Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers or broccoli, cauliflower and ornamental plants such as summer flowers and cacti - many gardeners prefer to grow their own plants. A propagation box - also known as an indoor greenhouse - is a good service. You can find out which models are recommended and what you should consider when growing plants in the seed tray by reading our guide.

Propagation boxes are ideal for growing vegetables

Our recommendations

our recommendation
WELLGRO growing bowl - indoor greenhouse with ventilated cover and plant signs - 1, 2 or 4 pieces - 38 x 24 x 19 cm, number of pieces: 1 piece
15.00 EUR To the product
material plastic
size 38x24x18cm
ventilation integrated in the lid
heater no
scope of delivery Cultivation tray, transparent lid, removable planting tray with 24 planting options

This compact propagation box with plant bowl and hood is ideal for growing useful and ornamental plants on the windowsill or on the balcony. The lower bowl is about 6.5 centimeters high, the transparent lid about 11.5 centimeters. The length is 38 centimeters, the width is 24 centimeters. This mini greenhouse fits almost anywhere and you can grow your balcony plants yourself, even in a small apartment. You don't even have to buy growing pots (€16.68) because a planting bowl with 24 wells is already available. Simply fill them with soil, insert the seeds or cuttings and you're ready to go. The lid has a ventilation option so that the humidity does not rise too much.

our recommendation
GREEN24 Hydroponik 60 room greenhouse Profi XL with automatic irrigation for growing room greenhouse with tub + capillary system + pot plate + hood
19.95 EUR To the product
material plastic
size 53x31x15cm
ventilation integrated ventilation in the hood
heater no
scope of delivery Cultivation tray with automatic watering, pot plate, transparent hood

When cultivating young plants, regular watering is immensely important, as the little plants are very sensitive to both drought and excessive moisture. Automatic irrigation, as with this model, can therefore be an advantage. The seedlings are evenly supplied with moisture as soon as the soil threatens to become dry. The capillary system makes it possible. The propagation box consists of a water tub plus irrigation mat, which should always contain water. The pot plate stands on it with either 24, 144, 240 or even 576 growing pots. The usable height under the cover hood is approx. five to seven centimetres. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the capillary mat after use. Some Amazon customers reported that the irrigation layer got moldy after a while and the greenhouse was therefore no longer usable

our recommendation
Garland rearing station for the windowsill, heated, 76 x 18.5 x 15cm
47.67 EUR To the product
material plastic
size 76 x 19 x 15 cm (total), per bowl 16 x 9.5 x 12 cm
ventilation integrated in the lid
heater yes, power 13 watts
scope of delivery Heating plate for connection to the socket plus 7 small seed trays with covers

For many plants - especially for exotic plants and for some useful plants such as tomatoes, peppers and chillies - a constant temperature is just as important as an even supply of water. This heated mini greenhouse fits on any window sill and is simply plugged into an outlet. The plants grow in seven small seed trays, so you can grow different types of plants without getting confused. However, according to customer reports, the temperature cannot be regulated, but is about eight degrees above the ambient temperature. However, by choosing the right location - for example directly behind a sunny window - you can directly influence the microclimate.

Purchase Criteria

Size and height of coverage

How long, wide and high the propagation box should be depends on various factors:

  • Installation location: window sill, conservatory or in the large greenhouse?
  • Number of plants: few plants for the balcony or many for the self-sufficient garden?

For the window sill, an indoor greenhouse should have correspondingly narrow dimensions so that it remains stable there and does not protrude and threaten to tip over due to incorrect loading. On the other hand, if you want to grow a lot of plants for the vegetable garden, the window sill is of course not enough. In this case, we recommend larger seed boxes, which, depending on the supplier, can contain several dozen to hundreds of seedlings. Also ensure that the cover hood is of sufficient height. This should be at least ten centimeters high so that the little plants have enough space to grow underneath.

hood and ventilation

An indoor greenhouse usually also includes a transparent cover to create the high humidity under it (professionals speak of "tight air"). Sometimes only the plant bowls or tubs are offered without a hood. Make sure that there is an integrated ventilation option in the existing cover hoods, otherwise mold can quickly develop. As a rule, however, this ventilation is not sufficient, so that you should open the lid for one to two hours every day anyway.

irrigation possibility

If you prefer a lot of plants or are one of those people who are often on the go or forget to water, then a seed tray with automatic watering is a sensible purchase. This usually does not work via a water pipe, but via a capillary system. Below the plant pots is a water tray plus capillary mat that contain water. If the soil in the growing pots becomes dry, moisture will automatically flow in until it is saturated. In this way, the young plants are supplied evenly.

heater

Some plants urgently need a constant temperature. So if you want to grow exotic plants, some types of cacti or sensitive vegetables such as chillies, a heatable seed tray makes sense. But be careful: Some models are designed in such a way that you have to remove the plants for watering. This is not very practical, so it is better to give preference to variants with a heating plate. Models with adjustable heating are also practical, so you can set the desired temperature. This is not possible with all heatable indoor greenhouses.

accessories and kits

Now it is not enough with a greenhouse alone, because in addition to this you also need seed pots and seed soil, depending on the model. You can also buy special heating mats separately and place your seed box on one. If you don't want to buy everything separately, you can purchase ready-made sets and with them you have all the components you need to start sowing immediately.

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frequently asked Questions

Why do I need a seed box?

In principle, you can grow many useful and ornamental plants without a seed tray. However, plants raised in such a sheltered way grow faster and root themselves better, since the microclimate in such a mini greenhouse offers better growth conditions. The humidity is higher, the temperature is also warmer.

Where is the best place to set up the propagation box?

Plants need light to grow, which is why you should place the seed tray in as bright a location as possible. But be careful: direct sunlight, especially around midday, heats up the mini greenhouse considerably. This, in turn, does not please the little plants, which is why you should avoid the south-facing window sill or at least shade it during the critical hours. On the other hand, you can help grow boxes set up in dark locations with specially installed plant lamps to achieve optimal brightness.

How often should you ventilate so that the plants don't get moldy?

Daily airing prevents the potting soil and the plants from becoming moldy. Leave the hood open for an hour or two each day. Incidentally, it is not enough to ventilate exclusively with ventilation slots integrated in the lids. As soon as the seedlings start to grow, gradually increase the aeration time - this will allow your plants to get used to a "normal" environment.

How much should you water? How do I know when it's too much?

Penetrating watering is neither necessary nor useful in the nursery as this contributes to the development of mould. It is best to keep the soil moist with just a spray bottle. The substrate must not be wet! Excess water should be removed from the bowl immediately. Condensation on the inside of the cover is normal, it just shouldn't drip down in large drops.

Are there also propagation boxes that are not made of plastic?

In fact, there are also (homemade) grow boxes made of wood and/or glass. Some of these models consist of a wooden or metal frame in which glass panes are enclosed. Make sure that these have a cover that can be opened and locked if necessary.

equipment

seed pots

our recommendation
Dehner growing pots for plants, Ø each 8 cm, height 9 cm, 48 pieces, cellulose
EUR 6.00 To the product

Many seed boxes do not come with plant pots, so you will need to purchase these separately. You have the choice between very different models made of plastic or biodegradable materials and different sizes. However, make sure that the desired pots also fit into your indoor greenhouse.

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