Hardening Off Plants
by John Yazo
Hardening off plants is a process that prepares your plants for there life outdoors. It helps to transplants from going into shock due to the sudden change in temperature and weather conditions. Young plants need this process to prepare them for the elements that they haven't been accustomed to being in like, wind, rain and sun.
This process involves gradually giving your plants a longer period of time outdoors. Start doing this between seven and ten days before you want to permanently transplant them in your garden.
First you will need to move your plants outdoors to a sheltered shady area for about three to four hours for the first day and then bring them back inside. Gradually increase this time by one to two hours a day for two to three days.
After the third day place the plants outdoors in the morning sun, then place them back into the shaded location that trey were in for the first two to three days for the afternoon before bringing them in at night. Repeat this process for five to seven days. Care needs to be taken to monitor the moisture in the soil and water the transplants as needed and keep a careful watch on the plants that they don't get burnt by the sun during this process.
Once you have completed this process in about ten days your plants should be ready for there new life outdoors and be ready to handle a full day of sunlight along with staying outdoors all night as long as the temperatures don't get near freezing.
There is nothing better than the rewarding feeling of germinating your transplants from seed and watching them form into a strong healthy plant thriving with life in your garden.
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