Acclimating Your Seedlings
Seedlings need special temperature and hydration care for acclimation success. Follow these instructions to keep them happy and hydrated for up to 3 days:
- Open the seedling clamshell and stand it up vertically.
- If the brown ‘grow medium’ feels dry, splash a small amount of water directly onto them. If the ‘grow medium’ feels wet, simply open the clamshell and leave plants indoors in a cool, shaded, ventilated space (indoors is fine).
- Leave them in a cool space for 2+ hrs. Aim to plant in your Farmstand when the outdoor temperature is between 55-80F°. For indoor stands, plant with lights off.
*Transportation can be stressful for seedlings so don’t worry if you receive a couple that look wilted or have minor leaf damage upon arrival every now and again. Seedlings are extremely resilient and typically perk up after a few days in the farmstand! If your seedlings look weak or unhealthy, follow the above instructions 1-2, then leave them indoors for an extra 1-2 days; finally, move them outside to acclimate in full shade the following day before step 3.
Where to Plant Seedlings
Different plants are better suited for different levels of the Farmstand. Plants that produce large growth should be planted on the bottom level of the Farmstand while plants that produce vertical growth should be planted on the top level of the Farmstand. This keeps growth manageable and prevents other plants from getting shaded out.
You can find location recommendations on the clamshell your seedlings arrive in, on their seedling page, or by referencing the chart below.
Cotyledon Leaves
The first set of leaves a seed produces once it germinates are referred to as cotyledon leaves. Their bean shape looks distinctly different from a plant’s “true” leaves that it produces as it matures. These leaves are called true leaves because their shape and form is what will continue growing until the plants final stage.
Eventually, cotyledon leaves will become discolored and die off. This is normal and not a sign that your seedlings are unhealthy. They can be left on the plant to fall off on their own or they can be cut off. If the first set of true leaves look wilted or discolored upon arrival or right after planting, wait until you have a new healthy set grown in (typically takes 1 week) then you can prune away any unhealthy looking foliage. This practice of pruning off dead or wilted leaves should be continued for the entire life cycle of the plant to promote new growth, air flow, discourage pests/diseases, and keep plants looking healthy and vibrant.
Nutrient Residue and Algae
A thin white layer of nutrient residue or green algae may develop on the top of your seedlings’ grow medium. This is caused by nutrients settling over time and drying in between watering cycles or the sun reacting with the nutrients when the grow medium is saturated with water. It is a normal occurrence in hydroponics and nothing to worry about! If you'd like, you can apply a small amount of diluted 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide to the tops of the grow medium directly via spray bottle (dilute at a rate of 3:1 peroxide:water) .
Additional Notes
It will take about 1-2 weeks for your seedlings to really get growing - you'll see much faster growth in weeks two, three, and four. If you want to know when to expect different varieties to be harvest-ready, check out our seedling pages.
If you've lost track of which plant is which, use the Lettuce Grow app to ID those babies! Download our app for iOS and Android.
As you get ready to harvest, make sure to reorder more seedlings from our shop!