In another thread about wilted plants people were suggesting that even an hour of direct sunlight might be too much to start with. I just potted up all my seedlings (54 tomato plants, 62 peppers) and put them in full sun for 5 hours today and yesterday and they show zero signs of wilting or burning. My indoor setup is fully enclosed, 2 barrina t8 per shelf, and a fan for each shelf. Temps were 75-85 inside with 70-90% humidity. It was a little over 70 outside today and yesterday, and will be in the low 80s the rest of the week. Did I just get lucky? Am I tempting fate? Should I stop doing this? I don't have enough room for them all under my lights now that they are potted up so they will have to stay outside during the day but I do have plenty of shady spots.
by chodeobaggins
3 Comments
I’m in the tropics, so I don’t have a cold weather issue and just try to give a few shade hours initially. I don’t do any carrying in and out. I do Kratky hydroponics, and as long as I don’t let the roots have much air gap initially (water >>>> oxygen), they might get wilty the first day, but they come back in a day or two. Providing ample water to transpire as much as needed is the most important factor, at least from what I’ve seen. But shade hours do help for sure.
Yesyesyesyes!
Your plants are absolutely not used to the direct sunlight or the outdoor climate. Homework…..They have been living in a beautiful nursery of sweet serenity and ease. But they are absolutely not ready for the sunlight and harsh soil that is awaiting them. Hardening them off is like sending them to basic training… They will be much more ready to produce for you.If you have them prepared for that cold, hostile environment outside.
I left mine on the covered porch everyday, all day and brought them in at night for a couple days. Then I left them in full sun everyday and bring them in at night. The only reason I’m still bringing them in at night is because its gonna be below 50. On monday, once it won’t be they are going outside for the season. 2 out of about 35 plants have a bit of white spot. Some have wilted a tiny bit. They look fine. Before this year I didn’t even harden them off and just yeeted them right into the ground. That was also fine. I think its pretty overrated.