My small Chinese cabbage seedlings are ready to be transplanted into individual pots. The variety is ‘Scarvita’, a beautiful cabbage with striking red leaves. Learn more about transplanting below.

Anyone who grows plants will eventually need to start transplanting them into new pots. This is true if we sow indoors during winter, start seedlings in a greenhouse in spring, or plant outdoors in summer. It’s also relevant when taking cuttings from bushes, houseplants, or perennials. They all need their own pots to continue growing into strong, healthy plants.

Water before transplanting

Most people fill pots with dry soil, plant their seedlings, and then water afterwards. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, usually based on intuition. Often, it works out fine, but not always.

I’ve learned to water the soil before transplanting, and what a difference it makes!

When the soil is moist (but not so wet that it completely weighs the delicate roots down) the plants establish themselves beautifully without needing frequent watering. The soil stays evenly moist without becoming heavy, creating ideal conditions for strong root growth and healthy plants. Perfect!

Read more: Transplanting spinach for an early harvest

I open a bag of soil and put it on the table. I usually cut them open along the side to create a wide opening without the soil spilling out.

Watering is done directly in the bag. About 2.6 gallons (10 liters)  of water are needed for one bag of soil.

How I prepare for transplanting

When transplanting many seedlings at once, I water the soil directly inside the bag. I lay the soil bag flat on a table or the ground and cut a large opening on the top. Then, I gently loosen the soil with my hands while gradually adding water. Mixing the soil by hand helps distribute the moisture evenly. A standard bag of soil usually absorbs about 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of water.

For smaller transplanting sessions, I pour soil into a bucket, add water, mix it thoroughly, and then fill the pots. Any leftover soil can be set aside; if it dries out, it can simply be moistened again before the next use.

Read more: Why should I transplant potato plants?

I knead the soil briefly with water, then it's ready to be filled into the pots.

I usually fill a tray with pots and soil all at once. Any step that can be repeated multiple times saves me some time!

When the tray is full of pots with soil, I press a hole all the way to the bottom with my finger.

Time to start planting – all the pots are ready!

I sowed the Chinese cabbage densely in a small pot, and the individual plants are carefully separated and planted one by one into their own pots.

The cabbage can be planted a little deeper than in the previous pot, making them more stable and compact.

Less watering after

Watering the soil before transplanting means there’s no need to keep watering constantly afterward. If dry soil is watered after being placed in a pot, the water often runs straight through the drainage holes without being absorbed properly. That doesn’t happen when the soil is evenly watered beforehand.

I’ve found that this method makes a huge difference, especially for seedlings that will be growing in the greenhouse where warm temperatures can quickly dry out soil. Or indoors early in the season, where excessive watering can lead to algae and pests.

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Plug plants turn out really nice this way. The roots establish quickly in the moist soil, and the plant takes off right away.

It takes a few extra minutes to knead the soil with water during planting, but it results in healthier plants and saves work in the long run, as many plants establish better and won’t need watering for a long time afterward.

Read more: DIY paper seedling pots

All my early seedlings that were transplanted in January, now growing in the greenhouse, have moist soil in their pots from the start. I won’t need to water them again for quite a while, and there’s no risk of excess water pooling on the trays.

I hope this tip comes in handy for your own transplanting at home!

/Sara Bäckmo