Soon after spring begins, nursery shelves are lined with countless plants in various early growth stages, some are grown using the best seed starter kit for an apartment. Options range from edible plants like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs to not quite matured flowers and trees, each ready for transplanting. But, if you’ve ever walked by these plants and wondered how difficult they would be to grow from seed, then this guide is for you.
In this guide, we’ll discuss seed starter kits, including how to assess your needs, factors to consider when purchasing, and even how you could build your own.
What is a Seed Starter Kit
Typically, seed starter kits come with everything you need to grow plants from seeds successfully. This typically includes some combination of seed trays, growing media, and a humidity dome but can also have grow lights and a heating pad. As you can imagine, the prices of seed starting kits can vary depending on which you choose.
It may seem daunting to sow your own seeds, but there are multiple benefits to doing it yourself.
The Benefits of Starting Plants from Seeds for Indoor Gardens
From cost to giving your plants a better start, there are many benefits to starting plants from seeds.
COST
In most places, established plants usually cost a few to several dollars per plant. However, the price of seed usually is just a penny or two.
VARIETY
The ability to choose from a wide variety of seeds is another great advantage. Most nurseries, even large ones, offer just a few different types of plants. Commonly, they choose the most popular plants they know will sell. So, if you’d prefer to grow something unique, like an heirloom or a specific hybrid, starting from seed might be your only choice.
EARLIER PLANTING/HARVESTING
Outdoor gardeners start seeds indoors but transplant them outside once established. But, indoor gardeners have an advantage because they will keep their plants indoors all year long. This means you can start your seed sowing whenever you want, as long as you meet the conditions the seeds need. It also means that you can harvest earlier in the season too.
MORE CONTROL
Besides choosing what variety of plants you want to grow, you also control how the seed is sowed and its early treatment. Giving plants a good start is essential to long-term plant growth. So, providing perfect growing conditions and proper nutrition will provide them with stronger roots and lead to a healthier life.
DEEPER CARE
There’s something magical about growing a fully mature plant from a tiny seed. Those early days of sprouting can be so fun and really make you feel like you accomplished something extraordinary. Buying a plant at the store is nice, but growing it from start to finish–that can feel special.
What to Look For in a Seed Starting Kit
Depending on your budget and the time you want to invest in the different aspects of seed germination, you have several options for selecting a suitable seed starting kit. They can be vastly different, but there are some common things you’ll want to look for.
GROW TRAYS
Not all seed starting kits come with grow trays, but many do. The most sustainable options usually include compostable peat pots and/or coconut fiber cups. Besides being made from organic materials, what’s nice about these is that the entire pot can be transplanted. This removes any potential damage from handling roots and makes it super simple to transplant into your indoor box or container once it’s ready.
SEEDS
Of course, to grow from seed, you’ll need seeds. Some seed starting kits come with them, but most don’t. When choosing what to grow, be sure to pick varieties that are best suited to your living conditions. Don’t be afraid to try some heirlooms or non-common varieties, either. After all, growing plants indoors prevents many diseases, pests, or temperature spikes that outdoor growers have to deal with.
PLANTING SOIL/GROWTH MEDIA
For support, nutrients, moisture, and root development, seeds need something to grow from. Planting soil is the typical go-to for germinating seeds. Still, you could also choose another media like coconut fibers, peat moss, vermiculite, or perlite. A good seed starting soil mix should contain various amounts of each. Some seed starting kits will come with soil or some type of disc, but not all do. If you choose to go with a hydroponic seed starting kit, you can avoid dirt altogether.
SEEDLING HEAT TRAYS OR MATS
Some types of seeds require warmer temperatures to have successful germination. Even if you keep it extra warm in your home, the dry heat from vents can cause serious issues for your plants and seedlings. One of the best and most convenient ways to provide heat instead is with a heat mat or tray that warms the plant from the bottom up.
HUMIDITY DOMES
Along with heat mats, you may want to get a seed starting kit that offers a humidity dome. These are often made of sturdy plastic and go over your seed trays like a big dome. They help protect the seeds from changes in temperature and from drafts. They also help maintain moisture levels. Humidity domes are especially crucial during the winter or if you like to keep your home on the cooler side.
GROW LIGHTS
When growing inside an apartment, you may need to acquire grow lights. These are extremely useful during germination and after your plant is established. With grow lights, gardening year-round is a real possibility. Some seed starting kits will come with their own grow lights, but they will be an added expense.
OTHER SUPPLIES
You’ll need some tools for moving soil around, watering, and transplanting. If your seed starting kit doesn’t provide one, you may even need a tray to go under the containers to help with drainage.
The Best Seed Starter Kits for an Apartment
Before choosing a seed starting kit, consider your needs, budget, and the time you want to invest in caring for your seedlings. Each kit has its own set of pros and cons, but ultimately there may not be a “best” kit as much as “the best kit for you.”
Here are some of the more popular options and the pros and cons of each.
