What Are the Advantages of Leak-Proof Seedling Trays？

Having a successful farm or garden starts with proper planning and preparation, and that includes choosing the right tools and supplies. One of the most important tools for starting plants is the seed tray.

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There are several types of seed trays available, and each one has its own benefits and uses. In this article, we will explore the different types of seed trays and how to use each of them effectively.

ADVANTAGES TO STARTING SEEDS IN CELL TRAYS VS. LARGER POTS OR SOIL BED?

Starting seeds in cell trays, especially in the larger ones, gives the grower the advantage of being able to start more seedlings in their growing space. This is especially handy for row crops where the grower may want to plant 100 or more of each variety.

Growing this many seedling starts in larger seed pots would take up way too much space. The other advantage is that you will waste less growing media starting out your seeds and then up-potting the successfully germinated starts into new pots.

PARTS OF A SEED TRAY

There are two basic parts to a seed tray, one of which is optional:

• Tray – this is the top part that holds soil, individual containers (pots), or a cell flat. When used with a cell flat, the tray is used for watering from below.

• Cell flat (plug flat) – this is the optional lower part. This is the part that holds the water to keep you from watering the seedlings very frequently.

TYPES OF SEED TRAYS

Seedling trays come in different forms, including mesh seed trays, solid seed trays with drainage holes, and solid seed trays without drainage holes (leak-proof seed trays).

Mesh Seed Trays

A mesh seed tray is a type of seed tray that allows air, water, and light to pass through it while also providing support and protection to seedlings as they grow. It typically consists of a frame made of durable plastic or wire mesh, with a tray or pot placed inside it to hold the soil and seeds.

Mesh seed trays are specifically designed for seed starting, and they are often used in commercial and home gardens to start seedlings before transplanting them into larger containers or into the ground. They are also commonly used for microgreen production, which is the practice of growing germinated seeds into small, edible plants that are harvested a few weeks after germination.

By allowing air, water, and light to pass through, mesh seed trays help to reduce the risk of damping off, a disease that can kill young seedlings. They also allow for better drainage, reducing the risk of root rot and other diseases associated with overwatering.

Where to buy:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Cell Seed Tray

A cell seed tray is composed of small, individual cells, each of which is typically about 5 to 10 millimeters wide, long, and deep. The cells are arranged in a grid-like pattern, with rows and columns, and they're separated from each other by small walls. Cell seed trays are often used for growing seedlings, particularly when growing crops in a commercial setting.

Cell seed trays are beneficial because they allow for efficient and convenient seedling production.

The small cells allow for even distribution of water and nutrients to the sprouts, and they provide a secure and stable base for the seedlings to grow and mature. This makes it easier to transplant them into larger containers or directly into the ground, and it decreases the risk of damage to the seedlings.

Overall, cell seed trays are a versatile and efficient tool for growing seedlings and they're a popular choice for commercial growers or those who want to start their own miniature farm.

Where to buy:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Solid Seed Trays with Drainage Holes

Solid seed trays with drainage holes allow for adequate drainage, making them suitable for planting multiple seeds together in one place.

The drainage holes prevent the soil from becoming saturated with water and promote healthy root growth. However, the lack of individual cells makes it impossible to move seedlings to separate containers once they grow larger.

Where to buy:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Solid seed trays without drainage holes

Solid seed trays without drainage holes (leak-proof seed trays) do not allow for any drainage at all. They are best used for holding cell flats and allowing for bottom watering. By holding water, the tray can be used to catch excess water from watering seeds, or to water seeds from below.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Seed Tray With a Humidity Dome

A seed tray with a humidity dome is a growing system that provides an ideal environment for seed germination and early plant growth. It consists of a seed tray, which is a tray with small, individual cells or pots, and a humidity dome, which is a clear plastic cover that fits over the tray.

The humidity dome creates a warm, moist environment that is essential for seed germination and early plant growth. The cover traps moisture and moisture-laden air around the seedlings, providing them with a consistent supply of water. This can be particularly beneficial during dry periods or when the air is particularly dry.

Seed trays with humidity domes are particularly useful for growing plants that require a warm and humid environment, such as tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables. They are also popular for growing herbs, flowers, and other outdoor plants.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Biodegradable Seed Trays

Biodegradable seed trays are the environmentally friendly solution to traditional, plastic seed trays.

Instead of being made from synthetic materials that can take hundreds of years to decompose, biodegradable seed trays are made from natural materials such as recycled paper, biodegradable plastic, or plant-based materials.

These innovative trays provide all the benefits of traditional seed trays, including protection for seedlings and support for roots, but with the added bonus of being gentle on the environment. Biodegradable materials are non-toxic and they won't pollute the soil or water systems when they're discarded.

Biodegradable seed trays are a great choice for gardeners who want to reduce their environmental impact while still nurturing their plants. They're also an excellent choice for commercial growers who need to minimize their waste output and meet sustainability goals.

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon

Shopee

Lazada

Ergonomic Pop-out Seed Tray

An ergonomic pop-out seed tray is a growing tray designed for the comfort and productivity of gardeners.

Soft food-grade silicone cells cradle seedlings and gently flex to pop out when it’s time to transplant into your outdoor garden! This system is specially designed to reduce stress on your seedlings, so you don't damage their roots. After transplanting, trays are easy to clean and reuse or simply store for next growing season. Top shelf dishwasher safe.

The tray is made from lightweight, durable materials that are easy to clean. These trays are a popular choice among commercial growers and home gardeners who want to maximize their seedling production while minimizing their physical strain.

