Seedlings need to be watered once a day, but that rule isn't written in stone. Depending on the growing conditions, some seedlings need a light spritz twice a day while others are fine being watered every other day. Overwatering, however, is just as detrimental to seedling health as lack of water.
The Short Answer. Most seedlings require water every day or every other day. First, check the soil moisture using your finger by checking the soil color near the drainage hole. If the soil feels or appears dry or brittle, irrigate thoroughly until water pours out of the bottom of the tray, then stop.
Don't overwater your vegetable seedlings. Sufficient moisture is critical to avoid drought stress; however, overwatering promotes disease, leaches nutrients and wastes time and money. Here are tips for deciding how much irrigation seedlings need.
Bottom watering This is the easiest and most effective way to water with established seedlings. All this method involves is adding water to the bottom tray until it's 1/2'' deep and then the seedlings will draw up what they need. Just make sure there are no holes in that bottom tray!
Typically, your seeds will stay in their seed tray for 4-6 weeks. After this period, you will either need to transplant the new seedlings into larger pots or transplant them outside. Check your seed instructions and pay attention to your frost dates before transplanting young plants outside.
A general rule of thumb is that the height of the plant should be roughly equal to or less than the pot's diameter. Observe Root Growth: One of the most evident signs a plant needs up-potting is when roots start poking out of the drainage holes or appearing on the soil surface.
To speed germination, cover the pots with plastic wrap or a humidity dome that fits over the seed-starting tray. This helps keep the seeds moist before they germinate. Once seeds have germinated and you see leaves, remove the cover to allow air to circulate.
5 Tips for Growing and Watering Seedlings
Always check the soil moisture before you water and don't water unless the surface of the soil feels dry. Never let the soil dry out completely.
Healthy seedlings will be more sturdy with a deeper green color and bigger leaf development. Leggy seedlings are a sign that something isn't right. The plants aren't getting what they need for healthy growth.
Feel the Soil: The simplest way to gauge your plant's watering needs is by feeling the soil. Turns out that old trick of sticking your finger into the soil up to the knuckle has merit! If it's soggy or has standing water, you're overwatering. If it's dry an inch below the surface, it's time to water.
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water.
Rainwater contains nitrates, the most bio-available form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the three key macro-nutrients that plants need to thrive, necessary for the development of lush foliage.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
Initially place seedlings outdoors in a sheltered spot – protected from wind and direct sun. Each day following, expose plants to another 30-60 minutes of filtered sunlight. Work your way up to giving plants direct morning sun, followed last by noon-day sun.
The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration). If this isn't possible because major damage was done or little healthy root system exists then expect about 2 weeks until improvement can be seen.
Before your seedlings germinate, the easiest way to water smaller, shallowly planted seeds is with a mister or very gentle spray bottle. Using a watering can or hose without a mister can displace smaller seeds and can make it easy to over-water.
The earliest point at which you can determine your plant's gender is 3–6 weeks from seed, during which time it will enter what is known as the pre-flower phase. During this period, both plants will develop very small leaves that indicate gender.
Good air circulation is essential for preventing fungal diseases and promoting sturdy seedling growth. Avoid overcrowding seedlings by giving them enough space to breathe and grow. Use a small fan or gently move the air around the seedlings to improve airflow and strengthen their stems when growing indoors.
Wilting seedlings – Seedlings need a consistent supply of moisture and when there is too little water, the roots die and plants wilt. Dried up seedlings – If you forget to check your seedlings for a day or two and the growing mix dries out completely, your plants may not survive.
If you're using humidity domes, like we recommend, they should have little vents in the top. If you start to see green growth, that's your sign you need to open those vents up! You can also just give them a couple hours, preferably under lighting and without the humidity dome, to allow that moisture to evaporate.
Bottom watering seedlings is a better method, so the seeds don't get dislodged by the force of the water coming from above.
As soon as the seeds germinate, remove the plastic wrap. For most seeds, sprouting requires a minimum temperature of about 65° to 75°F. Heat mats can both increase germination rates and help you achieve more uniform germination by giving you control over temperature.
Pre-Soaking.
This method could be the fastest way to germinate seeds. Place seeds in a shallow container in warm water and leave them for 16 to 24 hours (smaller for 16, bigger for 24).
This practice cuts down on wasted seed and time. Humidity domes are meant to stay on the tray until the first sign of germination or once you begin to see the tray sprout.