no exact science.

*also, I like to do it several days before a rain so i can acclimate it a little first and let it get used to it's new home. But I make sure to not let it dry out too much in it's early stages.

Search your average FROST FREE DATE. That's when most people start outdoors. But if you only have a few plants I would wait until couple of weeks after that date, (if you can). If you have lots of plants (or make clones) you can start earlier by planting one each day starting 2-3 weeks before that date; sure some will get hit with night-time frost and die, but you will have the earliest planting and most will make it. Look into extending your growing season by putting up small plastic hot-houses over your plants, (the trick to this is not to cook them, the plants have to be close because you will have to put the hot-house on before night, but you might have to take it off durring the middle of the day too then back on again before night).
The last day to transplant depends on the kind you are growing, you need to have enough time for it to finish before the FIRST FROST DATE. Find out when yours is, and count back however many weeks your bud needs. Hothouses help in the Fall too!

Also mulching with large rocks or putting out black containers of water. Both of these will collect the sun's heat and give it back to the plants near it.

Don't forget to "harden them off"!! Which means you have to gradually get your plants used to the outside or they might freak out a little. Just put them outside in the SHADE (never in direct sunlight) durring the daytime and inside at night for a day or two.

yea i didnt even think to mention frost free, but that should be a given.

thanks guys, my plants were grown under a small single 68w cfl for the first 4 weeks so that probably why they are so small... now they are under a 250w hps. I have a little nute burn i believe. I am putting them outside about 30 min away from where i live so i think the hot box idea will be too much work... anything else anyone can help with?

H4nk3y said:

thanks guys, my plants were grown under a small single 68w cfl for the first 4 weeks so that probably why they are so small... now they are under a 250w hps. I have a little nute burn i believe. I am putting them outside about 30 min away from where i live so i think the hot box idea will be too much work... anything else anyone can help with?

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one thing you might want be careful of with a spot that far away is once they start getting bigger their gonna require alot of water frequently. So make sure you can make the trip during the hot days at least every other day with a decent amount of water. I made the mistake of moving some of my ladies to a spot that was a 45 min walk and it was quite combersome walking that far with alot of water.

904chronic said:

one thing you might want be careful of with a spot that far away is once they start getting bigger their gonna require alot of water frequently. So make sure you can make the trip during the hot days at least every other day with a decent amount of water. I made the mistake of moving some of my ladies to a spot that was a 45 min walk and it was quite combersome walking that far with alot of water.

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Unless you use half a lick of sense and plant in the ground.

You're setting yourself up for failure (the kind where you go to jail) if you have to do something as incriminating as carrying water, as frequently as every 2 days, for as long as an hour and a half.

All it takes is one time someone that you don't see, seeing you and thinking "well hell, that ain't right" and calling the sheriff.