what propagator

Hi,
I'm looking to have a go a bedding plants from seed. With no greenhouse I'm looking at windowsill propagator
thingies.
So what should I look for, peat disk type, heated or not?
Argos do a heated one for ?20 is it any good?
Should I go to a garden centre or wilkos?
I'm looking to try
Lobelia
Nemesia
verbena
sweet sultan (dunno what they are, wife liked pics on packet)
Night sented stock (usually sewer direct into planter)
Salvia

Hints and tips appreciated otherwise I'll be following "bedding plant expert" book.

Thanks
David

 

Hello Exlabman
I use a windowsill prop , as many do , due to lack of room . The one I have used for the last 5 years is the Gardman Super 7 at about £25 ( google around ) . It comes with 7 small vented props , and fits on a windowsill and looks OK. You will only need the heated prop for seeds that require up to 25°c , if the recommended temp is 18 - 20°c normal room temp will be OK

 

Hi Exlabman,

I tried growing lobelia from seed last year with somewhat frustrating results. I am fairly confident that it was my own lack of skill which was the real reason why it took 3 attempts to get any plants! :DOH:

As far as a propagator is concerned... I have only purchased 1 cheap non electrical type... which I have yet to use. I find a far cheaper method is to buy a roll of value supermarket clingfilm, and cover the seed trays after sowing, and position them on the warmest windowsill in the house. Once you notice the seeds have began to germinate... remove the clingfilm to allow an airflow to prevent damping off. Also, only water from below.

All my seedlings I have sown (apart from the lobelia) have grown well.

Im sure others swear by using electric propagators though. I guess its all down to preference.

Good luck with a fantastic summer display

 

I have 2 different propagators and they both work fine. The first one i bought was from b&q and cost around £13 but as I have so many seeds to sow this year I bought another one on sale at my local garden centre a stewart one which is also very good for £10. I've seen the big ones anywhere from £25-£35 you have to shop around. The stewart propagator is probably the best one to go for as I find it warms up quicker and my seeds seem to germinate quicker also.

 

I have a Gardman Super 7 too (actually I have two of them ). No thermostat, just gentle background heat below the pots, works well for me.

I find the little 1/4 sized trays very convenient (easy enough to just do one or two, or several, depending on how many seeds you have)

I bought extra trays - so once they are germinated they can come off the propagator - like a production line! (I also bought more clear plastic lids, but I don;t think there is any point because as soon as they are germinated you need to open the vents on the lids and within a couple of days get the lids off the trays)

Alternative is to put pots / pans / trays in clear plastic bags to keep the humidity up and retain moisture / stop them drying out, and then open the bags once germination starts. (You won't need to water until germination starts, unless the seeds are the sort that take MONTHS to germinate)

 

Thanks Kristen, What kind of ambient room temp do you need for it to work. Would it maintain a temp in a cool conservatory or would it be best in the spare bedroom which is heated?
I did quite like the look of the guardman. Do you need to buy spcific guardman extra trays or will wilko standard ones trim to fit?
Just wondered if the non thermostatic ones will have big temp fluctuations in line with central heating going on and off.

Cheers
D

 

I have mine on a windowsill in my centrally heated house - I work from home, so central heating is on during the day, so I don't really have any "really cold" times - so might not work as well for somone in eihher a very old / draughty house, or someone out during the day when the house temperature falls a long way.

My propagator is not thermostatically controlled, and just has a very gentle heat. Best-part-of-not-very-many-Watts - so to speak!

It does warm the soil of the trays, so will improve the tempeature over the background by enough to make a difference. Most seeds don't need a propagator like this, but it does help - more even germination, a higher percentage germination. For more demanding seeds it will potentially make the difference between germination and no germination :(

But sticking a clear plastic bag over a pot and putting the pot somewhere warm enough - airing cupboard perhaps - would do as well (and indeed that is what I did before I had the propagators)

The trays and lid have a little pin & socket which stops the lids sliding off, so I doubt they will fit a different brand of tray (and I think that Garland has a new tray type and the old & new are not compatible - a good reason for buying extra trays in case they change them in the future :thumb:

 

I bought one of the same propagators Kristen has, and used it last year and I am delighted with it. I keep mine on the kitchen windowsill and its quite cool in there (not cold, but you definately need a jumper on!). It germinated everything I put into it last year. As Kriten says it is a gentle heat but very connvenient holding seven seperate trays. I have a larger propagator too (A3 Paper size for a guide) again, this is not thermostatically controlled but germinated everything I could not get into the super 7. This one sits by the French doors in the Living room.

Steve...