To start off the growing process, growers typically plant many seeds in small pots because you won’t know if all of them will sprout (or germinate), and you won’t know if all of them will be female (only females produce buds).
It’s hard to plan out your garden space and plant seeds directly into the ground if some seeds don’t make it; and you don’t want to plant a seed in a giant pot and potentially waste a bunch of soil if it won’t make it either.
So for the seeds that do make it, they will need bigger homes after several weeks of growing and will need to be transplanted either into a bigger pot or directly into the ground.
Healthy roots mean strong plants and fat, resin-jewelled buds on your cannabis. You want everything big—the bigger the better!
Whether you’ve decided to grow in a SOG, a ScrOG, or are keeping things super-simple, no matter what, you should transplant your cannabis into larger pots at least twice. There are, of course, some exceptions to this rule—which we will clear up later down the line—but first, let’s pose an all-important question.
Why is transplanting important?
The main consideration when transplanting a weed plant into a new home is giving its roots enough space to expand. Roots need to expand and develop in order for a plant to grow and flourish. The container will determine the amount of space available for roots to grow.
When planting into the ground, make sure not to crowd your plants so their roots don’t run into each other. When root systems don’t have enough room to expand they become rootbound, and the roots become a big tangled mess, choking the plant.
A rootbound plant may also appear underwatered. If a plant requires watering more than once a day, it may need to get transplanted.
You want a weed plant to be in its final pot with plenty of room for its roots before it enters the flowering stage.
How to transplant cannabis?
The process of transplanting does not come without risk. Transplant shock can be incredibly detrimental to the growth and development of a plant, even deadly in some cases. However, through proper execution, the process of transplanting should benefit the plant, and lead to stronger root development and a healthier flower production.
First transplant
Young plants should originally be sowed in a 4-inch pot, a Solo cup, or a one-gallon pot. This starting pot should be adequate for a few weeks before transplanting is needed.
Again, the first transplanting should occur after the seedling has sprouted its 4th or 5th set of leaves.
After checking the root development and confirming that the plant is beginning to fill the basin with healthy roots, it’s time to give the plant a new home.
- Wash your hands and/or wear gloves to prevent contamination of the delicate roots. Keep the surroundings as sanitary as possible.
- Give the plant a light sprinkling of water to help minimize shock; don’t drench it, as the soil will be difficult to work with.
- Fill the receiving pot with soil, allowing for enough space for the new plant; water in the soil here as well before moving the plant.
- Avoid overpacking the grow medium into a container during and after the transplant. This can compromise drainage and may damage root systems.
- Do not disturb or damage the roots when transplanting; the first transplanting poses the greatest risk for shock, and this occurs as a direct result of root damage and agitation.
- Avoid intense light when transplanting. This will help prevent transplant shock as well. You can prepare a indoor grow light for your plants.
- Always fully water in the plant once it’s in its new home.
Finishing containers
You may need to transplant your weed plant a second time to maximize its growing potential. Always monitor plants for symptoms of distress or overcrowded roots.
The finishing container is the final home for a plant until it’s harvested. This will be the largest container for a plant, and you always want to put it into this pot before the flowering stage. Transplant shock can cripple early flower development of a plant.
- Give the plant at least 1-2 weeks after a transplant before initiating flowering.
- Have plenty of space available in the final container for a plant to fully develop. For indoors, this generally means 3-5 gallons depending on strain selection. For outdoors, generally 5+ gallon containers are recommended (again, depending on the strain).
- Larger plants may require stakes and other supports to avoid structural damage during and after transplants.
Pro Tips:
- We recommend preparing your new soil with organic plant nutrition. Add about 50–100g Easy Boost per 20l of soil.
- How long does transplant shock last? It depends, but a few days of slow or stunted growth after transplanting is normal. Allow plants to recover for at least two weeks before inducing bloom or carrying out high-stress training methods.
- If plants are looking weak right after transplanting, support them with stakes.
- Sterilise old containers to reuse in the future.
When to transplant your cannabis?
Let’s run over a list of visual indicators that can help you determine if your plants need to be moved to larger pots!
- Size of the plant: If a plant has visibly outgrown the pot, it’s time to transplant. Look to the number of nodes as a guideline.
- Speed of growth: If you see your plant’s growth accelerating in a too-small pot, transplant before growth becomes stunted. As a hint, the more fan leaves your plants have, the more they can photosynthesise, and the bigger they will become.
- Root development: If plants are rootbound or roots are coming out of the pot, they need to be transplanted.
- Problems with watering: Your growing plants are thirsty! If the pot dries out too quickly, it’s likely your ladies need a larger vessel.
- Growing problems: If you observe slow growth or a sickly appearance from plants in undersized pots, it could be due to the size of their container.
Prepare Your Plants, Pots, and Work Area
Avoid watering your plants the day you transplant them, as it’ll be easier to remove dry soil from the container. Also, prepare a clean work area where you’ll perform the transplant. A big, clean table works great.
Finally, prepare your plant’s new pot. You may need to fill the bottom of the new pot with some soil to get your plant to the right height. Also, remember to make sure your new pot has drainage holes.
Grow light for indoor cannabis growing
Growing marijuana can be as easy or as hard as you’d like to make it. Not everyone has the luxury of growing marijuana outdoors. In that case, you’ll need to bring your plants indoors by using marijuana grow tent and ensure they have enough light.
Another reason why you might need lights for growing weed is when you grow multiple plants. A single plant in a sunny room or discreetly placed on a balcony can grow just fine with sunlight and perhaps a small LED. However, multiple plants will need more substantial lighting.
Growing marijuana can be as easy or as hard as you’d like to make it. Not everyone has the luxury of growing marijuana outdoors. In that case, you’ll need to bring your plants indoors and ensure they have enough light.
Another reason why you might need lights for growing weed is when you grow multiple plants. A single plant in a sunny room or discreetly placed on a balcony can grow just fine with sunlight and perhaps a small LED. However, multiple plants will need more substantial lighting.
Like plants growing outdoors in the sunlight, indoor plants grow best under full spectrum LED grow light.
Regular incandescent bulbs give off more yellow and orange light, starving leafy plants while they burn them.
It is not recommended to leave your grow light running for 24 hours straight.
Conclusion
If you respect all of this during the process, we guarantee that your plant will develop very well and be super happy with more space to grow. After all, even we are like that, right?
Do you have any special transplant tips out there?
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