Seedling growing fast..Help!

So I germinated seeds a few days ago and planted them in small seed starter pot but my question is when do i transplant them? I understand that i would need a good root system to develop but when do you think would be the best time to transplant them so they don't get root bound because it is in a small pot. Should i check every three days or so to see if the roots have been developing but not curling around (root-bound) ? Also on one of them that's growing fast the root is a little bit exposed underneath the seed starter pot.

Wait for them to be a little bigger. If you have a light you can keep close to them it would keep them short.

Cyrus420 said:

Wait for them to be a little bigger. If you have a light you can keep close to them it would keep them short.

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Thanks for the advice, I'm keeping two CFL's close to the seedlings. What's the estimated time do you think i would get ready to transplant based on those pictures? My guess is a week or two?

anony42017 said:

Thanks for the advice, I'm keeping two CFL's close to the seedlings. What's the estimated time do you think i would get ready to transplant based on those pictures? My guess is a week or two?

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Time is irrelevant when it comes to transplants.

You can either wait to see roots coming out of the bottom of the container (which I do) or you transplant when the leafs of your plant have reached past the edge of their container. I usually go with the roots because once a plant has developed a nice root ball it's super easy to transplant without slowing your plant down at all.

I started in solo cups and slowly moved up two to three pot sizes til I finally transplanted to a three gallon smart pot. My roots are great now though and take up most of the soil space they have been provided.

Here is how I do it:

When I see roots peeking out the drainage holes in my pot I will wait a day or two and ensure the soil is moist because moist soil is easier to work with. Now fill a new pot with your growing medium but leave a big enough hole to fit your plant and root ball in. If you've waited long enough your root ball should be about the size of the container the plant is in. I use a metal butter knife and slide it along the edges of the pot loosen the dirt and roots from the sides. Then I give my pot a few gentle squeezes for some final loosening. Now prepare for the scary part. Lay your hand flat on the surface of your medium with stem of your plant between two of your fingers, you'll be using your palm to hold up the soil, plant, and root ball. Now carefully flip your container. If everything is loose the plant, soil, and root ball should come out as one big chunk safely into your hand. You can give the bottom of the pot a pat if everything is still up in there. Now gently place your plant into your new pot and make sure to fill any empty space with some fresh medium. Congrats, you've transplanted a cannabis plant safely and no harm done.

On my current grow I've done about seven transplants total between my plants and I've never seen them slow down after moving them. It's all in the roots baby, wait for them roots before you shoots for a bigger container.

^ good advice. i like to wait till i see roots starting to poke out of the drainage holes, then i know theres a good rootball in there, and when i give it more room to grow, it will.
transplanting too early can cause problems like stalling and poor root development, the small plant can't use up all the water in the pot, so the lower roots sit in water and start to rot.
Conversely, waiting too long can cause nearly as severe problems, but thats not usually a problem for most people, way more common to do it too soon than too late.

Hey guys nice thread just what I'm after, 1st time grow done my research, I've been like short circuit the amount of info I've taken in! Brain fryed. So anyway I'm growing indoors 5 jack herer seeds, fems supposly to me they all look healthy and well see pictures!! I have the odd root at the holes at bottom of pot, not every hole and appears they just made it there! So I'm guessing there not quite a root ball yet, the pictures are at 10 days from seed. Any advice thanks in advance

i'd wait about a week probably, or when you do see a lot of roots poking out of the drainage holes, by then you ought to be good