DIY Indoor Seed Starting Station

[@samanthahoos9827]

❤I love my grow station, 3 shelves with heat mats by windows, small rotating fan and grow lights. I can start 200+ seeds in this small space, but have to be careful cause those plants will need to be potted up & moved into the greenhouse (which isn’t heated so has to be warm enough to keep seedlings safe until late May). One year I had 300 four inch pots in that room (my bedroom) and my husband proved how much he loves me by squeezing around larger shelves that I had to move into the room to house everything. 😂 I promised never again once he built my greenhouse! ❤

[@eliandkate]

ha ha ha You better make sure you don't break that promise or he'll take the greenhouse away

[@simplifygardening]

See seed starting stations popping up all over the world now Eli. Great video

[@eliandkate]

I think it’s the convenience, just that but easier maybe?

[@rachelgrinnell]

Thank you for posting this! I needed one of my trusted gardening youtubers to post an updated version of an indoor seed starting video

[@eliandkate]

It’s almost like I knew 🤣🤣🤣

[@GardenerScott]

Great to see your new seed setup. An extra benefit of your reflective cover is that it will help hold the warmth around the seedlings as well. I like it!

[@eliandkate]

Oh I didn't consider the warmth aspect too - bonus!!!

[@vanessaoconnor5000]

I just love watching your videos. You make a lot of decisions I’ve made and it’s fun to watch you go through the process. Thank you for explaining the WHY as you go through it. ❤❤❤

[@julie-annepineau4022]

Thinking I need to add the reflective layer to my seed starting set up. Too many leaning seedlings last year. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@brittse]

Not related to seed starting. But. I want to say. I've been super sick this week and found your channel and been binging because I like the content but also. Your voice has been very soothing helping me rest while taking in info I enjoy. It's like meditation education ❤😂 thanks for your content ☺️

[@lynnemcewan1076]

A perfect shelving unit that matches the Rhino. I'm really looking forward to joining in the growing fun.

[@eliandkate]

Ha ha ha nah it’s not going near the greenhouse 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@celairwen]

Hooray, you're getting into indoor seed starting too! This will be my third year with a grow tent thanks to your collaborator from the States (necessitated because we have cats that would otherwise destroy everything) and I'm so excited to get going. I've also picked up a second-hand soil blocker to try for the first time and have a Greenstalk arriving tomorrow!

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣 oh I’ve been doing this a while Just upgrading

[@celairwen]

@@eliandkate I don't doubt that! I'm still very much a beginner 🙂

[@MargaretsIndianaGarden]

Eli, you are a perfect example of why a channel is successful: You are funny, charming and in love with your topic. Love to watch your videos, although if I am honest, I can only understand about a fourth of what you're saying! 😉🤷‍♀

[@cpoco]

Not sure what the price comparison would be... but the reflective material looks very similar to car sun shades (not sure if you have/need those in Scotland?) Just as an option for people wanting a cheap alternative for that portion. Looks great!

[@ErraticPerfectionist]

Automation is my favourite part of setting up grow lights and heat mats, because I'm a chronic forgetter, and then remember 5mins after I've gotten into bed. Being able to just reach for my phone to switch on/off or even just to check is an absolute necessity for me! Absolutely love your setup! I've been thinking of getting some reflective foilboard to help keep the warmth and light around my seedlings next winter. Will definitely be coming back to this video in June 😁 In the meantime though, it's time for sunscreen, hat and sunnies to get out into the garden today and finish getting tomatoes into the ground before I run out of summer to grow them in! 😂

[@eliandkate]

Have a fabulous day in the sunshine… minus 4 c for me today

[@ErraticPerfectionist]

@eliandkate I was sweating in bucket loads. 34oC today, and it's only just starting to cool down a bit (currently 31oC and it's due to be 20oC overnight which isn't fun). Thank heavens for air conditioning! I tend to hide indoors during the colder months, hence my love of indoor gardens over the winter season 😆 minus 4oC? Fortunately not a temperature we have to deal with very often! Stay warm!

[@eliandkate]

@ErraticPerfectionist yeah…. Warmest it ever gets in my garden is a day or two of 26c in summer

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Eli & Kate, love your videos, another great one with lots of useful info. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@BecomingaGreenstalker]

Smart use of materials!

