heated propagator?

[novicegrower]

Hi all,

I've been given a heated propagator. Its about 6 or so inches wide and a couple feet long, but to be honest, I haven't the faintest idea how to use it!!
do you just put compost in it, or little pots/cells of compost?. Can I plant seeds inside, or is it just for cuttings etc?
Be grateful if you can help me get the most from it, wouldn't want to waste such a thoughtful present!! Its got a lid with various little openings in the top that can be opened independently. What do you do about watering, where's the best place to site it?
Tell me everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pretty please...

[FionaH]

I sow things in modules and then put the module tray into the propogatror. I have covered the bottom of the prop with sand, apparently it distributes the heat evenly. I had great results with leeks and spring onions in mine. Best of luck

[dexterdoglancashire]

I sow my seeds in tiny pots then put them inside my propagator, but its only a small one and has one lid, not lots of little ones.

[RobintheBobin]

Ooo lucky you; my heated propagator was my best buy this year as it has germinated my tomatoes in 48 hours!! Anyway, first lot I had sowed in a 'standard size' module tray and the second lot were in individual 9cm pots - both times the containers sat on top of the propagator tray. I have found the latter option to be the best as each variety germinates and grows at different rates to another so once it is ready I can pluck the 'done' ones out into the greenhouse. Hope that makes sense...seems clear as mud to me but I'm ready for bed!

[Eyren]

What a lovely pressie, novicegrower! It sounds like a windowsill propagator. The ones I've seen in catalogues usually consist of several little mini-propagators in a heated tray:

Windowsill propagator

If yours isn't like this, you'll need some seed trays or plant pots to put in it. You can get small seed trays that would probably fit:

12 Quarter (1/4) Seed Trays

If it is like the one I linked to, you can put compost directly into the individual mini-propagators and sow seed in it, or use little plant pots if you prefer. I don't know if they make module inserts for these mini-trays, but you could buy the 24-cell ones and cut them into quarters (the 40-cell ones are 8 x 5, so you would end up with half-cells along one edge).

I treated myself to a big thermostatically controlled propagator this year (big enough for two seed trays) as my cats knock stuff off windowsills, and my toms and chillies have come up a treat!

[Alison]

I have one about that size which has 3 small propogator trays and lids on it. Have used it the past couple of years and find it very useful. I make 1.5" ish newspaper pots and put them individually into the propogator with a single chilli, pepper, aubergine etc seed in each (and label them!). When they start to sprout I take them out so the extra heat and slight lack of light doesn't make them go leggy and by having them all in separate pots I can move them individually as they won't all germinate on the same day (this can be a problem if you use modules as they're all connected together). When the seedlings have their first true leaves they're potted on into 3" pots and onwards. Some people keep them in the proporgators for longer but I like to grown mine hard and sturdy and find I get stronger plants with the method I use.

[novicegrower]

thanks everyone so much! I'll let you know how I get on. You are such a helpful bunch!

[triker-Smurf]

Hi All. can anyone help? I have a heated propagator but not sure how the heat works, bear with me....the instructions say it keeps at an "ambient" temperature, however, mine gets fairly warm then goes cold, gets warm again and continues in this way. Is this how it should work or is it faulty??? All help greatly appreciated.

[Madasafish]

Your propagator will have a thermostat in the base which switches the current on when the temperature falls to a set level and off again when it rises to another set level...

When it is filled with pots/etc with soil, it will keep warmer longer.

[scarey55]

Thanks everyone for the advice about putting the seeds into individual pots, I use one similar to the super seven and, whilst it is very good, I do have to disturb the other seeds when transplanting from the trays to individual pots.

*toddles off to make a load of newspaper pots.

[smallblueplanet]

Hi All. can anyone help? I have a heated propagator but not sure how the heat works, bear with me....the instructions say it keeps at an "ambient" temperature, however, mine gets fairly warm then goes cold, gets warm again and continues in this way. Is this how it should work or is it faulty??? All help greatly appreciated.

If it doesn't have a thermostat so you can set the temperature, then it will just give off a set amount of heat all the time - the cheaper ones are like this and often say it will keep the prop so many degrees above the rooms temperature.

[Potstubsdustbins]

It would depend on the temperature variation, most modern thermostats will allow about a 3`C variation, if your getting more than that I would say the stat is shot.

Colin