This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure here.
Have you experienced the frustration of watching your thriving AeroGarden plants wilt soon after being moved outside? Well, guess what? Today, I’ve unlocked the secrets to successful transplanting from an AeroGarden, and I’m excited to share them all with you! Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the world of gardening success!
Meet My AeroGarden Babies
I have not one, but two AeroGarden Harvests in my arsenal. One is the Harvest six-pod model, while the other is equipped with a special seed starting tray which boast a whopping 21 pods. These nifty trays are perfect for starting a multitude of seeds simultaneously, although they’re not ideal for growing plants to full maturity.
Transplating Plants from the AeroGarden
Let’s tackle the first challenge in the transplanting journey: extracting those plants from the AeroGarden. With a steady hand, I gently pull out the entire casing, making sure not to disturb the delicate roots too much. Then, I carefully remove the plastic encasement, understanding that some root damage might occur along the way. Thankfully, most plants are resilient and can easily recover from a bit of root disturbance.
Transplating into a Pot
The next step is to plant the seedling into a pot, rather than directly into the garden. Use a loose, rich potting mix as your soil. I prefer Pro-Mix but have had success with many different kinds of soil. Make sure that the pot that you choose can hold the entire seedling, including the growing pod. I like to use the 4 cell tray from Epic Gardening because they fit them so perfectly. I don’t recommend planting directly into the garden as you will be unable to manage the hardening off process.
To purchase the Epic Gardening Trays, use my affiliate link here. As an Epic Garden Ambassador, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Hardening Off Process
Let’s talk about the crucial step of hardening off. While it’s a familiar concept for northern gardeners preparing for chilly weather, there’s another side to it when moving plants from the AeroGarden to the great outdoors. Living in sunny Florida, I take a different approach. After potting up my plants, I shield them from the blazing sun to ease them into the outdoor climate gently. For those in colder regions, start by introducing your seedlings to the outdoor environment for just an hour each day. Gradually extend their time outside until they’re fully adjusted to the temperature changes.
Adapting to Moisture Levels
One of the trickiest aspects of transitioning plants from the AeroGarden to soil is adapting them to the change in moisture levels. Since they are moving from growing in just water to soil, I find that drenching the soil so that it is very wet, helps them to adjust those first few days. In the gardening world, sopping wet soil is a no-no but in this instance it can be very helpful for the transplanted seedlings.
The Final Transition
Once the soil in their new containers begins to dried out, you can begin watering them as you would any of your other container plants. After the soil dries up and the plants are hardened off successfully, it’s time for the final transition to the outdoor garden. Because you spent the extra time adjusting them to their new environment, transplanting out to the garden should be much easier on the seedlings.
Success Tips
- Pot up plants in containers with loose, rich soil to help them transition smoothly.
- Gradually expose plants to outdoor temperatures, either by shading them or increasing their time outdoors gradually.
- Water deeply when potting up, then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
And there you have it—my foolproof method for transplanting seedlings from an AeroGarden to the outdoor garden. With these tips in your gardening arsenal, you’ll never have to worry about losing your precious plants again. Happy gardening!
