Bio Green Jumbo Propagator

Hi everyone,
I need to buy my first propagator and wondered if anyone has any thoughts on the bio green jumbo propagator.

Heres a link if anyone hasnt seen it http://www.biogreen.de/en/propagation/propagators/jumbo/ (hope its ok to put that link)

 

Hi there.

That's the same as I have. To be honest, I could have done with a larger one, but for 'normal' use, it should suit you well. One thing you'll need is a tray in which to put your pots/trays whatever.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Hi Marley, (Love the name)
I didn't even realise it was a german company! It is freely available over here and have so far found it for £97 the average is about £120-£140.

 

Hi Freddy (Love the head)
Glad someone has one - how many standard sized trays can you fit in it?

You and Marley have given me a giggle with your names and pics - reminders from the past.

 

What do you want to use it to grow?

Just seeds, in the Spring?, or cuttings and all sorts perhaps? or over wintering plants?

For seeds in the spring you don't need anything as "exotic" as that and you might be better off (e.g. if you grow a lot of, different, seeds) with something that would enable more of a production-line approach for those 2 or 3 months early in the year.

 

Hi Kristen,

Thanks for that - I have lots of seeds ready for the spring (over 20 packets at last count cause I can't stop myself from buying any that I see).

What would u suggest as an alternative?

 

I have a couple of windowsill propagators. They take 1/4 sized seed trays (and I sometimes put 2 or 3 varieties in each, but be careful to choose things that you know will need pricking out at the same time, otherwise the not-yet-ready ones get disturbed too much).

I have a spare set of trays (no need to have spare covers too, unless you can get them for a good price or want them).

I sow seeds every fortnight. Generally things are germinated in less than 2 weeks, so the trays that have germinated come off the propagator, and make space for new ones. Generally things are pricked out before 4 weeks are up, so that tray si then available for the next batch.



Some details on My Blog

Alternatively a [i.e. heated] reptile mat, and some little seed trays and covers, might do

 

Hi Kristen,
Thanks so much for the ideas

 

What Kristen has there is a good all-rounder, but I think I'm right in saying there's no thermostat? I have what looks like one of those too and it doesn't. Just something to bear in mind, if the seed you're going to sow has different temperature requirements. In other words, some seed require say 25c, others may need only 18c or so. It's not easy trying to cater for all needs, which is why I have two

 

Yup, quite right Freddy, it doesn't have a thermostat. I find for pretty much everything I grow just the presence of a bit of bottom heat does the trick - unless its some of the tropical stuff that is looking for 30C+ - they pretty much need Gas-mark-5 !!

Or perhaps I should get Father Christmas to bring me a posh thermostatically controlled one and do a side-by-side test, eh?

 

Hi Freddy and Kristen,
After much thought yesterday I finally purchased a large rootit propagator mat. I already have a dozen non-heated trays with lids so I thought a mat would be the way to go. Hope I haven't made a big mistake as I spent the rest of the money on my youngest grandchilds christmas pressie.

 

Hi Kristen.

What I like about "posh" one, is that I can keep young potted seedlings in there until they are a bit more established. They seem to like not only the higher temperatures, but also the higher humidity. But, as I've already said, I quickly run out of room, as they grow.

 

All I Want For Christmas (given I already have my two front teeth!) is:

Heated bench (soil warming cables)
Misting unit (probably several, so different areas can be set to acclimatise more mature plants before moving them out)
Cover

I saw a bench at Amulree, don't think I took a photo. It was just some poly-carb made into a box over a bench with some sand and soil warming cables + thermostat. Pretty sure I saw something very similar @ Great Dixter.

I did open the door for a sneak-peak. It was like a sauna in there (Summer's day, although not especially hot, and the box was in an area of the greenhouse that was fairly shaded). Thermostat would be taking care of soil temperature, the humidity must have been on-or-around 100%, and toasty warm ...

Making the box under the staging would probably do - I doubt it needs a lot of light (well, for seedlings it would, but cuttings would be fine ...)

I reckon I need several ... its that type of over-thinking-the-problem that stops me ever starting!

With misting unit and soil warming:
1. Cuttings
2. Rooted cuttings, and seedlings, with less humidity getting aclimatised (hardened off)

Same again for Seedlings, but with more light. Perhaps just take the cover off, and/or move onto the bench in the Spring - I'm not taking cuttings then ...