Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hi all

i have had lots of problems when it comes to planting plants in my ap
soo far i have killed lots of seedlings and have now tried to give it another go.

my gb is on a 15 on 45 off timer and fills in 1-2min to a level of around 1 inch off the top of the gravel

i thought i did what is needed this time but when planting 30min ago my toms and caps are now all bending and droopy, my question is, is this normal or am i still doing something wrong?? plzz help dont want to kill more plants

thnx andrew

Are you making sure you get the roots planted down to where the water flood level is??

We get drooping sometimes for the first few days but normally that goes and they pick up..

hi earthbound
i dig down till i see the water level then plant
i might give it a little watering in the arvo too see if it straightens back up
hopefully it survives

thnx andrew

I always wash soil off the roots of seedlings with a solution of seaweed extract and water to help reduce transplant shock. This can also be applied as a foliar spray. Avoid planting in the middle of a hot day if possible. (Same as for soil gardens.)

All of the above... and yeah it's normal for the plants to droop for a day or two while they get over the transplant shock and re-establish the root systems and internal flow mechanisms...

Hand water them a couple of times a day... especially if hot....

Or ... of it's really hot... clip the leaves (all of them) in half....

Transplanted seedlings/plants continue to lose water (internal) by transpiration after replanting, but it takes a day or two before they re-establish the roots and begin drawing new water and nutrients up into their structures.

Net effect... they draw water from their internal cell structures and transpire.... cell structure is semi-dehydrated... and weakened to the point where the cell structure lacks the strength/integrity to maintain itself upright...

Hence the droop

It can be a good idea to give then some shade for the first couple of days. A pot with the top cut out or just a pirece of cardboard around the plant can do the trick. I'm pretty slap dash with my transplanting process and rarely lose a decent seedling.

Ditto.... I cut used yoghurt containers in half and place them over the seedlings... helps keep the moisture contained in the root zone IMHO

thnx all 4 the replies
30% of the plants are strengthening back up with abit of a light water
and is now shaded.
next time i will get my self a bottle of seaweed extract and try not to get too cared away with planting

thnc fisho