seed
planting and propagation
seedling
propagation
commercial seedling propagation boxes
The standard commercially made seedling
propagating boxes that are widely available at Australian nurseries and
hardware stores have their uses for the home gardener, but they also have
some shortfalls. This section looks at the advantages and
disadvantages of using this
type of commercial seedling propagation box.
advantages
Empty commercially made
seedling propagation box
Can be used with heating trays
Unlike
styrofoam seedling propagation boxes they
can be artificially heated by placing them on a heat mat, which
makes them ideal for growing seedlings that require a lot of
heat such as basil, capsicum and eggplant.very lightweight
As they are small and made entirely out of plastic they are very
lightweight, even when full of seedlings. This means they
can be easily moved around.ready to use immediately
No construction required, just fill with seedling mix and
plant.handles a variety of different
pots
The horticultural industry produces a variety of small pots that
have been specifically designed for the tray size used as the
base for these units.disadvantages
Prone to over heating
On warm days commercial seedling propagation boxes heat up faster than the heat can removed via the vents.
On cold nights they quickly lose heat because of the lightweight plastic construction, small size and low mass.
All the commercial seedling propagation boxes available on the
market have vents that are too small for proper air circulation.
This means that on even a mildly warm day the heat can build up
inside the box to such an extent that the seedlings literally cook. If you use one of these units then I
suggest you remove the vent covers (flaps or tags that can
partially or fully close the vents) to maximise air flow.
And if it looks like being a warm day then completely remove the
plastic dome.On warm days commercial seedling propagation boxes heat up faster than the heat can removed via the vents.
On cold nights they quickly lose heat because of the lightweight plastic construction, small size and low mass.
lose of heat at night
Due to their lightweight plastic construction commercial seedling
propagation boxes have poor insulating qualities Their small
size and the small amount of seedling mix that they can hold also means that
they have no mass to store heat. So on a cold night they quickly lose
heat. Seedlings that require high soil temperatures even at night, such as basil, capsicum, cucumber and eggplant, are more prone to rot when grown in these boxes.
Expensive
Commercial seedling propagation boxes retail for around $25 to
$30 AUD, where as the cost to set up a
styrofoam seedling propagation box is
lest than half that price.Limited lifespan
Although their clear plastic domes are made of UV resistant material
they are so thin that they usually begin to break down within about three years.
These domes usually do not last more than five or six years, though their
life can be prolonged by storing them away from direct sunlight when not in
use.