What if the seedlings are overgrown?

  • Dec 13, 2020

It is very important when growing seedlings to grow them to a certain size. Overgrown seedlings have weakened, thin trunks. She will not be able to develop normally in the future and will not bring a harvest. Gardeners are wondering what to do if the seedlings have outgrown.

It is very important when growing seedlings to grow them to a certain size. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
It is very important when growing seedlings to grow them to a certain size. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

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Factors due to which the seedlings outgrow

Properly grown seedlings have normal, well-developed roots, their trunks are strong, and the foliage has a uniform bright green color. In the event that it is overgrown, the stems become too long and brittle, and the foliage becomes small with an unsaturated color. 5 reasons why the seedlings outgrow:

  • Sowed early.
  • Incorrect room temperature.
  • Lack of light.
  • Excessive watering and fertilization.
  • Dense sowing.
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If the seeds are sown too early, then there is a high probability of overexposing it at home. In order to prevent excessive growth, you need to correctly calculate the sowing time and planting of the grown seedlings in open ground. You can calculate the exact timing of germination by applying the formula: A = B-C-D, where:

  • A is the date of planting seeds;
  • B - date of planting sprouts in open ground;
  • B - the terms of plant growth;
  • D - the number of days for soaking and germination of seeds.

Seeds need to be grown for a certain number of days:

  • tomatoes - 3 months;
  • pepper - 3 months;
  • cabbage - 2 months or no more than 55 days;
  • eggplant - 2-3 months;
  • cucumber and other pumpkin species - no more than 25 days.

One of the most common factors for sprout overgrowth is the wrong room temperature. It is necessary to carefully monitor the temperature regime, especially at night. To calculate it correctly, it is enough to adhere to the following norms:


In the event that the seedlings are overgrown, the stems become too long and brittle, and the foliage becomes shallow with an unsaturated color. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
In the event that the seedlings are overgrown, the stems become too long and brittle, and the foliage becomes shallow with an unsaturated color. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

If the temperature is strictly observed both day and night, the sprouts will not outgrow and will bring a rich harvest in the future. It is known that the most important component of the correct development of any plant is light. That is why, when growing sprouts, a sufficient amount of it is so necessary. If there is not enough light in the room where the seedlings are grown, then you need to purchase a special lamp. The sprouts are watered only into the tray. Warm water is always used. Water sparingly and only if the potted soil is completely dry. But you need to fertilize the sprouts if the plant is in dire need of it.

In the process of sowing seeds, you need to clearly monitor the density of the sowing. Otherwise, during germination, they will interfere with each other (the roots and leaves will get confused, and the seedlings will grow small and weak). To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to sow seeds at once rarely, as well as thin out the seedlings in time.

Tomatoes are good for thinning, but cucumber, eggplant and pepper must be planted in individual pots (cups).

The most effective way of planting overgrown seedlings is the Lying Down. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
The most effective way of planting overgrown seedlings is the Lying Down. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

What to do to slow down growth

To slow down the growth of overgrown seedlings, you must:

  • Remove sprouts in a dark place (completely remove light sources).
  • Water less and less.
  • Do not fertilize with minerals.
  • Transplant the shoots into a larger box.
  • Reduce the room temperature.
  • Apply a growth regulator to the plant. In this case, it is important to follow the instructions exactly.

Planting overgrown seedlings

The most effective way of planting overgrown seedlings is the Lying Down. This method will allow the weakened plant to take root in the new soil and provide a good harvest in the future. This is due to the fact that the roots of the shoots are as close to the soil surface as possible.

So, first, the stem is cleared of foliage a little more than half the length of the entire stem (it is better to clean the plant a few hours before planting so that the plant does not get sick).

Then a hole is dug (no more than 10 cm), a plant is laid in it, necessarily with a root system southward, covered with soil (the entire stem is covered, only the top with leaves). And at the very end of planting, you need to water the plants abundantly.

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