[@eliandkate]

I'm a big believer in not running out and buying "that thing" just cause someone else has it or raves about it. Take time with the idea (and yeah a homemade version) to see if you, 1. need the thing 2. actually wanna grow that stuff or that after some experience. So I might buy a grow tent at some point, or I may discover I don't need one :D

[@BecomingaGreenstalker]

@ I like to reinvent everything!

[@HauteAmazingWorld]

Another great video! This will be my first year as an official gardener and your videos are giving me lots of invaluable information. Next up, "My favorite seed starting gear." You're costing me money, love! 🤣🤣

[@eliandkate]

Oh no you don't get to blame me for your shopping habits 😂😂😂😂😂😂 So what makes you an official gardener versus unofficial?

[@HauteAmazingWorld]

@ I’m actually going to do it this year and not let my seedlings die in their trays. 😄

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kpenrose04]

Great video :) If you have any spare of that shiny insulation, you might wanna put it under your heat mat, might make things more efficient :)

[@dogontheplot]

Ooooh. Nice set up! Interesting to hear the pros and cons of the lights. I only have cheap amazon flimsy strip ones but they've been doing me proud so far! I'm lucky to have a nice sunny windowsill I can colonise though.

[@eliandkate]

I say if it works, stick with it.... especially if it means no having to spend pennies!

[@hikerlindacanadianrockies8478]

Reminds me of my own setup. I repurposed a shelving unit in my basement, which gives me 5 shelves for growing and one for storage. Grow lights can hang from the slats of the shelves. Worked great last year.

[@eliandkate]

Sounds perfect 👌

[@carolinebown8686]

As always ....just the video I needed ....as Im already planning to make a seedling starting station upstairs ... and I was alittle confused about the lights .... thank you so much ....its like you can read my mind 😊😊❤❤

[@eliandkate]

HA HA HA oh no, no mind reading abilities... it's the spy camera!!!!

[@carolinebown8686]

😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@anirishmammy5658]

Great set up. I store my heat mats flat, to avoid breaking the internal wires.

[@eliandkate]

Then you get to play the game of trying to lay it out when it’s cold 🤣🤣🤣

[@anirishmammy5658]

@@eliandkate just like a new rug...upside down for a few days, with a few books on top lol!

[@eliandkate]

@anirishmammy5658 🤣🤣🤣🤣 hell yeah

[@Meldelkel]

Really useful and practical and suited to UK - Thank you

[@eliandkate]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Thanks Eli a great no nonsense video i needed this as this is my first year of buying a heat mat and a grow light so it us still going to be trial and error bug last year nothing took off for months, so fingers crossed happy sowing ❤

[@eliandkate]

a heat mat makes a huge difference to germination speeds and of course lights are fantastic for those little plants... you'll notice a huge difference

[@samanthahoos9827]

I bought lights to attach to the bottom of each shelf with zip ties running the cords down the side to a power strip. Marked each level’s light cord with a different color tape so I knew which I was plugging in and they came with a timer. Instead of lowering the lights I raise them up to the lights with bricks. The top rack doesn’t need a light because it gets full sun, rotating the plants daily so they don’t lean.

[@eliandkate]

good idea with the labels!

[@blubbietweeduizend]

Reminds to to get some fans for this years seed starting adventure.

[@cosmoscosmos2855]

Excellente idée cette étagère! Vous pourriez aussi avoir un petit ventilateur qui permettrait de faire circuler l’air et ainsi augmenter la robustesse des tiges. Moi, j’utilise 5 leds Barrina pour chaque étage: 2 jaunes, 2 blancs et 1 rose! Les laitues et mini tomates aiment bien. Je n’ai pas mis de panneaux réfléchissants mais c’est une très bonne idée. Il y a des vidéos sur KZbin qui explique l’efficacité d’un panneaux en aluminium ou…peinturer en blanc ou même un miroir. Je suis certaine que votre led est très performant! C’est aussi un de mes coups de ♥️. Les lumières Sansi sont excellentes mais ne procurent un rayon fort mais sur un nombre limité de plantes. Bonne continuation, c’est très intéressant tout ça. 🤩🤩🤩

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Great video Eli. Love the colour Co-ordinated shelving. I use the reflective stuff inside the windows overnight on my camper van, if away over colder months, for added heat and to keep the condensation to a minimum. Why didn’t it occur to me to use the rest of the roll for my seed station last year? I was battling with silver foil that kept tearing 😂😂 Notes taken! Thank you. Here’s to an excellent season for us all. Happy New Year to you and Kate 🎉❤

[@eliandkate]

😂 you're actually not the first person to say that about the car!!!!

