![]() What happens if you don’t harden off plants? Seedlings that have been grown in controlled conditions indoors (in a sunny window, under grow lights, or in a greenhouse) haven’t fully developed the cuticle and need time to build up their “armor” against environmental disturbances.īy gradually exposing seedlings to the outside elements, you stimulate their natural defenses and give them time to adapt to their new environment. Why? For this simple reason: All plants have a protective waxy coating on the leaves (called a cuticle) that repels water, reduces the rate of dehydration, and filters harmful ultraviolet light. They need to toughen up before you fling them into the deep end of the pool, so to speak. Up until this point, your seedlings have been protected from wind, rain, cold, heat, and intense sunlight. You don’t want to transplant seedlings directly in the garden without “weaning” them first, and this goes for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Hardening off your seedlings is the vital step of acclimating them to the outdoors to assure their survival. What does it mean to harden off seedlings? Shortcut #2: Use a portable “mini greenhouse” to protect your seedlings outside.Shortcut #1: Transplant your seedlings outside during a period of cloudy weather.How to harden off seedlings in less than 7 days with these garden shortcuts.Day 6: Set your seedlings outside all day and all night. ![]()
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