New to Seed Starting? Here Are the Tools Experts Say You Actually Need
It's so fulfilling to grow your own plants from seeds, but having the right tools on hand is vital to success. Here's what the pros say you need.
Starting to grow plants from seeds for the first time can be daunting. Whether you're using store-bought packets for your plants or harvested seeds from last year's bumper crop, it can be tough to know where to start and what you need.
Even seasoned pros who have been seed starting for years learn new things each season, from growing tips and tricks to which tools can make the job easier.
According to plant pros, having the right tools on hand can be a real game changer when it comes to seed starting. So I asked around for their top tool recommendations. Here's a rundown of their favorites.
1. Heating Mat
Seeds are fragile little things that are about to go through an intense period of transformation: growth. So anything you can do to make their lives that bit more comfortable will help give them the best possible start.
Anna Ohler, owner of Bright Lane Gardens, swears by seed heating mats to help ease the germination process. They're incredibly easy to use and can even encourage your seeds to produce more sprouts.
"A heat mat gives gentle bottom heat to your seed trays, which speeds up germination and increases your success rate, especially for warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil," says Anna. "Warm soil sends a clear signal to seeds that conditions are ready for germination and that means more even sprouting."
Simply sit a mat like the ones in this 2-Pack Graphene Plant Heating Mats from Amazon underneath your tray of seeds and your plants will instantly begin reaping the benefits.
2. Humidity Dome
Freshly planted seeds require consistent water, but the wrong amount can be detrimental to their chances of viability. That's where a humidity dome comes in. These domes create a microclimate that's stable and traps surplus moisture, preventing your planted seeds from becoming too dry.
As Anna notes, "Humidity domes help trap moisture and create a stable microclimate above your seedling soil so you don’t have to water constantly, and trays keep everything neat and organized."
Anna recommends using something like the AC Infinity Humidity Dome from Amazon as this dome is taller than others on the market, allowing more space for your plants to grow.
3. Mister
Along a similar vein, investing in a seeding mister or two is a great way to ensure your seeds and small sprouts don't dry out. Instead of a flood of moisture, your trays and/or pots will receive sprays of fine mist, keeping you more in control of how much water your seeds receive.
Anna describes this tool as "one of the most used tools in my garden" for seedling care and highly recommends the Vivosun model.
Using a seed mister also makes it far less likely that your seeds will rot, as the surrounding soil won't be flooded by pools of stagnant water.
4. Small Fan
You likely already have a fan somewhere in your home, but you may not know just how helpful it can be for seed starting.
Indoor plants can start to feel stuffy and require ventilation. A lack of ventilation can lead to seed starting problems including the development of diseases and pests – even in small seedlings.
"Literally any small fan will do, but something like the VIVOSUN AeroWave Clip Fan is easy to set up even in small spaces," says Anna.
It's best to keep your fan on a low to medium setting. A gale force wind will be rather harsh on your seeds and sprouts!
5. Grow Light
If you live in an area that receives less sun, a grow light is an amazing addition to your seed starting journey. They work by producing artificial sunlight through wavelengths that trick the plants into thinking they're receiving light from the sun.
Steve Corcoran of Lawn Love has grown many plants over the years and made a really strong point on the importance of grow lights when I talked to him about seed starting.
"When you start seeds, you are generally starting them indoors, so you have to be extra intentional about the environment you provide for them and making sure they're actually getting enough light.
"Many seedlings need either a lot of light or specific kinds of light which is difficult to provide indoors without help. Artificial grow lights help immensely."
If you don't have a lot of space, something like the GooingTop LED Grow Light Clip from Amazon would slot into your setup seamlessly. Though they're small, they are incredibly mighty and they feature five brightness settings as well as an automated timer.
But if you're devoting an entire room to your seed starting, it might be worth trying out these grow light bulbs from Amazon. They simply screw into a fixture instead of your typical lightbulb, allowing you to see but also beaming beneficial light down onto your seed trays.
