What to Look for in a Seed Starting Tray
Most seedling losses are decided by the tray, not by the seed. Drainage, cell depth and plastic rigidity do more for germination rates than anything you add afterwards.
Drainage Comes First
Cells moulded with drainage holes in the base let excess water leave. Without them, roots sit in water, take up too much moisture and damp off before the plug is established. Every tray in our seed starting range is moulded with drainage in the cell base for exactly this reason.
See our Seed Starting Trays range (14 items)
Rigidity Decides Whether You Reuse It
Thin trays deform the first time they are lifted full and cannot be stacked or washed. Rigid plastic keeps its shape, which means the same tray runs several seasons. That is a cost per use question, not a purchase price question.
See our Seed Starting Trays range (14 items)
The Dome Is Part of the System
Our tray sets include a chassis, a cell insert and a clear cover. The cover holds humidity while seeds germinate and opens to release heat and moisture as the seedlings harden off. A tray without a dome forces you to manage humidity with plastic sheet and hope.
See our Seed Starting Trays range (14 items)
Match the Media to the Cell
Sponge and rockwool style cubes are cut to fit standard cells, which removes the air gaps you get when loose media is pressed into a cell by hand. Coconut media suits container growing on. Buy the media and the tray as one decision.
See our Grow Media range (9 items)
Label at Sowing Not Later
Trays that go onto the bench unlabelled lose their variety information within a week. Plant markers cost almost nothing against a tray of unknown seedlings.
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Questions On This Topic
How many cells should a tray have
It depends on the plug size your transplanting method needs. A 12 cell insert suits large plugs, higher cell counts suit small plugs. Tell us your transplanting setup and we will point you to the right tray.
Can trays be washed and reused
Yes, our trays are moulded in rigid plastic that holds its shape through washing and repeat use.
Do you supply trays, media and markers together
Yes, all three are in our catalogue and ship in the same order.
Still Not Sure Which Item Fits
Describe the site or the shelf and our team will name the items from our catalogue that suit it.