A transplanter for injecting plugs at non-perpendicular angles relative to an injection plane of a container, comprising a carriage; one or more plug grippers, wherein each plug gripper is attached to the carriage and rotatable about an axis from a first angular orientation to a second angular orientation; a first actuator operably attached the one or more plug grippers and operative to rotate each of the one or more plug grippers about a respective axis from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation; a second actuator attached to the carriage and operative to position the one or more plug grippers proximal to the injection plane and move the carriage along a path having the second angular orientation relative to the injection plane, wherein the injection plane is defined by a surface associated with a container that includes one or more plug holders having the second angular orientation relative to the injection plane; and a control system operative to control the first and second actuators to effect transplant operations, wherein each plug gripper comprises a base; a plug gripper actuator attached to the base and having a first end, the plug gripper actuator operative to move the first end along a first direction from a retracted position to an extended position; first and second opposing gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) extending substantially parallel the first direction; a stripper plate extending between the first and second gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) and in a perpendicular orientation relative to the first direction, wherein the stripper plate or the first and second gripper arms are operably attached to the first end of the plug gripper actuator. a carriage; one or more plug grippers, wherein each plug gripper is attached to the carriage and rotatable about an axis from a first angular orientation to a second angular orientation; a first actuator operably attached the one or more plug grippers and operative to rotate each of the one or more plug grippers about a respective axis from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation; a second actuator attached to the carriage and operative to position the one or more plug grippers proximal to the injection plane and move the carriage along a path having the second angular orientation relative to the injection plane, wherein the injection plane is defined by a surface associated with a container that includes one or more plug holders having the second angular orientation relative to the injection plane; and a control system operative to control the first and second actuators to effect transplant operations, wherein each plug gripper comprises a base; a plug gripper actuator attached to the base and having a first end, the plug gripper actuator operative to move the first end along a first direction from a retracted position to an extended position; first and second opposing gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) extending substantially parallel the first direction; a stripper plate extending between the first and second gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) and in a perpendicular orientation relative to the first direction, a base; a plug gripper actuator attached to the base and having a first end, the plug gripper actuator operative to move the first end along a first direction from a retracted position to an extended position; first and second opposing gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) extending substantially parallel the first direction; a stripper plate extending between the first and second gripper arms (2608a, 2608b) and in a perpendicular orientation relative to the first direction, wherein the stripper plate or the first and second gripper arms are operably attached to the first end of the plug gripper actuator.