The short answer
Seedlings sown together in a seed tray may need pricking out once large enough to handle. A plant that outgrows its cell or pot may need potting on; neither step means it is ready for outdoors. Check crop guidance before disturbing roots.
See the sourceIn this guide
Check your situation
Shared tray or individual pot?
Distinguish seedlings sown together in a seed tray from seedlings in individual cells. Pricking out separates a shared sowing; potting on moves a plant with its rootball into a larger container.
Diagrams explain the text; they are not to scale.
- Check crop guidance before disturbing roots, then check crowding and whether plants have outgrown their cells or pots. If several seedlings share one cell, do not assume pulling them apart is appropriate.
What to do now
Prepare the next container
Prepare the next containers and suitable growing mix.
Support the roots; steady a leaf
Support the rootball with a spoon or plant label if needed.
Steady a seedling by holding a leaf gently rather than gripping its stem.
Diagrams explain the text; they are not to scale.
Provide enough light and space afterwards.
What not to do
- Do not lift a seedling by squeezing its stem.
- Do not use one fixed age or leaf count for every crop.
Do you need to buy anything?
Reuse suitable clean containers with drainage. Choose room for this stage rather than the largest possible pot.
Keep going
Sources behind this page
- RHS: How to sow seeds indoorsUnited Kingdom. Use crop-specific packet instructions and local planting dates.Source checked 7 October 2026
- University of Minnesota Extension: Starting seeds indoorsMinnesota, United States. Indoor seed starting. Regional calendar dates are not universal.Source checked 7 October 2026
We summarise published guidance. We have not independently tested these methods or the products discussed.
AI-assisted editorial check: 7 October 2026. This is a source and clarity check, not a review by a horticultural expert.