RyanDe680
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Question about peppers rooting quickly!

I have my peppers (as well as all my other plants with the exception of broccoli) in cells in a 36 cell flat.

I've attached a picture so you can see how tall they are now, on average perhaps 2".

Some of the peppers (and this happened with the broccoli as well) are shooting roots out the bottom of their respective cell.

Now to prevent root damage, I transplanted the broccoli into 3" pots (foam cups) each with their own saucer (to hold water).

My question is should I be transplanting these already? The broccoli seems to have enjoyed it and is growing very well, however I have seen others with their plants in their respective cells much longer than a week. The majority of my pepper plants are a week old (since sprouting) or less. I transplanted the broccoli quickly as the same situation was occurring and I didn't want root damage to occur.

Interested in others thoughts. I just want to do what is best for each plant. Thanks.

[img]https://www.theupsindowners.com/photo.jpg[/img]

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applestar
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You peppers look great with good color on the stems.

I've been using John Jeavon's How to Grow More Vegetables... as my primary guide for seed starting and seed/plant spacing. He recommends 3" deep seed starting containers and 6" deep uppotting containers. Last time I checked back for the seeds I've been planting, lettuce is the only plant that can be uppotted in a 3" deep container.

I think [url=https://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010137veg.roots/010137toc.html]this[/url] tends to support the need for deeper containers than is usually thought to be suitable.

I started a thread about using recycled containers [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22433=]here[/url].

Intentional root pruning, though, can be beneficial for some plants, as long as the container isn't already too small and the roots aren't already crowded. Pruned roots will grow fibrous side roots, resulting in increased root mass.

bigdoug
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I think you are fine for now. I've never heard of any plant getting root bound in a week. But if it gives you piece of mind, and it didn't harm your broccoli any, go ahead and pot up. You'll need to eventually anyway, so go for it.

RyanDe680
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Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:53 am
Location: Downers Grove, IL

applestar wrote:You peppers look great with good color on the stems.

I've been using John Jeavon's How to Grow More Vegetables... as my primary guide for seed starting and seed/plant spacing. He recommends 3" deep seed starting containers and 6" deep uppotting containers. Last time I checked back for the seeds I've been planting, lettuce is the only plant that can be uppotted in a 3" deep container.

I think [url=https://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010137veg.roots/010137toc.html]this[/url] tends to support the need for deeper containers than is usually thought to be suitable.

I started a thread about using recycled containers [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22433=]here[/url].

Intentional root pruning, though, can be beneficial for some plants, as long as the container isn't already too small and the roots aren't already crowded. Pruned roots will grow fibrous side roots, resulting in increased root mass.
Thanks. I'm reading through Weaver's guide now.

Looks great.

When it comes to pruning roots, that's when I become hesitant. Mostly, the peppers seem to have 2 or 3 primary roots and no secondaries. They are pretty long though, at least 2 or 3 times the length of the plant currently.

I'm hesitant to trim them down thus far.

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gixxerific
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I abuse the heck out of my plants and they are thriving almost too much, so go figure.

TZ -OH6
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Nearly all seedlings will send roots out the bottom of pots if there is moisture below. It does not mean anything, and it is better, especially for peppers and tomatoes to damage the tap root early in development. Yhat way it will cause the plant to develop a fiberous root system.



You don't have to worry about the plants being root bound until the tops of the plants are much larger than the pot. In individual pots the plant will usually be top heavy by that time and tend to fall over when it needs water. And like Gixxerific said, seedlings of anything that is normally transplanted can take alot of root abuse.



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