skip to main content

When to move seedlings out?

10 years ago

I live in lower Connecticut and lately the weather has been beautiful (almost 60 degrees Fahrenheit!), but still chilly. On some days, there's full sun while others it's cloudy, but the warm weather made me wonder when I should be letting the seedlings sit outside.

What temperature is safe for seedlings to sit in? Mine have been growing under a light with a pad that heated it to 82F but for the past week I turned it off so now it's at room temperature.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

rcharles_gw (Canada)
10 years ago
I am a bit anxious to have some of mine outside also.
It may still be a tad cool to be putting them outside with 60 degrees and cold breeze.
If you are talking of a few seedlings, then it is much easier to move in and out of house/greenhouse to a sheltered spot.
When I do start putting mine out. I like to set out up against the house (south facing side) and under the ease so that there is no risk of water from rain and put a piece of shade cloth only to shade from hottest afternoon sun. I take the shade cloth back a bit at a time to get acclimatized to hot sun, over a period of a week or so.
Not worth burning them after taking so much time and caring during them winter months.
I have too many now to take in and out every day now. I will wait until evening temperatures are around 60 degrees.
Rick
Pagan
10 years ago
I'm totally with Rick. I can't be bothered to transport seedlings back and forth (even though I only have about 12) so I just wait until it's as warm outside at night as it was in the house in the winter.

The way things are going, my seedlings won't be going out until late May! Maybe even June. Sheesh.

Pagan
Related Discussions
when to move seedlings out
Q
Comments (4)
Are you in zone 8? If so, you could have moved them out more than 2 weeks ago. I am in zone 7/8 and have planted ,most of what you hve,in the garden and they are growing. First, you train your seedings for outdoor. This way they won't be shocked by sudden changes. AVoid harsh sunshine on them.You've already killed a batch for suddently puting them in hot sunny spot for a long time. Best time to give them sunshine is in the afternoon, when sun is going down and it is not as harsh for new seeding not used to sunshine Night low temperatures , as long as not lower than mid 40s has only to do with growth. For example, tomatoes can even tolerate high 30s F. But they will not grow. Cucumbers sre more so than tomatoes and may be cold stressed at tempretures lower than 40F.
...See More
When to move hellebore seedlings?
Q
Comments (3)
I think it's best to move them asap in order to minimize damage to the roots of both the seedlings and parent plants. I use a pencil to gently loosen the soil below the seedling, then use it as a lever to ease the plant out of the soil. The most important thing about the process is never to touch the stem of the seedling; this causes invisible bruising which can destroy any potential for growth. Always handle only by the cotyledons at this stage. The roots, if intact, will be three-pronged, and should hang vertically into the new potting mix; and I'd recommend going with pots (deep, narrow ones are best for hellebores)to begin with. About a 50/50 mix of good soilless mix and perlite will give you the drainage the plants need. If you do decide to plant the seedlings out, I'd recommend either doing a raised bed with loose, fluffy soil, or at least backfilling with a soilless mix. If it's dry and powdery, it'll be easier to sprinkle it around the roots without compressing them, but you'll need to make sure it gets well moistened after the planting process is complete. After that, the biggest danger to seedlings is overwatering, so you need to be attentive about that, too. Hope this helps - probably way more than you wanted to know, but I've grown hundreds of Hellebore seedlings every year for about 15 years now. Here's a link to a little blog I've been writing - I just did an entry on Hellebores a couple of weeks ago. Here is a link that might be useful: Transitional Gardener blog
...See More
When do I move seedlings outdoors?
Q
Comments (7)
Jon Im in 6b and mine have been outside since the end of march. Looking back at the weather for Long Island it looks like you could have brought yours out early to mid May and been just fine. April had a few frosted nights but overall probably just fine for taking yours out during the day. Thats the other thing. if you have warm days during winter, fall or early spring say 60F+ you can get away with taking them out for awhile and then back in for the cold nights. I do this all the time. The sun could still burn them but since the angle is low its not as risky.
...See More
When do you move your new Adenium seedlings outdoors?
Q
Comments (7)
Next year if I plant more seeds I'll start them outside directly and just see how they do. We had such a very weird Spring this year for our area that I couldn't move anything outside til almost mid June. I did have several false starts, but we were a lot chillier than I can remember for a long time. I'm hoping for a longer growing season next year!
...See More
roma0904
10 years ago
Pagan,
My seedlings have been out now for 2 months, just had to take them back in last week as we had an unusual 46 for April, the question is? ( out of this theme) how do you do it to live in that cold weather? This year's winter was unusually cold ( for me) 26 for a couple of days and was about to die, I just try to imagine that it would be the other side for you, we live above 110 for 2 months or more and hit the 115 mark at least 3 days, so the adeniums are happy as long as they get some afternoon shade
Pagan
10 years ago
Roberto,

