Transplanting plants is one way of growing plants in a garden. It works well for farmers targeting to achieve specific control on plants.
It is also used by farmers who want to introduce a particular breed of plants to the garden. But not all plants can be transplanted.
Some plants do not thrive well when moved. They like thriving in one place where the seed was planted. Some plants find it hard to adjust to new environments. These are among the plants that cannot be transported.
Examples of plants that cannot be transplanted
Among the main examples are root crops;
- Beets
- turnips
- carrots
These are in the group of plants that are hard to transplant. These plants have deep roots that allow for easier absorption of nutrients.
They heavily depend on these roots. Any effect or damage on these roots risks the death of these plants.
Some plants in this category may only be transplanted with care. This is because they are also fragile. Any mistake in the transplanting can easily damage the plant.
They are in the category of plants to handle with care. It is the reason why some experts argue against transplanting these plants. Among these plants include;
- corn
- beans
Plants that are already mature cannot be transplanted. This is because the plants have already developed their root structure. The root structure of these plants cannot grow anew after transplanting. They cannot survive the shock and ultimately die.
Some plants have specific nutrient needs. This may include plants that require rich nitrogen content. When transplanted, these plants cannot replenish the mineral content as fast as needed.
Any effort to transplant them means they will miss these nutrients. The growth rate of these plants is a challenge, and so is the produce.
What happens when these plants are transported
It is a big risk to transplant some of the plants. These are plants that find it hard to survive in new environments. They are plants that are confined in a nursery bed of pots.
These are controlled environments. The plants enjoy all the specialized care. That is why they easily die when transplanted.
The plants that cannot be transplanted experience shock when moved. Plant shock is caused by the inability of a plant to adjust to new surroundings.
The plants move from where they used to be closely watched. They are introduced to environments where they have to survive harsh conditions.
Plants that are highly dependent on deep roots cannot be transplanted. These are plants that develop roots deeply to source nutrients.
It is a high risk to transplant these plants. Plants cannot survive when the root structure is interfered with. The result is mostly wilting and death.
It is always good to monitor plants closely after transplanting. A closer look can help identify any signs of plant damage. It is a red flag when the plant leaves dry and fall off.
Some situations can be salvaged by providing extra care for the plant. But other plants cannot recover from the shock and damage.
How to handle plants that are difficult to transplant
Farmers can face the dilemma of being forced to transplant some plants. This may be because of changes in soil structure. It may also be a result of a need for change. A lot of care is needed when such transplanting is necessary.
If a plant has to be transplanted, do it at an early stage of development. They need to be better established and can adjust quickly. But this does not guarantee safe transplanting.
Some plants may only survive with caution. It does not matter how they are handled. They eventually die after being transplanted.
The initial step is to water the plants before transplanting. This allows the plant to enjoy moisture. It gives the plant time to aerate and absorb nutrients. The transplanting should be done before the soil moisture dries up.
It is important to have the transplanting area ready before moving it. The plant should be removed after to avoid more damage.
Plants that are left out for long risk drying up. They do not have access to enough water during this time. Plants should be moved from their natural habitat to the new area quickly.
The transplanting area should also be moist. Enough water should be added before planting. It is important to ensure enough contact between the plant and the soil. This helps to reduce plant shock. The plants can adjust to the new area quickly.
In a nutshell, not all plants can be transplanted. Some plants may be only transplanted with extra care. But others should never be moved at all. These have been identified as fragile plants.
They are plants that have large taproots. The roots should not be interfered with. Any damage is a threat to the survival of these plants.