Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Ça pousse dans le bon sens
18 products
Seedling and cutting accessories are essential tools for creating the perfect conditions during the initial stages of cultivation. Whether it's to maintain a stable temperature with a heating mat, preserve humidity with a mini-greenhouse, or organize your seedlings in suitable trays, each accessory plays a crucial role. The success of your seedlings and cuttings largely depends on these small details that make all the difference.
Frankly, this is where it changes everything compared to artisanal methods. Mini-greenhouses maintain constant humidity between 80-90% without creating excessive condensation, unlike makeshift covers. Heating mats deliver gentle, uniform heat of 18-25°C directly to the roots, accelerating germination by 30 to 50%. Perforated trays ensure optimal drainage while preventing young roots from rotting. This is the difference between a 70% and 95% success rate for your seedlings.
The advantage of clip-on cell trays is that they allow you to separate each seedling individually. No more tangled roots during transplanting, less stress for young plants. Specialized seedling substrates have a fine granulometry and a buffered pH between 6.0-6.5, exactly what's needed for the first few weeks of development.
For mini-greenhouses, first look at the size: a 38x24cm easily accommodates 40-50 3cm cells. Models with adjustable vents are a plus, preventing overheating in summer. For heating mats, count 15-20W per standard tray. Models with integrated thermostats automatically maintain the temperature, which is more convenient than constant monitoring.
For containers, rigid trays last longer, but biodegradable cells avoid transplant shock. Regarding substrate, avoid overly rich potting mixes that can burn young roots. A mix of blond peat, vermiculite, and perlite in proportions of 60-25-15% works wonders. The important thing is water retention without compaction.
To start, a 38x24cm mini-greenhouse with a transparent lid and adjustable vents is more than sufficient. Pair it with a 17W heating mat placed underneath to maintain 22-24°C at root level. Models with an integrated thermometer will save you from unpleasant surprises. Avoid mini-greenhouses that are too tall, as they create too much condensation; 12-15cm in height is perfect for the first few weeks.
Always place an insulating plate (2cm polystyrene or cork) between the mat and your surface. The heating mat should be slightly smaller than your tray to prevent overheating on the edges. Elevate the entire setup with shims to allow air circulation underneath. Never place directly on wood or plastic; constant heat at 25°C can leave permanent marks.
Clip-on cell trays allow you to separate each cutting individually, which is practical for staggered transplanting. Each cell is generally 3-4cm in diameter, perfect for 3-4 weeks of root development. Classic trays are better suited for mass sowing that is quickly transplanted. For delicate cuttings, cell trays prevent damage to neighboring roots during removal. Count 15-20 cells per standard tray.
Seedling soil should be moist but never waterlogged. Water by capillarity by placing the tray in 1cm of water for 10-15 minutes rather than watering from the surface. Damping-off often results from excessive humidity combined with poor aeration. Lightly tamp the substrate without compacting it; seeds need oxygen to germinate. Soil that is too dry delays germination, while soil that is too wet promotes pathogenic fungi.
Open the vents for 15-20 minutes daily as soon as the first shoots appear to renew the air. Humidity should remain between 80-85%, visible as a slight mist on the walls without excessive runoff. Clean the lid weekly with bleach water to eliminate spores. If mold appears, increase ventilation and reduce watering temporarily. The ideal temperature is between 20-24°C during the day, 18-20°C at night.
Help & advice
About Seedling and Cutting Accessories — click a question to see the answer.
To choose a heating mat, I advise you to consider the size of your seedling space and the ambient temperature of your room. The goal is to ensure gentle and constant warmth at the root level, generally between 20 and 25°C, which is ideal for germination. I recommend opting for a model with an integrated thermostat for precise temperature control, thus avoiding "cooking" your young sprouts.
A mini-greenhouse is an essential accessory for maintaining high humidity and stable temperature around your seedlings. In practice, it creates a microclimate conducive to germination and the development of young plantlets, protecting them from drafts and sudden variations. It's like a protective cocoon that offers them the best starting conditions.
To successfully grow your seedlings indoors, I would say that essential equipment includes seed trays or flats, good quality special seedling compost, a mini-greenhouse for humidity, and a heating mat if your room is cool. Don't forget an adapted light source, such as an LED grow light, as light is crucial from the appearance of the first leaves. I explain the perfect kit in more detail in this article.
The main difference often lies in their design and use. A seed flat is generally a wider, shallow container, often without compartments, where seeds are sown in rows or broadcast before transplanting. A seed tray, on the other hand, can refer to a tray with individual cells, which allows each seed to be sown separately and facilitates transplanting without disturbing the roots of neighboring plantlets.
For grow light installation, I advise you to position it quite close to your seedlings, generally between 15 and 30 cm, to prevent etiolation (when plants stretch too much in search of light). It's important to ensure that the light is well distributed over the entire surface of your plantlets. Don't forget to adjust the lighting duration, often between 12 and 16 hours per day, depending on the needs of your species. I cover this topic in more detail in this blog post.
For indoor seedlings, I highly recommend a special seedling compost. This type of compost is fine, light, and well-draining, which is crucial for the proper development of young roots. It is also generally less rich in nutrients than compost for adult plants, as young sprouts are sensitive to excesses. Good special seedling compost promotes homogeneous germination and healthy rooting.
For seedlings, you don't need very high light intensity. I generally recommend low to medium wattage LED lights, often between 15 and 50 watts for a small area (approximately 60x40 cm). The important thing is to have an adapted light spectrum, with a good proportion of blue to promote compact and robust growth. What I often see is that people overestimate the necessary power for this phase.
The most common mistake is to underestimate the importance of quality. Avoid heating mats without thermostats, mini-greenhouses that don't seal hermetically, or low-end composts. Another mistake is not adapting the equipment to the size and needs of your future plants. For example, choosing cells that are too small for plants with strong root development is a mistake I often see.
Cannot find your answer? 01 88 33 45 52 or by message.
