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what do you do to protect against wind for small plants?

wh1t3w1dow1

New member
other than keeping them in a greenhouses or sheltered location (not really an option in my current situation at the moment)

i got some seedlings going on 25 days old and although they're only about 10 inches tall they're real bushy with fairly thick stems (been outside since day 1). we've been getting gusts to about 20mph the past few days and they're blowing around a lot but when the wind dies down they're still standing up straight and look healthy.

should i just leave them alone if they're doing fine? or would it be worth it to wrap some thick shadecloth around the cages i got them in to act as a wind break? low pressure is moving in later this week and it looks like we might get winds up to 25mph
 

neongreen

Active member
Veteran
I'd be inclined to leave them as they are. The wind blowing on them will have beefed up the stems, so they should be able to take it. If you shelter them now, the stems won't get as strong, so later on in the season when they get too big to shelter effectively, if you get strong winds then it could be a disaster.

Worst case is you might get a few snapped stems now, but providing you are quick, you can splint the stems and they will quickly recover. Just be sure to check them as soon as you can after wind speeds have died down a bit.
 

wh1t3w1dow1

New member
^ thanks for the input guys. wind has died down today and i just checked on them and all is well. i like the idea of a portable windbreak wall like in corkys link. i only have 10 seedlings in 2 gallon pots so it will be easy to build a little wall against the prevailing winds. might throw one up to have on hand just in case the winds get super bad.

on the bright side its gonna be 82 degrees tomorrow here in socal.
 

dono

Member
I'm not sure if you understand high-wind environments, neongreen.

Around here, your plant would be wind-stripped to death without any measures.

Try growing with a fan right in front of it at the high setting 24/7.
 

neongreen

Active member
Veteran
I'm not sure if you understand high-wind environments, neongreen.

Around here, your plant would be wind-stripped to death without any measures.

Try growing with a fan right in front of it at the high setting 24/7.

Only going on the info given by the OP who told us he is expecting winds "up to 25mph". A healthy plant should easily take that, and I would bet smaller plants are probably less vulnerable than large plants which tend to be more woody (the opposite of flexible), so large plants would catch the wind more easily due to their height and large surface area compared to small plants, and with them being woody there's a high possibility of the main stem/branches snapping.

We get 25+ mph winds here frequently (40+ at least twice over winter) in late autumn/winter/early spring, but above 20 mph in the growing season is not common IME (only been here 3 years) thankfully. I can see how 30 or 40 mph might start to be a problem, and might well consider measures then if I was expecting wind speeds like that, but I don't think the OP should be worrying too much at this point in the season.

However, if the OP is expecting strong winds well into the growing season, then I think some kind of wind break would be wise.
 
When in my 3 gals alone my plants whip in the wind. Which isn't bad because just like a muscle when cell walls get torn they grow back stronger. But once I apply cage and branches are spread out with some minor LST the wind can't take the plant as it is not standing whole. But branches spread for the wind to travel thru the plant rather then right into it. Hope it helps and good luck
 

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