Doubtful about why and how to thin seedlings? This detailed article clears it up by providing concise answers and guidance.
Thinning seedlings is the best way to promote better growth and allowing the healthier and fitter ones to survive. Lets learn about this art in detail below!
Let’s Understand What Thinning Is
If you have ever grown plants from seed, you’re likely familiar with the excitement of watching tiny seedlings emerge, only to face the challenge of overcrowding soon after, necessitating thinning in which you remove excess seedlings from a planting area to allow the remaining plants ample space, nutrients and resources to thrive.
While it may seem harsh, thinning out that seedling mess is absolutely essential.
Why You Absolutely Must Thin Seedlings?
1. Prevents Competition for Resources
When planting seeds, we usually put more in the ground than we need because not all of them will grow. If too many of them sprout and grow close together, they’ll compete for basic needs like sunlight, water, nutrients, and root space.
This can slow down their growth and make them less productive.
2. Stronger Plants
Survival of the fittest is the mantra here, and by keeping the healthiest ones, you provide them ample space and nutrients, helping them focus their energy on developing strong root systems and sturdy stems instead of all of them competing for everything.
3. Prevents Disease
When seedlings are all crowded together, it eliminates proper airflow and light, promoting fungal diseases in a damp-stagnant environment. Thinning creates proper spacing between plants thus allowing better air circulation and sun penetration.
How to Thin Seedling the Right Way?
Do not immediately start removing the seedlings; once you notice the first set of true leaves, select the stronger ones, and remove others by pulling them gentle while keeping a finger at the bottom of the healthy one—this keeps them anchored securely to their place. The best, snip them using a pair of scissors.
Another important thing that you need to take care of is not to remove all the unwanted seedlings at once. Thin in gradual phases—week by week, as it prevents shocking the remaining plants.
