When to transplant from 9oz solo cups?

[DEVGRU_420]

Hey guys today is day 15 for my seedlings. Currently in 9oz solo cups(some only half filled). I can see roots at the drainage holes so I'm guessing they are ready to transplant. My question is should I transplant into 18oz solo cups or should I go straight into the 1 gallon rain science grow bags that I will be flowering in?
Thanks dudes!

 

[Creeperpark]

Those look very nice, you are doing a good job with those plants. Transplanting too early can cause problems because of the increased volume of water is much greater between containers. The best time to transplant is by using the "water management cycle". If one waters "every other day" or "every 3 days" then wait to transplant. When the cup needs watering every day or less, then time to up pot into a gallon or #5 container. Seeing roots doesn't really matter much because during up-potting you can untangle and release them before planting in the #5 pot. more the roots the better

 

[44:86N]

Looking good and getting close! But, they may or may not be ready yet.

I like to wait until the roots are both out to the side of the pot and down to the bottom. I will let a plant I am uncertain about dry down and then gently push it up out of the container to check the entire root system. Much easier to do with dry soil.

If there are only a few roots to the side I will wait another few days.

Your choice on which size to use. If you go into the gallon, just try and control your watering. You don't want it to sit overly wet for too long.

 

[44:86N]

The best time to transplant is by using "water management cycle". If one waters "every other day" or "every 3 days" then wait to transplant. When the cup needs watering every day or less, then time to up pot into a gallon or #5 container. Seeing roots doesn't really matter much because during up-potting you can untangle and release them before planting in the #5 pot. more the roots the better

That's a great tip!

 

[Creeperpark]

My seedlings today in solo cups are getting pure water "every other day" and so not ready for up-potting. I have a complete wet-to-dry cycle so no need to transplant yet. If I up-potted now I would over saturate the roots with too much water in a larger container. I'm waiting to allow the roots to grow denser in the cup. Heres photos

 

[Creeperpark]

I would add the same original soil to the bottom of the cups and fill them where you only have a 1/2in on top and let them grow more in the cups.

 

[HempKat]

I have to agree with Creeperpark, wait until those plants need watering every day. Typically plants will drive their roots downward first and then spread out to the sides judging by the size of those plants and that it's just day 15 I bet you could get another two weeks in those cups. A lot depends on what your plans are and whether your plants started from seed or clones and if from seed are they feminized seed. If from clones or feminized seeds you don't have to worry about finding out the sex or the plant so that you can remove usually unwanted males. Usually if you have to veg the plant long enough to determined sex you'll be forced at some point to transplant. If on the other hand you already know all your plants are female this gives you the option to switch to flower sooner which some growers like to do to limit how big the plants get because their grow room space is limited.

IF that is the case then maybe in that specific circumstance it might make sense to transplant to a slightly bigger pot now and then switch to flower after the plant has a couple of days to settle into the new pot.

 

[Creeperpark]

One very important thing to remember is that you must have air movement around the plants in order for the plants to move nutrients from the cup to the leaves. As the plant transpires moisture it moves nutrients and slow air means slow nutrient uptake and more air means more nutrient uptake. I run my seedlings in the 30s RH and plenty of air movent for nutrient transport. .

 

[flylowgethigh]

I transplant into their final home of a 10 gallon bag of soil when the leafs are extending past the cup edge. The drip line of thr plant indicates the extent of how far the roots want to go. The roots will start getting bound in the cup if you leave them in there to long. You will have to top water to get the roots established in their new home. I add aloe when I am thinking about root growth. Don't over light them until they have roots to support the light power.

Mr Flower has posted a pic of a plant grown to maturity in a Dixie cup, but I bet the yield would have been a lot better with enough room for roots. Roots make fruits

 

[flower~power]

 

[DEVGRU_420]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! That pic is actually day 14 here is from this morning day 15. They are from seed, feminized.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

...

 

[LostTribe]

Those look very nice, you are doing a good job with those plants. Transplanting too early can cause problems because of the increased volume of water is much greater between containers. The best time to transplant is by using the "water management cycle". If one waters "every other day" or "every 3 days" then wait to transplant. When the cup needs watering every day or less, then time to up pot into a gallon or #5 container. Seeing roots doesn't really matter much because during up-potting you can untangle and release them before planting in the #5 pot. more the roots the better

Yes definately too early in that first pic. They can go a long time in a solo cup you are barely over the lip of the cup man. Like this guy told you once the root system is developed then up pot.

Que up star and the rest of you that grow them out on occasion in a solo cup. I should start reading all of the replies.

 

[Creeperpark]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! That pic is actually day 14 here is from this morning day 15. They are from seed, feminized.

Just add a little of the same soil to the bottom of the cups and that should be enough soil for a little more time.

 

[Creeperpark]

One very important thing to remember is that you must have air movement around the plants in order for the plants to move nutrients from the cup to the leaves. As the plant transpires moisture it moves nutrients and slow air means slow nutrient uptake and more air means more nutrient uptake. I run my seedlings in the 30s RH and plenty of air movent for nutrient transport. .

This is the most important information most people ignore or miss! Plant Transpiration is absolutely critical for nutrient uptake and if there's not constant air on the plant during lights on they won't grow!

 

[Creeperpark]

If you can't see new growth every day then there's something missing in the growing environment. Not time to up-pott yet because I'm still watering every other day.

 

[gizmo666]

Did there not used to be a solo cup competition on here at one time
Some of those grows were immense

 

[Safe Gardener]

Did there not used to be a solo cup competition on here at one time
Some of those grows were immense

I think that was over in the micro section. They even did a yogurt cup and some guys flowered cuts in prescription bottles.

 

[onavelzy]

Looking good and getting close! But, they may or may not be ready yet.

I like to wait until the roots are both out to the side of the pot and down to the bottom. I will let a plant I am uncertain about dry down and then gently push it up out of the container to check the entire root system. Much easier to do with dry soil.

If there are only a few roots to the side I will wait another few days.

Your choice on which size to use. If you go into the gallon, just try and control your watering. You don't want it to sit overly wet for too long.

If you don't mind using an extra cup, you can easily check your roots without disturbing them at all. Use a 10 oz clear solo cup to grow them in. Put that clear 10 oz cup into a red or blue 12 oz cup and put that in your grow area. Lift up the clear cup to visually check the roots.

 

[Creeperpark]

Here's the last up pot into the flowering container, 21 days later from the photo cups above. Dixie cup, to 1 gallon, to 5-gallon container, in a month and a few days. .