[@SowsmallGrowtall]

Great channel finding it inspiring as im just starting a new channel and allotment 😊

[@CSaville]

When the original tubes on my Vitopod went I couldn't find replacements anywhere. I tried to get the LED versions as well but to no avail so I'm glad they now seem to be available. I tried some cheaper tubes from elsewhere and they were poor to be honest so I ended up replacing them with a Spider Farmer LED growlight as well, the really long version, which has been brilliant (No pun intended! 😁 ) LED's are definitely the way forward and they are so cheap to run as you say.

[@eliandkate]

I wish I’d got the longer one 🤣🤣🤣

[@annskelly3349]

Fab video, growing along in 2025 😍

[@eliandkate]

Yay! 🙌

[@Scottishtraveler]

Thank you for this ❤ Had a poor season last year ….weather against me 😢! Lost my gardening mojo for a while ! But was thinking of setting up a wee grow station to give me a better chance ….also not taking over my dining room table as before ! Your video has inspired me to do just that . Onwards and upwards season 2025 …. always learning ! 😊

[@eliandkate]

If it makes you feel better, the weather made it sucky for us all. 😭😭😭

[@Scottishtraveler]

@@eliandkateyip ! 2024 was the year of the slug and rain and more rain !! 😅

[@Scottishtraveler]

@@eliandkate😢

[@trisha2584]

After researching what type of light grow lights use I went for the cheapest efficient option for my lights using a 30W LED Floodlight that has 6500K and 4100lm and it cost me about £15 last year. These are the type of floodlights that people use outside the house (without the pir). I bought it so if it didn't work as a grow light I could use it for its intended purpose (it worked great) and when not using it as a grow light I use it as lighting for outside my house. They also won't get affected by water splashing them.

[@eliandkate]

Oh, dual function! 😁

[@chicosgarden]

Woohoo! It is so exciting getting everything ready for seed sowing, I'm getting my kit out soon! Great idea with the proper reflective sheets, I used tinfoil last year and just as you said, it was flimsy lol

[@eliandkate]

how many times did yours fall off in the first week? Mine looked like the cats had got at it!!!!

[@chicosgarden]

@ not to mention the noise of you had wee fans running lol

[@nataliekavanagh5573]

I've got nearly the same set up, need the reflective cover though that's a great idea! Amazon basics shelves similar to the Ikea ones are also great, use them on the balcony for all of my plants during the season and they're very strong

[@eliandkate]

The reflective wrap defo works better than my tin foil attempt 🤣🤣🤣

[@nataliekavanagh5573]

So happy you tried and failed for me 😂

[@GardenofEmma]

Love this 😊

[@eliandkate]

one for your polytunnel???🤣

[@Petetrenouth]

That’s good advice to buy quality right from the beginning. I thought as a beginner gardener that I would try those cheap grow lights, but as you say they’re not really up to the job of good seed starting. At the moment, I’m just chilling in Cornwall. 😉👍

[@eliandkate]

hmm I'll argue a little :D I think it's good to go cheap to start with and try things out. After all, maybe you won't enjoy seed starting and decide not to do it again :D

[@Petetrenouth]

⁠@@eliandkate Well, as long as you argue just a little, I’ll let you off😂. Buy once cry once has always been my philosophy. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍.

[@eliandkate]

@Petetrenouth 🤣🤣🤣 like our measure twice cut once but another bit of wood and start again????

[@Petetrenouth]

@@eliandkate exactly, I always remember the good advice I was given after I’ve messed up.

[@huertoconsentido679]

Muchas gracias por mostrar como lo haces, en España aunque parezca loco también nos viene muy bien una estantería de cultivo para las siembra de verano 😊. Me encanta como explicas todo 🎉

[@eliandkate]

oh now that's interesting. I didn't think for a second you'd use something like that in Spain🥰

[@deborahwickham3058]

This is just great, thank you! When are you starting your chilli and sweet peppers? Xx

[@eliandkate]

Hoping to get it done this week if I have time

[@alysoffoxdale]

I didn't know reflective insulation was even a thing! I was wondering about getting an extra reflective windshield visor or two since I need to replace the one for spouse's van before summer anyway, but the insulation is cheaper, so now I'm thinking I should get a piece of that for the van instead! 🤣 MIGardener has a whole series of videos explaining how to use shop lights instead of more expensive grow lights, by selecting for daylight range with higher kelvin (5000+) and lumens (3000+).

