The First True Leaves
by John Yazo
The first true leaves are the stage of plant growth when the cotyledons of the seedling withers and the first leaves will start to form. It is also the stage in a plants life that it actively begins photosynthesizing.
At this stage of growth the plant will also start needing to feed from nutrients in the soil. Since most germination of seeds are done in a sterile soilless potting mix nutrients will need to be added to the soil for the plants to grow healthy. A good balanced organic fertilizer that is high in potassium and nitrogen will encourage a good healthy root system and plant growth.
Once the seedlings start to grow you may want to transplant them into a a larger container to allow the root system more room to develop and avoid being root bound.
Once your plants are ready to be transplanted to there permanent location outdoors there is one more very important process that needs to be done. This is the process of hardening off the plants. This is where the plants go through a transformation that lets them except the growing conditions of the sun, wind and rain that naturally happen in the outdoors. It will also allow the plants to grow a stronger and healthier stem so it can defend itself from the elements it will encounter outdoors.
Propagating plants from seeds is an exciting experience. There is no better feeling than to watch a plants life take form from it's first stage of emerging through the soil and turning into a flourishing, thriving plant that produce an array of color and fruit.
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