Transplanting seedlings into their new homes is an exciting step in the gardening journey. You’ve nurtured them from tiny seeds into strong little plants, and now it's time for them to flourish in your garden or pots.
You might think a little water and fresh soil are all you need for a successful seedling transplant.
However, there’s one key step that can make a significant difference to your seedlings' success: soaking the roots before transplanting seedlings.
No matter what type of seedlings you’re transplanting – veggies, flowers, ornamentals and even Aussie natives – follow our tips below on how to pre-soak your plants and set them up for success.
Why soaking seedling roots before transplanting is crucial
Transplanting is a delicate process, and seedlings are particularly susceptible to stress. This is what’s known as ‘transplant shock,’ which can stunt their growth or, in some cases, cause them to wither away. Two things we don’t want to happen.
Soaking your plant’s roots for 30 minutes to four hours before transplanting can be a game-changer for your future plant’s health.
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Hydration boost
Soaking seedlings ensures that their roots are fully hydrated before facing a new environment. Think of it as preparing them to go from a tiny seedling holder to the vast openness of your garden. When you soak their roots, you give them a crucial hydration boost, preparing them for the transition.
Tip: Aim for a soaking time of 20-30 minutes minimum (4h max) to ensure deep hydration.
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Root loosening
When grown in tiny pots or seedling trays, their roots are quite often tangled or restricted. Soaking helps loosen these roots, making it easier for them to spread out once planted in the soil. This promotes better nutrient absorption and stronger growth.
Tip: After soaking, gently untangle any roots with your fingers to encourage outward growth.
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Reduce transplant shock
Transplant shock is a common challenge that seedlings face during the move to their new home. Soaking the roots helps reduce this shock by ensuring the roots are ready to adapt to the new conditions. Hydrated roots are more resilient, allowing your plants to thrive despite changes in their environment.
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Promoting quick establishment
Soaking helps speed up the establishment process in their new soil. When seedlings are well-hydrated before planting, they can access moisture immediately, which is critical in those early days after transplanting. This leads to a quicker transition and stronger growth, especially during these warmer spring months.
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Increasing plant resilience
Healthy, hydrated seedlings are more resilient against pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. It’s like making sure your little kids have a strong immune system before venturing off to daycare or Kindy. Soaking their roots not only prepares them for transplanting but also strengthens them for future challenges in the garden.
For even better results, give your seedlings a microbe-boost before transplanting
Want to give your plants an extra head-start? Add a dash of our Soil Health Booster to the water when soaking seedings before transplanting.
By pre-soaking plants for at least 30 minutes, you're covering roots with billions of beneficial microbes, which help ease the transition and dramatically reduce transplant shock.
You might be wondering, why microbes?
These tiny microorganisms live in the soil to provide the perfect ecosystem for your plants to thrive. From maintaining the soil structure to breaking down organic matter, enhancing nutrient uptake and providing the plant with immunity to fight off pests and disease.
Microbes make plants and soil biologically alive. Since they’re microscopic, your plant needs billions of them.
While your soil might already have its own army of microbes, it probably isn’t enough. Boosting the soil’s microbial activity is key to enhancing seed germination and seedling transplant success!
Our Soil Health Booster is perfect for this. Mix 1L of Soil Health Booster with 10L of water, and let the root soak work its magic. Billions of microorganisms will feast on nutrient-rich organic matter, doing wonders for your soil health.
Once planted, water your seedling with the leftover biofertiliser-enriched soaking water. The thick concentrated formula of Soil Health Booster feeds beneficial microbes underground, helping your plant babies thrive.
How to soak your seedling’s roots before transplanting:
- Fill a bucket or container using room-temperature water, ensuring you have enough to submerge the root ball completely.
- Add Soil Health Booster at a ratio of 1L to 10L of water (optional).
- Gently take the seedling out of its pot or tray, being careful not to damage the roots.
- Submerge the root ball in the water, making sure it is fully submerged. You want everything that’s going underground to soak up in this microbial richness.
- Allow the roots to soak for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 4 hours. This is when the microbes will go crazy feasting on their new nutrient-rich feed!
- Letting the roots soak for up to four hours will ensure they absorb moisture and nutrients effectively.
- After soaking, gently loosen any tangled roots again to encourage outward growth.
- Plant your seedling into your prepared soil. Ideally, do it in the cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late afternoon. If transplanting in direct sunlight, use shade to prevent dehydration, as seedlings can dry out faster than they can absorb moisture.
- Water well – if you used a biofertiliser as part of your soaking, water your seedling with the leftover biofertiliser-enriched water. The thick concentrated formula of Soil Health Booster feeds beneficial microbes underground, helping your plant babies thrive. Talk about repurposing!
Caring for your seedlings after transplanting
Once your seedling has soaked up the energy from our Soil Health Booster and is planted in its new home, providing ongoing care is essential. It all comes down to continue feeding your soil with beneficial bacteria to ensure long-term plant health.
Our Soil Health Booster acts like an energy shot for your plants, delivering essential nutrients and supporting beneficial microbes that help seedlings thrive — the rescue remedy for whenever they need a boost.
With regular application, your plants will grow visibly stronger and healthier, with increased natural resistance to pests, predators, and disease.
The best part? It’s safe for bees, pets, and wildlife — targeting only the pests that threaten your plants. While it's non-toxic, it's still not recommended for pets to consume directly, so keep curious animals away from freshly treated areas.
Remember: soaking seedling roots before transplanting is a key step to dramatically improving their health.
But for long-term growth, resilience, and a flourishing garden, continue nourishing your soil with our microbial-rich Soil Health Booster.
