While some seeds can be sown directly into the ground, others are a little more temperamental. Which is where seed starter kits can come in handy. They give your plants the best possible chance of survival.
Check out the best seed starter kit that will get your green thumbs twitching.
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Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 Indoor Herb Garden
BEST OVERALL
It’s probably the smartest indoor seedling kit on our list. Click & Grow uses energy-efficient LED bulbs at the top of the device to help give your plants a boost. Now you don’t have to worry about how much light is coming through the window.
The indoor herb garden is available in three different colors: Beige, Grey, and White; this helps you to match the product with your room.
You can hold three SmartSoil plant pots within the device, which you have a choice of over 50 pre-selected seed pods which includes, Lavender, Wild Strawberries, and Thyme.
The whole system will look after itself; all you have to do is fill the tank with water, plug in the device, and set the timer. Click & Grow will then water the plants to your schedule, pretty cool, right?
The product dimensions are 12.4″ x 9.1″ x 5.2″, which is quite small considering what you get.
Technical specifications
- Size: 12.4" x 9.1" x 5.2"
- Seeds Included: Three Seeded Pods
- Soil Included: Yes
- Growing Light: Yes
- Heat Mat: No
- Self-Watering: Yes
- Warranty: 2-Years
Mr. Stacky Smart Indoor Farm
RUNNER-UP
You have a choice of three colors, which include Terracotta, Stone, and Black. The company, Mr. Stacky, wants to help you change your lifestyle by helping you grow your plants with little effort.
The pack includes five stacky pots that allow you to grow up to 20 veggies and herbs. And you can hold up to 16 gallons of water in the tank, which should last up to 2-3 weeks before it needs a refill.
No need to worry if you’re going on holiday; just set the timer, and it will water itself using the seven-day timer. The dimensions of the grower are 18.5″ x 18.5″ x 49″ which makes it the largest on the list.
The kit comes with everything you need to get started, including five large stacking pots, 250 GPH submersible pump, starter plant food, and all the pipes and fittings. All you need is the soil and the seeds to get your self started on your indoor growing journey.
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Technical specifications
- Size: 18.5" x 18.5" x 49"
- Seeds Included: No
- Soil Included: No
- Growing Light: No
- Heat Mat: No
- Self-Watering: Yes
- Warranty: 30-Day
Super Sprouter HGC726402 Premium Propagation Kit with Heat Mat
BEST REUSABLE
It’s another addition from Super Sprouter, and it still uses the ultra-clear vented dome to keep the plants protected and warm. Again it’s important to note that this product does not come with any seeds and planting soil in the kit; it’s solely the system.
Like all their products, they aim to be a complete system that takes minimal effort to set up and manage. Just like previous models, they use a T5 fluorescent grow light, which was specially designed for the dome.
The big difference with this model is the addition of the heat mat, which helps to start the seed germination.
The bottom tray also remains double thickness with the dimensions 10″ x 20″ and no drainage holes at the bottom. To help you out, they include the Art Of Propagation Booklet, which gives you excellent advice for seedlings and cuttings.
Technical specifications
- Size: 22.4" x 11.6" x 8.6"
- Seeds Included: No
- Soil Included: No
- Growing Light: Yes
- Heat Mat: Yes
- Self-Watering: No
- Warranty: No
Sower’s Source Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit
Sower’s Source indoor seed starting kit makes the perfect gift for your friends, family, or children. It teaches you how to plant and grow plants effectively. Now you can own an organic garden, free of GMO and other nasty chemicals.
The indoor garden comes with a selection of seeds to get you started, which include herbs such as Basil, Cilantro, Sage, Thyme, and parsley.
Everything your need comes in the box: Five biodegradable growing pots, five organic seed packets, five plant markers, and ten compressed soil pellets.
You can enjoy the fruits of your labor and cook with your fresh homegrown herbs, or impress your friends with them and share them out.
The product comes with a satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy for any reason, they’ll offer you your money back with no questions asked.
Technical specifications
- Size: 6” x 4” x 4”
- Seeds Included: Five Packets
- Soil Included: Ten Pellets
- Growing Light: No
- Heat Mat: No
- Self-Watering: No
- Warranty: Yes
Super Sprouter GL56726403 Deluxe Propagation Kit
Super Sprouter aims to be the kit that provides you with a complete system for all your growing needs.
By using their kit, you can start seeds or cuttings; the choice is down to you. One thing that’s worth mentioning is that no soil or seeds are included within this kit.
The kit includes an ultra-clear vented dome, which also has built-in lights. The ultra-clear dome allows you to keep track of the plants with zero effort. And to help control the temperature/humidity, the vents on the side help to expel unwanted heat.
To help the seedlings get the best start to life, Super Sprouter comes with an 18-inch T5 fluorescent grow light, which is UL listed.
The overall dimensions of the product are 22.6″ x 11.7″ x 8.7″, while the bottom tray uses double thickness for strength.
Technical specifications
- Size: 22.6" x 11.7" x 8.7"
- Seeds Included: No
- Soil Included: No
- Growing Light: Yes
- Heat Mat: No
- Self-Watering: No
- Warranty: No
Seed Starter Kit FAQ
ow you know a little bit about the products, it’s time to answer some of the questions you may have surrounding starter kits. Here are some of the most popular questions I’ve seen, which will help you along the way.
