Build your own propagation station: How to grow plants conveniently and cheaply at home on a DIY propagation shelf?

Would it be possible to germinate plant seeds indoors by building your own propagation station? Below you will find instructions and useful information about it!

By setting up a so-called propagation shelf, you can control plants in the early growth phase and offer them optimal growing conditions. This allows for earlier germination of seeds and development of seedlings before their transplanting into the garden later in the season. However, it is important to take into account the specific requirements of the seeds to be grown and other factors such as location and space. In addition, a sustainable and inexpensive DIY project can be easily adapted to home conditions, but also requires prior knowledge. If you want to grow plants this way, here are the steps to follow.

Prepare yourself and build your own breeding station

Nowadays, seedlings of flowers or vegetable plants can be expensive to purchase, especially when creating larger gardens. In contrast, purchasing seeds can be a great and, above all, cheaper alternative to planting with seedlings. This also allows for an even wider selectionPlant species to prefer, which you can then grow in the garden under suitable conditions. A tried-and-tested option for this is the propagation shelf with lighting, which can be assembled without much effort and at low cost. Before considering this option, it is recommended that you take the following preparation steps:

• First, you should choose a suitable place to set up the station. Depending on what kind of light source you use, this can be a room with a south-facing window or with a power outlet. However, since this case involves artificial lighting, rooms that are reasonably heated are suitable for this.
• The next step is to plan the available area for the propagation boxes by measuring the width and height. The standard size of a seed tray is approximately 25 x 50 cm, although this can of course vary. It's best to decide beforehand whether you will place them lengthwise or widthwise on the shelves. Depending on the space available and the seedlings to be grown, a 4 or 5 tier growing rack made of metal or wood would be the optimal option.
• Depending on the type of plant being grown, it is also important to measure the distance between the individual shelves. There should be enough space to hang the lamps and allow them to grow unhindered.
• To prevent leggy seedlings due to insufficient light, it is also recommended to install several grow lights along the long side with a timer. These should be height adjustable so that they can be adjusted in the different growth phases. Chains with attached eye hooks are suitable for this, although a pulley system would also be a common option.

What room conditions do plants need in growing trays?

Regardless of whether you build the growing station yourself and reuse materials or buy a prefabricated version, the growing conditions should be right. In order for vegetable or flower seeds to sprout, you should provide light, heat and water in balanced amounts. If you have a bright room with natural light, this would be ideal as you will use less electricity. In most cases, however, a rearing shelf is located in basements or in rooms without direct sunlight. If this is also the case for you, the following requirements must be met:

• In order for your seeds to germinate indoors, you need to keep them warm without heating them. Depending on the room temperature, you can get special heat mats to place under the propagation boxes. Alternatively, you can also use electric blankets for this, although it would be advantageous if they have temperature controls. In this way, the bottom heat switches on and off automatically to maintain an optimal floor temperature.
• You also need to ensure proper watering and optimal humidity. There are special trays and lids with humidity regulators for this, although it is advisable to use transparent growing trays. This way you can observe root development and react in a timely manner if any problems arise.
• Propagation boxes usually also have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Of course, you can create your own versions cheaply by upcycling old containers into tubs or lids. The dome serves to contain evaporated water and you can remove this once the seeds have germinated.
• To prevent excessive moisture after germination, which could lead to plant disease and insect infestation, you can also install fans. Position these at the end of each shelf to provide the air circulation you need.

Now that you have taken all the necessary measures, you can finally start building your seed station.

Proceed step by step and build your own breeding station

It's best to experiment with a propagation tray under a grow light and on a heat mat first before creating the propagation shelf. This prevents unnecessary costs and helps you try out different strategies to choose the best possible option. The use of fluorescent lamps, tube lamps or LED lighting is recommended as efficient options. In addition, you can start early sowing in February as soon as you have obtained the seeds to be grown and cleaned the seeds. Here are some sample materials and tools you can use for this project:

• Large wooden or metal shelf with four/five levels, such as storage systems from IKEA
• Transport roller set (optional but recommended)
• Propagation trays with tubs and domes
• Seed mix
• Seeds and potting soil
• Heat mats or electric blankets (optional)
• Chains and eye hooks or S-hooks
• Fluorescent/tube lights/LED light strips and/or grow lights
• Timer and fans (optional but recommended)
• Gartenvlies (optional)

Then continue by following the sample instructions below.

Step-by-step instructions

• First, build the propagation rack following the manufacturer's instructions or yourself, depending on what you have chosen. It is advisable to place a waterproof tarpaulin or fleece underneath to prevent dirt and water from getting on the floor.
• If you wish, install heavy-duty rollers if you want to build a mobile growing station yourself. This allows you to reposition the shelf in the event of a power outage or light and water needs, as well as keeping it away from pets or children.
• The next step is to attach eye hooks/S-hooks to the chains and attach them to the sides of the shelves. You can do this with nails and a hammer, although you can also attach them to pipes.
• Then hang the tube lamps or grow lamps using the chains, whereby the distance between them and the cultivation trays depends on the light intensity. Normally it is 10 to 15 cm initially. However, pay attention to burns in the initial phase so that you can prevent damage to your plants in good time. Tube lamps with an output of 40 watts, in a combination of cold white and warm light bulbs, are suitable for this. This allows you to achieve a full spectrum of light, although you can also use slightly more expensive grow lamps that imitate daylight.
• First of all, if you wish, lay down heat mats, depending on which types of plants you want to grow. This means that cold-tolerant plant seeds will sprout much more quickly.
• The other optional step is to install a timer or such outlet to turn the lights on and off. Since seedlings require about 15 to 16 hours of light per day, this allows you to maintain a schedule and save on electricity. You can also do this with the other devices.
• Also add fans for better air circulation, but note that with grates this can also cause heat loss. The air should flow in easily through the cultivation trays.

Tips for caring for sowing

After construction, it is important to equip each propagation box with a tray so that the plant seeds can be properly watered. In addition, you should water the plants from below by lifting the growing tray. This keeps the substrate moist but not soggy and ensures the seedlings grow healthily. Here are some more recommended steps you can follow for proper plant care:

• To avoid overfilling the propagation boxes, you should not fill the trays completely. If too many plant leaves appear, it is recommended to repot the seedlings to leave enough space for plant growth. You can then support the plants once a week with water-soluble fertilizer.
• Once the sprouts appear, you should remove the dome so they can continue to thrive. For gentle watering, you can also use a watering can or spray bottle on sensitive seedlings.
• It is also important to maintain a constant room temperature between 20 and 25 °C before germination. It is also advisable to rotate the propagation trays occasionally so that the seedlings do not become leggy when they are looking for a light source.
• Finally, an equally important step is to harden off the seedlings about two weeks before planting them in the garden. For this purpose, you can take the propagation boxes outside to a partially shaded place for about half an hour. Increase the time by about 1 to 2 hours a few days before planting to help the plants get used to it more quickly.

Although it may sound challenging at first, even inexperienced gardeners can build an inexpensive propagation station themselves and control the early stages of growth. This provides seeds with ideal conditions for rapid germination and allows young plants to develop quickly and healthily after cultivation.

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