Seedlings, when to dry the roots out.

Have a question for you outdoor farmers.
During the 3 - 4 week time frame, from the time a germinated seed emerges from the soil, and has not yet grown into the vegetative stage, should a farmer put the seedling into a "drying out" phase for a day or as one would do between feedings for a mature plant, or just keep the seedling damp and lightly fed until it reaches the veg stage?
Thanks

garybo said:

Have a question for you outdoor farmers.
During the 3 - 4 week time frame, from the time a germinated seed emerges from the soil, and has not yet grown into the vegetative stage, should a farmer put the seedling into a "drying out" phase for a day or as one would do between feedings for a mature plant, or just keep the seedling damp and lightly fed until it reaches the veg stage?
Thanks

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This was a hard post to decipher ...are you asking how wet you should keep your soil when you have a young seedling

Rabeats2093 said:

This was a hard post to decipher ...are you asking how wet you should keep your soil when you have a young seedling

Click to expand...

Sort of, the seedlings I'm talking about are about 3 weeks old and receiving light feed. They are looking good but small due to the weather, so it looks like it will be another couple of weeks before they go into veg and I start giving them a full feeding.
I'm wondering if I should let the soil dry out between the light feedings, like feed on a daily basis for 2 days let the soil dry out for a couple days and start the procedure over, or continue feeding daily until veg.

garybo said:

Sort of, the seedlings I'm talking about are about 3 weeks old and receiving light feed. They are looking good but small due to the weather, so it looks like it will be another couple of weeks before they go into veg and I start giving them a full feeding.
I'm wondering if I should let the soil dry out between the light feedings, like feed on a daily basis for 2 days let the soil dry out for a couple days and start the procedure over, or continue feeding daily until veg.

Click to expand...

I would not feed until established. And you never actually want dry. Especially with young plants. Just water every other day until then. Don't drown or burn this way. And your slow growth is probably wet roots as I'm reading. Temp only slows nute uptake. Not growth.

garybo said:

Sort of, the seedlings I'm talking about are about 3 weeks old and receiving light feed. They are looking good but small due to the weather, so it looks like it will be another couple of weeks before they go into veg and I start giving them a full feeding.
I'm wondering if I should let the soil dry out between the light feedings, like feed on a daily basis for 2 days let the soil dry out for a couple days and start the procedure over, or continue feeding daily until veg.

Click to expand...

Im not an outdoor grower but if your looking to “dry out” the soil a little so the roots can expand and look for water and grow bigger than yes I suggest you do this around week 3-5 for only a short time. When the soil dries out a little the roots will expand looking for water.

garybo said:

Have a question for you outdoor farmers.
During the 3 - 4 week time frame, from the time a germinated seed emerges from the soil, and has not yet grown into the vegetative stage, should a farmer put the seedling into a "drying out" phase for a day or as one would do between feedings for a mature plant, or just keep the seedling damp and lightly fed until it reaches the veg stage?
Thanks

Click to expand...

I am not sure I under stand what you are asking. You said "seed emerges from the soil, and has not yet grown into the vegetative stage," As I understand it once the seed has broken the soil it is in its veg stage. It is growing its stalks and limbs to support the flowers that it will produce when it enters it's flower stage. If that is what you are asking I seem to think you are asking about overwatering and keeping the soil too damp. if so then yes you can allow it to get drier than you normally would. It could help build a better root system .