Burying Stem During Transplant

I've heard that it's good to bury up to the cotyledon leaves when transplanting into a new pot. But I've also heard that burying a stem too late in a grow can cause the stem to rot. My plants are just starting their fourth set of true leaves. The stem is quite long and has kind of spiraled up. It's more rigid than a few days ago. Is my plant too old to bury the stem when I transplant?

Thanks

animals10 said:

I've heard that it's good to bury up to the cotyledon leaves when transplanting into a new pot. But I've also heard that burying a stem too late in a grow can cause the stem to rot. My plants are just starting their fourth set of true leaves. The stem is quite long and has kind of spiraled up. It's more rigid than a few days ago. Is my plant too old to bury the stem when I transplant?

Thanks

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A pic would be best to advise on, but burying up to the cotyledon leaves or an inch short is a great idea, any wilting or sagging will be due to transplant shock so do it late in the evening so they recover overnight in zero or low light ready for the morning, also any unusual sagging or rot is a fungal infection, see pythium or stem rot, which is best handled with sterile gear including soil, if you have ever had it, it can be almost impossible to get rid off, so stay sharp

As long as you don't go above the cotyledon leaves your totally fine to bury the stem a bit more when transplanting!

Be careful with the "from what I hear" stuff at RIU.

Has nothing to do with age. At the 4th node you'll be fine. It should have hardened off enough to preclude invasion of pythium spores. As you would a tomato, bury the trunk as deep as you can which includes pulling off not only the cots but leafsets at the first or second node....your call. If the lower leafsets are not productive (yellow, sickly looking) then by all means yank them and bury up to the first good set of leaves. This tweek will produce a huge mass of roots along the buried trunk with output first at the nodes.

If the nodes are above ground the dormant buds will produce leaves. If the nodes are below ground the dormant buds will push roots.

Don't bury leaves, they'll rot and may provide an entry point for pythium or other soil borne diseases. Yank them off first and if it makes you feel good let the "wounds" callus over for a day or so before upcanning.

I have practiced this hundreds of times and never lost either a tomato or pot plant. If the plant is super leggie then I lay it in a trench as opposed to dropping it into a hole. It will take a day but the cockeyed looking seedling will grow upwards quickly.

wont hurt a bit. make sure u have a fan blowing on ur girls. strengthens the stem

Ok, super old thread but this is the closest to what my question is. Sorry if it's an old topic, but I need to know. Hopefully by tomorrow.

Anyway, tomorrow I transplant a a girl into a bigger pot. Its slightly leggy but she looks great (some lighting issues but that's resolved). Those first little leaves are yellow and look like they're about to drop, but I'm still wondering if it's wise to bury past that point to the true set of leaves. It's a couple inches to get there. I realize it's a noob question, but Im a noob.

Thanks in advance, folks. First time e posting and I'm happy to be part of the community. I've lurked plenty and y'all seem very nice and can teach a lot. Much appreciated.

Peace!

Truckfrump said:

Ok, super old thread but this is the closest to what my question is. Sorry if it's an old topic, but I need to know. Hopefully by tomorrow.

Anyway, tomorrow I transplant a a girl into a bigger pot. Its slightly leggy but she looks great (some lighting issues but that's resolved). Those first little leaves are yellow and look like they're about to drop, but I'm still wondering if it's wise to bury past that point to the true set of leaves. It's a couple inches to get there. I realize it's a noob question, but Im a noob.

Thanks in advance, folks. First time e posting and I'm happy to be part of the community. I've lurked plenty and y'all seem very nice and can teach a lot. Much appreciated.

Peace!

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Bury it to where the medium is about a hand span from the first leaves. Pics always get you better opinions. Then as the plant grows fill the top more with more medium.

Listen to Uncle Ben.