It just means we have a significantly shorter growing period for adeniums--they actually tolerate low temperatures if they are eased into it. This last autumn, for instance, I did not bring my adult plants into the shelter until temperatures were going consistently down to about 10C at night and they did alright.

However, I did put one in the garage and another one I left out a little longer (it was being treated for mealy bugs) while the rest went into the house. The garage plant was actually crunchy when I checked it in January lol (ice crystals in the trunk) and the other one died slowly when I brought it indoors as temperatures went down to just above freezing at night.

For seedlings, I think the best rule of thumb is this: when outdoor temperatures at night go below your lowest indoor temperature, bring them indoors. In my case, that convergence is at around 16C.

From what I have learned so far in this forum, I have not seen an upper limit to the temperature that adeniums will tolerate as long as it is watered well.

Short growth periods, I am betting, probably also means less opportunity to bloom. But that matters less to me so my plants do not get any sort of bloom-boosting intervention at all.

110F. Yikes.

Pagan
roma0904
10 years ago
Thanks Pagan

I can tell you about upper levels, above 106-108 f have to avoid 2 p.m. to 5 p.m . direct sunlight, if dont will get yellowish, they burn a little ,but they survive, since I got them the maximum temperature we been should be around 115 f and they are still there doing nice

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Seeds or Seedlings? How to Get Your Garden Started

By Abundant City

Growing delicious herbs and vegetables starts with knowing your goals and when you want to plant

BATHROOM STORAGE 10 Design Moves From Tricked-Out Bathrooms

By Natasha Saroca

Cool splurges: Get ideas for a bathroom upgrade from these clever bathroom cabinet additions

DECORATING GUIDES How to Decorate When You're Starting Out or Starting Over

No need to feel overwhelmed. Our step-by-step decorating guide can help you put together a home look you'll love

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Inside Out: Designs to Move a Party Outside

By Annie Thornton

CONTRACTOR TIPS Building Permits: When a Permit Is Required and When It's Not

By Matt Clawson

In this article, the first in a series exploring permit processes and requirements, learn why and when you might need one

REMODELING GUIDES 5 Ways to Protect Yourself When Buying a Fixer-Upper

By Christine Tusher

Hidden hazards can derail your dream of scoring a great deal. Before you plunk down any cash, sit down with this

CONTAINER GARDENS Container Garden Basics: How and When to Water Potted Plants

Confused about soil moisture, the best time to water and what watering device to use? This guide can help

LANDSCAPE DESIGN When Less Is Really More in Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

8 ways you can make a powerful garden statement by embracing simplicity and surroundings

LIFE When You're Suddenly Solo at Home

Whether you stay in a home alone or move on, these strategies from professional organizers can help you with the process

MOVING Relocating Help: 8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move

By Laura Gaskill

Trash bags, houseplants and a good cry all have their role when it comes to this major life change

Sponsored

RTS Home Solutions

3 Reviews

BIA of Central Ohio Award Winning Contractor

More Discussions

Help!! Can I save this plant from its pending demise?

3

so, where has everyone migrated to?

6

Is 24" electric range a deal breaker?

27

Erotická masáž: Cesta k relaxaci a harmonii těla i mysli

0