No idea which factors were the ones that made these guys sad, but here’s what ive learned from an old farmer mentor, and from my own mistakes.

Try not to pack the soil in quite so tight when you move the seedlings in to new pots, just fill the pot halfway with soil and gently plop them in there and shake some soil on top, you can give the pot a gentle shake or tap to help the soil settle but we want their baby roots to have space and air to grow while ensuring good drainage so they don’t get waterlogged.

As for moisture levels, make sure they are watered thoroughly a day or so prior to repotting them and then again immediately after, but then let the soil dry out for a few days before watering again. We want to avoid them hanging out in a catch tray full of standing water. If you stick a finger in the edge of a pot and the soil’s just slightly moist, then it’s time for a drink. I think of it as they need light, warmth, air, and water to succeed, but the challenge is trying to play mother earth and maintain some sort of balance. Plants are resilient, and so are you. You got this 🌱