A greenhouse is the perfect place to raise seeds and cuttings, and a little propagation kit dramatically improves your success rate — steady warmth and humidity get more seeds up and more cuttings rooted. This page covers the equipment and bridges to the existing propagation guides.
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The core kit
- Heated propagator / heat mat — bottom heat speeds germination and rooting; see heat mats.
- Humidity dome / propagator lid — holds humidity around seedlings and cuttings; see propagators & humidity domes.
- Seed trays & modules — for sowing and pricking out.
- Grow lights — supplement short-day or dull-weather light; see grow lights.
Heated propagators
Heat mats
How to use it
Sow into a fine seed mix, provide gentle bottom heat, keep humidity up with a dome until germination, then ventilate to prevent damping off. Harden off before planting out. The full method is in seed germination, starting seeds in a greenhouse and cuttings & division.
How to combine the kit
The pieces work as a system: seed trays/modules hold the sowing, a heat mat or heated propagator gives the bottom warmth that drives germination and rooting, a humidity dome keeps moisture steady until they’re up, and a grow light prevents leggy seedlings in dull weather. Ventilate once germinated to prevent damping off.
Heated vs unheated — which you need
An unheated propagator (dome + tray) is fine for easy spring sowings in a warm greenhouse. Choose a heated propagator or a heat mat with thermostat for early sowings, warmth-loving crops (chillies, tomatoes) and cuttings.