Accordingly the invention concerns a water-dissolvable protection for seedlings and plants, wherein the protection is in the form of a wrapper, film, band, tie, length of string, or mesh, and wherein the protection is made from a water-dissolvable polymer or from composition comprising one or more water-dissolvable polymers. The invention also concerns a method for applying the water-dissolvable protection to plants and seedlings. Moreover, the invention concerns an automated process for introducing protected seedlings and plants into a growing medium wherein use is made of the water-dissolvable protection. Finally, the invention concerns plants and seedlings, the roots, stems, leaves, fruits and/or flowers of which are protected against damage by the water-dissolvable protection provided in this invention.