What Is A Seed Starting Kit?
Not all plants can be sown directly into the ground; they struggle to reach maturity and add this to ever-changing weather patterns; it can make it very hard to grow plants.
And this is were seed starter kits come in so handy; they give your plants the best possible chance of survival.
But what are they?
They can be made from various materials and come in plenty of styles, but they give your seed the best possible chance of survival. They can be used inside, which helps you overcome the battle with the frost. Some also come with grow lights, potting soil for starting the seeds, and heat mats for seed germination.
All of these combined give you seedlings the best start to life.
Do I Need A Grow Light To Start Seeds Indoors?
Before purchasing any grow lights, it’s a good idea to find out if you need them. We all know that growing plants indoors can be challenging for a few reasons, but it’s mainly down to the lack of sunlight. Even a south-facing window sill won’t necessarily get the light required.
In the summer months, some people have no problem growing indoors without grow lights, but this does take a little more care. The plants need to be rotated to stop the plants trying to grow out towards the sunlight. The real trouble comes in the winter months.
When winter comes, it can be a real nightmare trying to start your seedlings off indoors, the cold weather and lack of sunlight can wreak havoc. Even if you do manage to get the seeds to sprout, they probably won’t make it to maturity resulting in a lost plant.
How can you change that?
Adding grow lights can be an excellent way of giving your plants the boost they need to survive and thrive. Seedlings need a lot of light, which is why it’s so crucial for seeds to get the correct amount of sunlight during the winter days.
So, do you need a grow light?
Well, no, you don’t, but it certainly does help if you want healthy plants.
How Do You Use A Jiffy Seed Starter Kit?
Before we get started on how to use Jiffy seed starter kits, let me explain a little bit more about them. The kits come with Jiffy-7 pellets inside. These pellets are formed by filling biodegradable netting with a high-quality substrate, which is then compressed and dried to hold the shape.
By adding water, you can see the pellets expand to over seven times their original size.
How-To Jiffy Guide
The whole process of using your the starter kit is simple from start to finish, just follow this how-to guide:
- Arrange the pellets in the tray provide with equal spacings between each pellet. It’s essential to make sure the non-netted side is facing up.
- Fill the tray with one inch of water and allow time for the pellets to absorb the water. This typically takes anywhere between 30-60 minutes to absorb fully; you may require more water in dryer conditions.
- Once the pellets are adequately hydrated, it’s time to start planting your seeds. It’s best to plant two; this gives you a better chance of seed germination. Plant the seeds about one inch into the soil.
- Covering the pellets with wrap during the seed germination period will ensure that the soil stays moist throughout the process. Once the seed has germinated, you can remove the cover.
- It’s all about basic plant care from here on out; they require about 6-8 hours per day of sunlight, which should be kept to.
- When the surface of the soil is starting to look a little dry, it’s time to add some water. One inch at the bottom of the tray should be more than enough. Once the outside feels moist again, you can drain any excess water off.
- Continue with the routine until your plants reach maturity. Once you’ve reached this point, you can plant the pots outside with the netting still connected. We suggest tearing a hole at the bottom to help the root system.
- If you’ve been growing indoors, you must introduce your plant slowly to the outdoors, youvée been caring for it this long it would be a shame to fall at the last hurdle.
There you have it, not as hard as it might seem, ok maybe it’s not that easy. But the main thing is patience and time, don’t rush things, and take good care of them; it’s all it takes.
How Do You Make A Seed Starter?
Seed starter kits can be expensive, and we understand that not everyone has the budget to splash out on anything fancy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow beautiful veggies; it just means you need to get a little bit creative.
Making your own kit might be the best option, but don’t worry if you’re not very creative. I have a wealth of things you could use.
Let’s start with making a pot:
You have a few options here and most of them you can find lying around the house:
- Egg Cartoons
- Newspaper
- Paper Cups
- Paper Cache Boxes
- Toilet Roll Ends
They’re just a few things you can mold and shape to will with soil, any one of these items are great for starting seeds, can be found in most households, and are entirely biodegradable.
Now it’s time to take a look at the soil; it’s one of the most critical factors for producing a healthy root system and guaranteeing seed germination.
DIY Seed Starting Recipe
It’s pretty easy to make a top quality seedling soil, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out this recipe:
- Four parts compost
- Two parts peat moss
- One part vermiculite
- One part perlite
Make sure when mixing the compost, you break up all the big pieces. If you’re looking for a fine texture, you can run it through a sieve or fine screen. Once mixed, you can start adding some moisture by using a spray bottle.
For a more complete soil recipe, you should check out this post; they have plenty of solutions out there for you.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this is helped to inspire your green thumb, but there are a few things I want you to take away. Firstly, you don’t need a starter kit, but it does help and can be cheaper if you end up buying light further down the line.
To ensure a robust root system and seed germination, it’s essential to use high-quality potting soils, and the plants get plenty of light.
If you have any further questions, don’t forget to comment below, and if you like this article, why not check out some more reusable items.
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I'm a professional freediver that runs the Sakurra Mermaid School and I'm on a mission to help you create a more sustainable life style with small changes. You can (and should) learn more about me and my mission here.
