Repotting
 

Getting ready to repot my tomatoe plants. Can some one tell me how careful I need to be with the plants while potting. Some plants cannot be handled by the stems and some by the leaves. Appreciate any info you people can help with.
Does it make a difference what I use for pots and is seed planting soil ok?
Thanks, Jim

i usually pot up into 4 inch pots and use some potting mix(not potting soil).

you dont have to be very gentle but dont be rough either.

i handle them by the stem

I've seen a lot of beer cups being used. I think I Need drain holes in the cups? Very new at this. Thanks for the help. Grew a batch of phlox last year but this new to me.

beer cups work and yes you need holes. put at least a few holes on the bottom for good drainage.

if you have a lot of holes to poke you can heat up a piece of metal like a skewer or small screw driver and just poke the holes with the hot metal. stack the cups and do a bunch at once

Gotcha on the holes. How about the potting mix?

I've been using the generic solo cups from Sam's. They work fine, and it comes out to about three cents a cup if you buy the $9 bag.

Tomatoes in general are very easy to re-pot. I turn the container upside down and get the plant to fall out, then try to catch it by the root ball. It's easier when it's not soaking wet. You'll spill a little dirt, but try to hold it by the root ball.

[QUOTE=Havman;335975]is seed planting soil ok?
Thanks, Jim[/QUOTE]


not sure what seed planting soil is

like jiffy or miracle grow seed starting mix? what do you have?

Do you water from the bottom by setting the cups in water? Set the ball deep by burying part of the stem?

I bought a bag of jiffy seed starting mix by mistake. I will take it back and get some mix for repotting.

[QUOTE=Havman;335986]Do you water from the bottom by setting the cups in water? Set the ball deep by burying part of the stem?[/QUOTE]


i dont bottom water but many do.

you can bury deep. new roots will grow from the buried stem

[QUOTE=Havman;335982]Gotcha on the holes. How about the potting mix?[/QUOTE]

Just use miracle grow organic potting soil it has worked great for me for years.
Also spray the plants with a 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water solution to help stop damping off.

You can get pretty rough with tomatoes just dont break the stems off.
Containers 4 inch minimum and solo cups work fine as many other things.
I use 1/2 pint mason jars with a 1/2 inch hole drilled in the bottom.
You have to have a diamond hole saw and a drill press to do this.
They will last me for the rest of my life as long as they dont break.


Worth

Thank you so much for all the information. I think this is a blast. Learning more everyday.

I turn the seedling upside down over open fingers and the top of the root ball slides into my fingers. My left hand is resting lightly on top of the soil/root ball as I do this.

I think the whole idea behind potting up after the seedling have true leaves is to damage the fine root hairs (does not mean destroy) so that a signal goes to the plants to repair the root area. This repair process will force the plant into making a new stronger root system. Strong roots makes for a stronger total plant.

I repot using soilless mix; the brand has made no difference-Miralce Gro, Schultz, Hyponex, etc., so long as it is soilless. I use an old table knife to pop the seedlings out, separate them from the planting medium by hand and shake most of the soilless mix off. I hold the plant by the stem just under the leaves with my fingertips and replant into a larger container. Mine are 2 inch by 3 inch 6packs.

I handle the seedling as Deborah does, holding the ball of soil more than I do the actual plant. I place it in a four inch pot as deeply as I can. I use any old potting mix, nothing fancy, and bury as much of the stem as I can. These pots come with holes in the bottom and I just put all my water in the flat and the plants wick up what they need.