Growth is good, but often requires change. As your cannabis seedlings mature, you’ll eventually need to “re-home” them. Most will start their plants off in small pots or cups. We suggest moving these plants from their small containers to larger pots as they mature.
After watering and providing plenty of sunlight for your cannabis seedling, it should outgrow the small container it’s been living in for the past month. Use the holes in the bottom of the small pot or cup to check for root growth. Once the plant’s roots have reached the bottom of the container, it’s time to transplant it to a bigger container or the ground. When your plant sprouts 4-5 sets of leaves, that indicates that it may soon be time to transplant.
When transplanting the plant, handle it gently being very careful not to damage the roots. Center the plant in the pot, and plant it deep enough to cover the root ball completely in soil. If the plant is root bound, you can gently tease the roots apart to encourage outward growth. Pack your soil down around the roots well enough to support the plant while new roots grow, but not so tight that the soil restricts outward root growth. Water the soil around the roots.
Transplanting allows the cannabis plant to grow in a healthy manner by allowing the root system to expand and spread out. If roots become constricted within a small container they become tangled, which can lead to a lack of plant nutrition resulting in a sickly, dying plant. Remember that the size of container that you choose will determine how large your cannabis plant can potentially get. Choose a pot that is an appropriate size for the harvest you intend to reap. Some growers suggest transplanting more than once (one around 4-8 weeks after germination and one around 8-12 weeks after the first transplant) but this will depend on the size of plant you intend to grow.
Good luck with your home grow! Stay tuned to our website for future articles and guides. Send us a message on Twitter or Instagram at @pristineseeds if you have any comments or questions. Share your photos with us!
