What does it mean to harden off seedlings?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What does it mean to harden off seedlings?

The Big Idea

Indoor seedlings are soft and tender! The outdoors can be tough on them. What is hardening off?

Tender Plants

Step one: Tender Plants. Plants raised indoors are tender. Sudden wind, strong sun, and cold can damage them.

Little by Little

Step two: Little by Little. Hardening off means slowly getting plants used to the outdoors over a week or two. Start with an hour in a shady, sheltered spot, then add more time and sun each day.

Tougher Leaves

Step three: Tougher Leaves. The leaves toughen up and the plants adapt to outdoor life. Skipping this step can scorch or even kill seedlings.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Start here. Toughens stems. Day by day. Ready!

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Gardeners sometimes call it toughening up seedlings. Start with one hour. Takes one to two weeks. Skipping can scorch.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Make a seven-day schedule. Day one, one hour in the shade. Add more time each day. Add a little sun near the end. How long is the last day?

Outro

Seedlings raised indoors are tender, so hardening off slowly gets them used to wind, sun, and cold over a week or two. Start with an hour in the shade and add more each day, because skipping it can scorch or kill them. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!