Do roots grow from stems under soil?

SamRD · Feb 21, 2023

Lets say I start a seed in a party cup and then transplant to a final bigger pot. If I bury as much of the stem as possible beneath the soil of the final pot during transplant and leave only the top node above soil (all leaves beneath are trimmed beforehand) will roots grow from portion of the stem that is now buried?

Just want to make sure I'm not wasting space that could be filled with roots.

RootsRuler · Feb 21, 2023

SamRD said:
Lets say I start a seed in a party cup and then transplant to a final bigger pot. If I bury as much of the stem as possible beneath the soil of the final pot during transplant and leave only the top node above soil (all leaves beneath are trimmed beforehand) will roots grow from portion of the stem that is now buried?

Just want to make sure I'm not wasting space that could be filled with roots.

You could but it would be more likely that the stem will rot and the seedling will die. Just plant it like normal.

Otto Bonn · Feb 21, 2023

I do it with tomatoes but never tried otherwise

RootsRuler · Feb 21, 2023

Otto Bonn said:
I do it with tomatoes but never tried otherwise

Yes. For tomatoes this technique works great.

2Bad · Feb 21, 2023

If you're talking a couple inches that's fine. Roots will come from the stem yes. I've had plenty lateral shoots end up under the soil as well and it was completely fine.

Greenjourneyman · Feb 21, 2023

2 bad is correct. I’ve never really pushed it, but burying up to 3-4 inches should be fine with issues of rot.
I have done this in the past to keep all plants at the same height at transplant bury the tall ones deep. Roots develop no issue

Stonemason7767 · Feb 21, 2023

I like to transplant deep too.they seem to love it.

BigBlonde · Feb 21, 2023

I have been adding soil up to the cotyledons. The plants seem to like it. It's a good way to help a seedling that stretched too much

RootsRuler · Feb 21, 2023

Hmmmm...good to know. I may try this.

mysticepipedon · Feb 22, 2023

The little white nubs along the stem of a mature plant are the beginnings of adventitious roots. If buried, they'll sprout.

Zen_Seeker · Feb 22, 2023

I was going to skip this one as I’ve been warned not to do it. However I read that cannabis is one of the plants that will root off the stem if buried.

As rot can occur it’s up to you to decide if this is right for you or not.

I have been growing with at least 2” - 3” of space between the top of my soil and soft pot rim. When I transplant I put it a few inches from the bottom after mixing and adding whatever is available this grow. That doesn’t mean you plant it 12” below the rim of a larger pot, you match your plant to the next pot size up your transplanting to.

I keep the stem area dry most of the time and watch for softness. (Do water the root ball at least once a month, not just edge of the pot.)

I also remove the bottom 2 or 3 nodes on pre-veg a week or two before transplant. I use these for the next set of clones. Let’s me keep things off the soil and helps keep things tight and short before LST/HST.

2Bad · Feb 22, 2023

Here’s a plant I’m harvesting soon. Don’t mind the larf.

Do roots grow from stems under soil?

Do roots grow from stems under soil?

SamRD

RootsRuler

Otto Bonn

RootsRuler

2Bad

Greenjourneyman

Stonemason7767

BigBlonde

RootsRuler

mysticepipedon

Zen_Seeker

2Bad

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