Does anyone know if you have to harden off/acclimatize plants to the outdoors if you overwintered them with grow lights? I have saffron crocuses that never wilted back so I was advised to over winter them with grow lights for 6hrs a day (and just a couple weeks ago I upped it to 12hrs with spring being eminent) it’s getting near our last frost date (zone 6B) so it’s time to bring them out but should I do it gradually? They never wilted back and got suuuuuuper long.
Yes you should harden it. Start indoors: Keep the plants indoors under grow lights for a few weeks. Gradually increase outdoor time: Start with a few hours of outdoor time each day, gradually increasing the duration as the weather improves. Protect from harsh conditions: Ensure the plants are protected from strong winds, direct sunlight, and cold temperatures during the hardening-off process. Consider a cool location: A cool, shaded spot is ideal for hardening off saffron crocuses. Monitor for stress: Watch the plants for signs of stress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves
2 likes Ok thank you! I had them out for a few hours today as a test so I’ll continue to ween them up to full days.
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