My FAVORITE SEED STARTING Set-Up | SOIL BLOCKS with CAPILLARY Mats

My favorite indoor seed starting set up! I have been dreaming up this seed starting station for a few months.
highdeserthome...
highdeserthomesteader.com
I am linking to the exact products I am using and love.
Soil blocker I used
amzn.to/3ng9dsm
Shelf I used
amzn.to/42GT5Ag
Capillary mats I used
amzn.to/3K7Wgtq
LED Shop lights I used (cheaper than "grow lights" and work just as well)
amzn.to/3z178mR
Trays were from walmart $1.50 each tray
Timer I used
amzn.to/3K5U9X6

[@walrussayswhat5503]

Soil blocks are suppose to have a dry wet cycle. Better growth/roots. You could try the seedling air pruning trays. They retain moisture better

[@chanansiegel834]

I do something similar but because i have a backyard garden, I use the yellow trays on top and then another tray for the water resevoir underneth. I do this so i can then take the entire tray outside to harden off when the weather is suitable for the plant to be outside.

[@highdeserthomesteader]

Smart! Makes hardening off much easier!

[@eastcoast4233]

Trays of water hanging above electrical lights? Hmm. I’d have suggested the water reservoir was to the side of the shelving unit and a single capillary mat went across the whole shelf.

[@libertykatrkm]

Thank you

[@highdeserthomesteader]

You're welcome!

[@eastcoast4233]

Did you dampen the mats before putting the soil blocks on? Common advice is that both the soil and the mats should be wet at the start so that the water can travel by capillary action, if anything is dry the water won’t get pulled along as intended..

[@lkphnx]

🙏

[@walrussayswhat5503]

Also, looks like you are trying to creat the tray2grow from autopot

[@nadinekling]

Hi Danielle, I can't wait to see how your homestead grows, I can learn a lot from you. Your grandpa told me about your KZbin channel, and I'm excited to learn from you. We moved from Tennessee to Ogden, Utah. I'm not used to the dry weather, so I also have to work on the soil. By-the-way, I am your grampa's sister Nadine 😊

[@highdeserthomesteader]

I love it! Thanks for joining! We can learn together!

[@julielove6731]

Thanks for posting this! I have been using capillary mats with the Gardeners Supply risers but was looking for something less expensive. I'm curious to know how often you need to fill the trays underneath to keep things watered. With the Gardeners supply method, I have a deeper reservoir underneath, but it means my plants are farther from the heat mats. Thanks!

[@highdeserthomesteader]

About every 3days. I think a deeper basin would be ideal

[@julielove6731]

Thank you!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

Have you tried a blumat capillary system? I’m considering it. A little pricey but it’s amazing

[@highdeserthomesteader]

I haven't tried that!

[@cherigeitz7798]

How did this work for you? Looking for a watering solution when i am away for a short time. Wondering if this will work well.

[@highdeserthomesteader]

It is still working great! Have seedlings growing right now!.

[@cherigeitz7798]

Do you have trouble with roots growing into the mat? Does it harm seedlings?

[@highdeserthomesteader]

If the seedling is there for a while then yes they do grow into the mats. If you rotate them often it won't happen. That being said, it hasn't seem to hurt the plant when I just pull it off