[@eliandkate]

Glad I could help! 👏👏👏

[@AnyKeyLady]

Happy New Year Eli and Kate! That's a great idea! Do you have a link to the Ikea shelves please? I think we still have some of that radiator sheet in the loft and totally didn't think of that as i too made light boxes with cardboard and foil a few years back! Did you get any snow there yet? They are teasing us with snow in the south but i doubt it would reach London. Anyway, take care and hope you both have a wonderful week!

[@eliandkate]

No snow for us but we rarely get snow so it’s no surprise. I bought them in the store I’m afraid. If you do a search when you’re on their site you’ll see all the options.

[@AnyKeyLady]

@@eliandkate Ok. Thanks for getting back to me.

[@danilluzin]

I spent ages looking for an affordable shelving unit for my upcoming seed starting setup, and somehow ikea didn't cross my mind i feel so stupid now😅 thanks Eli!

[@eliandkate]

Ha Ha ha you would have thought of it eventually

[@Lynn-ux4ks]

Hi Eli, as usual, great advice & suggestions. I'm currently building a vegetable raised bed & was wondering if you could please give me some advice on what compost to put in it. You have inspired me to take on these challenges & I thank you

[@eliandkate]

you know, someone asked that very same question this am Lynn. My original mix is in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGWliXR_gdihiqcsi=wjHVhdRv8Yhw0Bwn but you can also buy ready made mixes from most compost suppliers and get it delivered in bulk

[@Lynn-ux4ks]

@eliandkate OK, great, thanks. Can you recommend anything to line the bottom, as I don't want worms in the vegetable raised bed.

[@eliandkate]

You actually do, worms are fabulous and make perfect healthy soil

[@Lynn-ux4ks]

@eliandkate omg. I was told by a family member not to let them into a vegetable raised bed. Thank you so much for your help. I'm glad I came across your channel. You & kate are amazing & give really great advice 👍

[@eliandkate]

@Lynn-ux4ks omg no! Worm poo is fantastic and nutritious and if you buy it, very expensive. That’s why people have huge bins to make compost using worms. All the worms and beetles and and everything have a place in the cycle in the garden. Good garden soil is teeming with life, some you can see, most you can’t and it all makes your garden healthy 😁 The longer you’re growing the more you’ll appreciate those little guys.

[@GeorgesBits]

Useful info, thank you. Is the a reason why you don't insulate under the heat mats? I've clicked through to your amazon list but it doesn't appear to have the links for the lights?

[@eliandkate]

There actually is foam matting under my heat mats, I just hadn’t mentioned it. 😁 The lights are in the seeds and sowing list

[@GeorgesBits]

@eliandkate thanks

[@terryobrien9865]

Please can you put on links to buy the sandblaster lights,.. and the thermostat

[@eliandkate]

@@terryobrien9865 it’s in the link in the description to all videos Terry

[@TheLiznz]

Oh wow, that’s fantastic. I have a heat mat that seems to work ok but currently have it in my unheated laundry. (Glass roof and half walls.) it gets all the light available but there isn’t really enough light and everything is. leggy. I can’t really afford to splash out on a proper grow station like yours. My hobby is watercolour painting and I have two large daylight lamps, would they do the same sort of thing as a grow lamp? I can do some research to see if my lamps are suitable. They are long and angle posed, so I can set them at any angle. They have two light settings. You have inspired me again. Thank you.

[@eliandkate]

Oh they might do, worth checking out

[@louisejohnson3851]

Wondering if your cat gets into the seed pots to dig / explore? Cats are the main reason I don't start seeds inside or have house plants!

[@eliandkate]

No we keep the cats away from anything like this. Can’t trust them

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

I made one on one end of my greenhouse.

[@eliandkate]

Oh fancy 😁

[@careydrehle9727]

Hello! Is it ok to use the reflective cover if your station is near a window? I have large windows but can’t guarantee consistent light exposure.

[@eliandkate]

Oh yeah, you see lots of folk making little mini versions for seedlings they grow on window ledges to help reflect the sunlight to the back of the seedlings. You make things suit what you need.

[@jennymortimer4622]

can i ask what the pulleys are called

[@eliandkate]

@@jennymortimer4622 ratchet hangers, even better Jenny www.amazon.co.uk/shop/eliandkate/list/2H8XTE5KL1EUI