Super Sprouter Deluxe Propagation Kit
The perfect solution for beginning gardeners or those who want to take as much guesswork out of seed starting. It comes with a heat mat, grow light, and a humidity dome, which removes some of the factors that could lead to germination failure.
Pros: It’s easy to use and removes several pitfalls of early seed germination. Besides growing from seeds, it’s also an excellent option for propagating plants from cuttings.
Cons: It doesn’t come with soil or containers to grow the seeds in.
Window Garden Seed Starting Kit
This seed starting kit is designed to fit on a window sill, making it perfect for those with small spaces. If you live in a colder climate, it also comes with a handy heat pad to help keep the seedlings warm.
Pros: It’s small and compact and comes with a heating pad. It also comes with soil pods and a dome.
Cons: Reviews state that it’s a little on the light side and has only lasted a few seasons, but it’s priced well, considering everything it comes with.
Jiffy 72 Peat Pellet Pro Seed Starting Greenhouse
This kit provides peat discs, a cover, and a tray. It also offers 72 peat trays to start your seed-growing journey.
Pros: With so many discs, you should have no problem getting all your seeds started in one big batch. Seed planting is made super simple with peat discs. You simply stick them in the middle of the disk and water. It comes with a dome to protect the seeds while maintaining moisture and humidity.
Cons: No frills, just a straightforward seed starting kit. If you don’t plan to use all 72 pellets, the extra may go to waste before the next growing season.
Jiffy Strips
Not quite a complete kit, but these are great biodegradable trays. They make transplanting very easy because all you have to do is plant the entire cell instead of worrying about damaging roots.
Pros: Simple, effective, and easy to transplant.
Cons: These are just the plant cups, meaning you’ll need to look elsewhere for soil, a tray to catch the water drainage, and any other growing supplies you may need.
Bootstrap Farmer 50 Cell Seed Starter Kit
This is an excellent seed starting kit if you plan on growing a lot of plants. It’s well-made and durable and comes with a vented humidity dome.
Pros: There is plenty of room to grow as many or as few plants as you want. It has a vented humidity dome that adjusts moisture, or the heat plants receive. The durability makes it pricier, but it should also last a very long time.
Cons: It doesn’t come with soil or grow lights. At 21 ¼” x 11 ¼” x 2.5″, it may be too large for some indoor growers.
KORAM 10-Pack Seed Starter Trays
Suppose you’re looking to grow larger seedlings like tomatoes or peppers. In that case, this seed starting kit provides bigger cells and more growing area. It also comes with a dome and some minor extras.
Pros: Large growing area for growing bigger seedlings and for longer. Dome for moisture and temperature control. Extras like labels and small tools for watering and sowing.
Cons: Growing medium is not provided, and there are no heat mats or grow lights.
Hydroponic Chambers
The most significant benefit of using a hydroponic system is that they don’t require soil. This makes containers more lightweight and customizable to the smallest of spaces.
Pros: Use less water and resources. Learn an exciting technique for growing plants. Customize your system to your space, even growing plants vertically if needed.
Cons: The upfront costs are a bit more expensive, but they should pay for themselves over time. It might be an unfamiliar system, so you will need to learn more about growing hydroponically.
Build-Your-Own
Of course, just as there is joy in growing your own plants from seeds, there can be a lot of pleasure in building your own seed starting kit from scratch. You’ll control the cost, size, and materials.
Pros: It could be more cost-effective, depending on what you need for your apartment. Completely customizable since you’re building it. Repair or add to it as needed.
Cons: It could also be more costly since you’ll need to purchase the materials separately.
Best Practices For Seed Starting
The final step of starting your plants from seeds is knowing what mistakes to avoid. Here are some best practices to keep in mind, no matter which seed starting kit you decide to go with.
Keep Seeds Warm and Moist
Seed germination requires warmth and moisture. This is why even outdoor gardeners opt to start their seeds inside. During the last days of went or early spring, weather can fluctuate. So, keep your apartment warm or provide the seeds with extra protection with humidity domes and/or heat mats.
Don’t Sow Seeds Too Deeply
Most seeds only need to be planted about 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch deep.
Use a Spray Mister Or Water From the Bottom Up
Heavy water can cause the seed to move around or go deeper into the soil. Instead of watering like you usually would use a spray bottle or water it from the bottom up on the mister setting.
Also, be sure not to overwater plants. Aim for moist but not soggy soil, or you can cause rot.
Provide Plenty of Light
Seeds require light, but you want to be careful of direct sunlight that may scorch the surface of your plants. Even if your apartment gets plenty of sun, grow lights could provide ample soft lighting for seedlings.
Feed Smartly
Over- and underfeeding can be a very common mistake. Overfertilizing can harm the seeds or roots as they grow. Be sure to explicitly check what your plant needs and provide that amount. When in doubt, lean towards underfeeding instead of overfeeding.
There you have it, everything you need to know about creating the perfect environment to grow your seeds in. In no time, you’ll be the proud parent of tiny seedlings ready to produce all year long for you.