Top 5 Seed Starting Tools
Seeding Heat Mat
While a heat mat is not absolutely necessary, it can really make all the difference when it comes to germination. The heat mat tricks your seeds into thinking they are growing in perfect summer conditions by warming your soil to a consistent warm temperature. This will significantly improve not only your germination rate, but also the speed in which your seeds germinate and break the surface. You only need the heat mat during germination. Once the seedling break the surface you can turn it off and let the light take over.
5-Set Seed Starter Tray Kits, Trays with Dome and Base
If you are new to seed starting indoors, a value pack is the perfect jumping off point. You’ll receive a base tray that can be used throughout the seedling process. Solidly built for bottom watering, and transport. It comes with a 40 cells seed insert, as well as a humidity dome. Use the humidity dome during the germination process to control the climate and retain moisture. Remove the dome when you have at least 60% germination.
Linkable LED Utility Light Fixture
It’s no secret that plants need light, but many people are under the impression that to grow indoors you need expensive grow lights. Nope, I use these awesome plug in shop lights and they work fantastic. In most areas, you can’t get enough light from just a sunny window sill. These are the correct kelvin and lumens to successfully mimic the outdoor growing conditions. It’s so great that they’re linkable, because you can start small, then as you grow more, you can add up to 10 lights on one plug
Seed Storage/Organization
There is something so calming about having all your seed packets on in one place, organized by type, protected from the elements, and easily accessible. This storage box is technically for photos, but it makes the perfect container for seeds. I especially like that you can take one out one section at a time, while the others stay safe and dry.
Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer
I’m not sure why I thought that I would remember to turn my grow lights on and off at the same time every day, but I definitely learned my lesson the hard way. I lost two full trays of seeds my first year because I would either forget to turn them off and fry them, or forget to turn them on and they withered. This timer takes all the guesswork out of growing. You simply program the timer to your desired length, seeds need approximately 14-16 hours of light per day, and then plug your lights into the timer. Bing bang boom! You don’t have to think about it again.