I am growing Carolina reapers and looking for the best way to separate the seedlings. I've never grown them in the same pot in the past so I haven't come across this problem before. Should I wait until the first true leaves grow or seperate them now? I don't want the roots to get too tangled, making it harder to separate. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
by skatdogg
11 Comments
Once they get a few sets of true leaves they’ll be easier to split up into their own pots. They’re pretty fragile right now.
Ask one to move out.😆
This will be somewhat difficult in order to retain the full root structure, because I like to use the soil from the germination tray in order to try to minimize transplant shock. I just pop out the contents of each individual cell, retaining the soil along with the developed root mass. You could use a plastic spoon and carefully dig around each seedling to avoid cutting the roots and then gently wiggle each one loose. You could also let them grow to 3-4 sets of true leaves and determine which one looks the best out of the bunch. Once you’ve chosen your candidate, cut the other seedlings just above soil level and leave the roots where they are. The root masses will decompose and release nitrogen for the survivor to use. All of those seedlings look pretty healthy, and if you go with separating, I think they’ll have a good chance at survival. I rehabbed a mostly dead looking seedling and here it is now, so those plants are tougher than they look.
https://preview.redd.it/4fjgy30y74ue1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a42ea567e0a5321dc117d610c9cf39e8fb2c430
I actually just did this with mine tonight. I waited until they had their first set of true leaves to separate. I was surprised just how tangled their roots were, I think next year I’ll just pot them individually from the start. Hoping they survive the night, since the roots were so tangled they had to be pulled apart and some broke.
Not ready in my opinion yet. Wait until they get another set of leaves and are about an inch or 2 inches taller. At that point do it on a day you would normally water them so they are “dried out” just carefully take the whole pot of dirt out at once and gently crumble it apart and they’ll just kind of fall apart. Pull them apart carefully and pot them up individually.
When they have two sets of leaves, your hands or a teaspoon.
Where are u gardening from if u don’t mind sharing?
They’re fine in this pot. Don’t separate until the leaves are around the side of your palm.
I agree with some of the others above, wait until first set of true leaves fully appear as they are too fragile at the moment to disturb. As someone who just got completed saving/transferring 100+ seedlings, many of whom were 3 or 4 to a pod when starting, I take all the soil and fully submerge it in a small bucket of water, then slowly start agitating the soil to seperate the delicate roots. With a lot of tender care it is 100% possible to save them all. Then plant them deep in their new home to get a strong root system going.
I vote time to separate. Grab a spoon, dig out and pot. It’s easy now. I’ve done it when they had few more leaves and this size easier.
I actually start my seeds in a very shallow sushi takeout container so I pull them and transplant at this size. Water them, prep your transplant pots, use a chopstick or pencil to poke a hole into the transplant pot soil, then use rounded tweezers to pluck them out and place into their new homes.
I’d do it now before the roots tangle together more
and more. Done it at this stage many times, just take your time and show em love 👍