Caring for your plug plants

Unpack and water your plants

Unpack your plugs straight away and place them in a small tray of water for an hour. They might appear slightly dry or a bit yellow, which is entirely normal after being in darkness for a few days, and they’ll soon recover. Position them somewhere light, airy, and at a moderate temperature—not too hot or cold—to help them adjust to conditions outside our greenhouses. For mixed plug plant collections, the blister packs or "mini-greenhouses" will have a label on the exterior listing the individual varieties inside, along with references to the embossed "A, B, C" etc. on each cell of the packaging.

Pricking out your plants

When "potting on" (or "pricking out"), handle plugs carefully by their leaves, not their stems, to avoid damage. . For small plug plants in trays, use a suitable small tool—such as a "dibber" or a pencil—to push them out through the hole at the bottom of each cell. Pot on using our Windowsill Planters or Shuttle Trays with 9 cm pots, and fill them with a quality multipurpose compost such as our Premium Professional mix. Avoid pressing the young plants in too firmly. Instead, make a hole in the compost just large enough to accommodate the plug plant, press it in lightly, and then gently tap the pot to settle the compost. Compacting the compost too firmly may cause water to pool on the surface, so ensure the plants are not overly compressed.

Damping off disease

The most common reason plug plants fail to thrive is due to the 'damping off' fungi, which can spread through water, air, or reused pots and compost. To prevent this, ensure good air circulation and avoid letting plants become too wet or humid until they are fully established. If reusing pots, always clean them thoroughly with Jeyes fluid or a similar disinfectant before use. Seedlings affected by damping off may fail to emerge or collapse shortly after emerging, decaying from the stem and spreading to other plants. Remove any infected plants promptly, relocate healthy ones to a clean, well-ventilated environment, and allow them to dry out before the next watering.

Correct watering

Water your plants in the morning to allow moisture to evaporate during the day rather than lingering on the leaves overnight, which can encourage disease. Use tap water rather than rainwater from a water butt, as fungi that cause 'damping off' can live in water butts. Water sparingly—only when the surface of the compost feels dry—or water from beneath whenever possible.

Planting out

Once the plug plants are large enough to be planted out, prepare the soil thoroughly by removing weeds and digging in compost or well-rotted manure if your soil isn’t already nutrient-rich. For beds, borders, and containers, plant your plugs approximately 20 cm (8") apart to give them enough space to grow. For exceptional hanging basket displays, we recommend using ourEasy fill hanging baskets

Important: Only plant out spring bedding after the last frosts - e.g. late April/early May