DIY seedling tray stands, heat boxes , etc .................

Some more money savers

Heat box for germinating seeds ( holds 2 trays)
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php/fp.php?pid=22259

PVC plant stand ( holds 12 seed trays)
http://www.carlnet.org/~ttsdaly/plantstand.html (color coded instructions)

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/169142/

My total cost for PVC and T-connectors @ home Depot only $34.64 (last year)

Seedling trays are cheap =)
http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/seedling.asp


This message was edited Nov 7, 2004 10:31 PM

Great pic Scoot....but what happened to the hyperlinks?

Whew, did a lot of backtracking . All better =)

This is great SB....thanks so much! Looks like DH is gonna have a project! LOL I really like the PVC plant stand.

I purchased the ready made stand (of plastic) at Wal-Mart it has 4 shelves each shelf is 14" high 13" deep and 21" wide, I made two small holes in the shelves to hang lights, purchased some clear plastic to wrap aroung to make it a greenhouse, cost for sheves was $8.95

Doris I may do yours for germinating. Less husband trauma! LOL I have a PVC stand and I just love it!! My bottom shelf was made higher to accomodate gallon plants.

My DH also put the lights on long chains so I can lower them to just over the seedlings and then move them up as the seedlings grow.

Scooterbug,
Thank you the info very much appreciated. Added the sites to favorites.
Rose318

YVW Rose . These have helped me out in the past and it was time to bring them up again..

Doris, What kind of lights did you use ?

I'm thinking like kell ,the one you spoke of would be great for germinating seeds.
Small enough to be tucked into a safer place,
I hate when seedlings get mixed up by getting knocked over.

Those ARE very good prices! Going to save this thread to my favorites! Thanks Scooter!

I purchased the flourecent Grow light, from same place $9.95 each

too cool Shirley. I need to make one of those. Would be very sad if something over flowed all down my puter when watering all my seedlings on the top of my desk lol.

This message was edited Nov 9, 2004 5:02 PM

Kell, do you use S hooks or something like that to raise/lower the lights?? Also, are you using the lights in the house or the GR or hoop house??

also on my shelves if you want them higher you can replace the uprights with PVC as the other's can be removed.

Yes, Sherry. My DH put small S hooks in the top of the light fixtures. He then looped a piece of chain around the PVC bar above and brought down both ends of the chain and hooked them onto the S hook. I just slip them out of the S hook and catch them either farther up on the chain or farther down to raise or lower the light fixture. I also sometimes just move one end if I have something taller growing on one side.

I just built one of these last weekend. I glued each shelf together completely, but the uprights were left unglued so it could be broken down and stored away. That way the uprights can also be replaced with longer pieces to move a shelf up if needed. I made the uprights a little longer to begin with, also, so there would be more space between the shelfs. I also put fiberglass trays on each level, the ones that are made to fit the flora carts.

Cool Mary Where did you find those trays??

They aren't cheap, but I found them at hummert, http://www.hummert.com/catalog.asp?P=2868

OMG I think I'll pass lol.

I second that OMG. My DH doesn't have a fishing tournament this week-end so I have plans for him to make me one of these stands, I ordered my seedling trays today and am going to buy my lights, then I will be ready to really get serious about growing plants. As if I need all of this to be serious about plants. I am really into all this, just hope my thumbs start turning green.

Thanks, Kell!!! I cannot imagine why some industrious gardner hasn't made stacking shelves, specifically for hobby gardners. They have them at Walmart, but they would need longer legs. For the time being, I'm going to use a set of fold up baker's racks but I will need lights and I'll do the chain thing...

Scooterbug
I notice you have two light fixtures on each shelf. Could a person get by with one light? Just another dumb question from me.

No, I do not think so 2pugdogs. At least not with as good results. I have part of seedling pack just 2 inches outside of the direct light and one of the seedlings is already bent towards the light. I bought mine for $7 a piece at a hardware chain, Orchards Supply, as a Shoplight. PS. I am not Scoot! LOL

It seems, to me, that the lights and watering, dripping plants don't go together very well. Maybe florescent lights don't shock, that's a question...

I put my pots of soil in the flats that don't have holes in them so no water goes through to the next shelf. If you don't have those, line the other kind with heavy tin foil. It works okay, but only for one year.

Scoot, I've heard of a cold box - what it a heat box?? I mean I know one is cold and the other is warm, but do seeds germinate quicker in a heat box, and where does the heat come from and I use rockwool, does it work in a heat box??? I'm not the only one that wonders, a pal posted me privately and asked me if I knew and, of course, I did not. TIA!!!

I just use the seedling trays. I have shelves of peg board. It was cheap. Then the seedling trays are waterproof. Though I am forever foliar spraying my seedlings and cuttings and I do hit the lights. I just do not touch them after. LOL!!

Sherry, The heat box is a homade option for seedling heat mats.
The covered trays go on top of the heat box for bottom warmth.
Not all seeds need bottom heat to germinate though.

BTW ... did you follow the link for the heat box ? (click on the subject)
If not this is it for the whole thread
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/182057/

Later

Ya know, Scoot, I go whacko crazy asking detail questions, when in my heart and mind, I know that the only way I will find the correct answer, for my zone, is to do it myself. Why I continue to ask such questions is beyond me, whew!!! I will read the site and I sincerely appreciate you pointing me to it!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL Sherry,...
............ Don't change a thing. Your fresh enthusiasm is infectious.
Hugz