Indoor Seed Starting Equipment Worth Your Dollar
There are lots of options in terms of what products to buy to not only start seeds indoors, but gardening as a whole. In this post, I will simply just focus on equipment I have tried and loved. I will attach cost, size, pros and cons, and a direct link. * Content Disclosure: All links are affiliate with the exception of Botanical Interests and MIGardner. *
Pots and trays
80 Cell Seed Starter Tray with Grow Lights (affiliate link)
Low cost, limited space option. This cell tray with grow lights is an excellent option for starting seeds indoors because it is compact and can easily be placed nearly anywhere in your home. It has adjustable humidity dials to ensure warmth and condensation stays within the tray, but you can also open the air flow for plants like lettuce that requires less humidity. I like that it comes with labels, as well as two tools—making the experience less messy. The con of this product is that repotting/transplanting seedlings is a little difficult with this and you must be very extra careful and delicate with the roots.
2.5 inch Nursery Pots (affiliate link)
These are the perfect size for germinating seeds because of their size and ability for the roots to grow and take up space without getting root rot. These are the perfect size to put in a greenhouse, a grow light shelf, or in a sun room. I like that these come with a watering tray for bottom watering (the pro to this is that each pot can absorb as much water as it needs, without getting too wet). The con is that these would not make a good fit for windowsill growing as they are too wide, and this option is not ideal if you have limited indoor growing space.
These are excellent for windowsill growing. They are compact in size and not too wide. The drainage holes are the only con I would give due to the fact it could potentially get messy. However, I would combat this with paper towels underneath each pot to prevent mess. These are also a great option because for beginner growers or those with limited space and may not be starting too many seeds, you don’t have to commit to a large 80-cell purchase. This pack only has 25. Also the humidity domes are such a great addition! Love these so much.
Grow Light Shelving
If you will be starting dozens, potentially hundreds, of seeds—this is an excellent purchase. It is more on the pricey side but I would not recommend it if I did not think it was worth every penny. The pros of this purchase: will house many seeds, it’s good for indoor house plants, wonderful option for repotting seedlings into bigger pots, an investment you won’t have to worry about repurchasing, and the greenhouse cover traps heat and protects seedlings from potential pets or children. The cons of this purchase include: it is quite large (being nearly 71 inches tall) and it is over $200.
Miscellaneous Supplies
Seed Starting Soil Recommendations:
2. Seed Company Recommendations:
Summary
At the end of the day, as long as you’re growing something, that is truly all that matters. Realistically, there is not a need to buy pots if you can use egg cartons, berry containers, and red solo cups to place on your windowsill. However, if you don’t have the best lighting, or you have clumsy pets and children, it may be best to have a secure area for your plants such as using a grow light. I like to try new things and experiment with different products. I also understand that space and money makes a big impact on purchases. While forking out nearly $250 for the grow light shelf almost made my heart explode, I knew it was an investment for years to come. While I buy pots, I know I can reuse them each year, unless they get damaged of course.
I appreciate the time you took out of your day to be here with me and read through this post, along with any other support you provide me with. My hope is to always remain authentic while also teaching and recommending.
Thank you so much,
Sierra