Where to buy:

Amazon

SO WHAT KIND OF TRAY SHOULD YOU USE?

• Are you growing a large number of one variety of plants for transplanting row crops?

• Are you planting smaller numbers of a wide variety of plants?

• Will you be planting your crops all at once, or will you be using the succession planting method?

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• What type of seeds will you be planting? Peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, etc.?

• How large are the seeds?

• How long will your seedlings need to stay in the cell trays?

• Will you be potting up your plant starts or planting out directly from the plug trays?

• How much protected growing space do you have to start seeds in?

• Will you use a heat mat or a dome or rely on ambient temperatures and humidity for germination?

HOW LONG CAN PLANTS STAY IN THE CELL TRAY?

Plastic Seed Trays Plastic seed trays are one of the most popular types of trays for starting plants. They are lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are a budget-friendly option.

WATERING TIP

Yes. It is possible to overwater seedlings growing in cell trays. A common mistake growers make though is to leave water in the bottom of a plug tray at all times. This will eliminate your seedling’s ability to get oxygen.

Bottom-watering can be properly done by adding just enough water to allow the cell tray to evenly absorb it during the watering and no more. You want to discard the excess water as it will become stagnant and invite anaerobic bacteria to wreak havoc on your newly established seedlings.

Nursery trays, also known as seedling trays, are an essential tool for starting plants from seeds or cuttings. They are commonly made of plastic and come in various sizes and configurations, ranging from small cells to larger containers. Here are some of the benefits of using nursery trays for plant propagation:

Efficient use of space: Nursery trays are designed to maximize space utilization, allowing growers to produce a large number of seedlings in a small area. This is especially important for commercial growers who need to produce a large volume of plants in a limited space.

Uniformity: Using nursery trays ensures that all seedlings are grown under the same conditions, resulting in uniform growth and development. This is important for producing high-quality plants that are consistent in size, shape, and vigor.

Easy to handle: Nursery trays are lightweight and easy to handle, making them convenient for transport and handling. They can be stacked and moved around easily, saving time and labor in the production process.

Better root development: Nursery trays are designed to provide optimal root development by allowing for proper drainage and air circulation. This results in healthier plants with stronger root systems, which are better equipped to cope with transplant shock.

Reduced disease transmission: Using nursery trays can help reduce the transmission of soil-borne diseases, which can be a major problem in traditional seedling production methods. The trays can be sterilized between uses, preventing the buildup of harmful pathogens.

Cost-effective: Nursery trays are a cost-effective option for plant propagation, as they can be reused multiple times and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. This makes them a popular choice for both commercial growers and home gardeners.

In conclusion, nursery trays offer many advantages for plant propagation, including efficient use of space, uniformity, ease of handling, better root development, reduced disease transmission, and cost-effectiveness. They are a valuable tool for anyone involved in plant production and can help ensure the successful growth and development of healthy, high-quality plants.

A seedling tray is a container used to sow multiple seeds at once. After seed germination, seedlings grow in the seed tray until they are large enough for transplant.  A single seed tray can hold anywhere from 6 seeds to over seeds.

Parts Of A Seed Tray

There are two basic parts to a seed tray, one of which is optional:

• Tray

  – this is the outer part that holds soil, individual containers (pots), or a cell flat.  When used with a cell flat, the tray is used for watering from below.

• Cell flat (plug flat)

  – this is the optional inner part.  You can put a cell flat inside of a tray to separate seeds from one another.

Seedling trays can come in different forms;

• Mesh seed tray

  – a mesh seed tray allows water to drain out easily.  A mesh seed tray is best for holding multiple individual containers (pots).  A drawback is that the holes in a mesh seed tray are too large to hold soil without it falling through or washing away when watered.

• Solid seed tray with drainage holes

  – a solid seed tray with drainage holes allows for adequate drainage, but allows soil to stay moist enough for seed germination.  A solid seed tray with drainage holes is best for planting multiple seeds together in one place.  A drawback is that the seedlings do not have individual cells, so their roots can get tangled together as they grow.

• Solid seed tray without drainage holes (leak proof seed tray)

  – a solid seed tray without drainage holes does not allow for any drainage.  A solid seed tray without drainage holes is best for holding a cell flat.  Since it holds water, it can be used to catch excess water from watering seeds, or it can be used to water from below.

A cell flat (or plug flat) is a container that is divided into multiple cells.  Some common cell counts for seed trays are:

• 50 cell seed tray

• 72 cell seed tray

• 128 cell seed tray

• 200 cell seed tray

• 288 cell seed tray

​​50 cell seed tray

These trays are a happy medium of saving you space in your seed starting area while still being able to plant a large number of seedlings like lettuce that will be directly transplanted. Because the 50 cell tray has a much larger soil volume than the 72 cell plug trays or 128 cell trays, you will have a bit more wiggle room when you need to transplant for optimal root growth. Plants grown in these trays will be less likely to become root-bound if unsettled weather delays your planting. This size also allows for canopy development of the seedling.

72 cell seed tray

The 72 cell seed tray are the most popular choice amongst market gardeners. They are a good balance between space for growing and seedlings per tray. Each cell is 1.5″ square and 2.25″ deep, making them an excellent option for a large variety of plants. These plastic trays are also a good choice for vine plants. However, you will want to transplant the vine plants earlier than you would with the 32 Cell trays to prevent root bound seedlings.

128 cell seed tray

These 128 Cell Trays are a great choice if you wish to start row crops or many baby greens. This configuration is ideal for starting many seeds but is not meant for crops that need more than a few weeks. Each cell is 1″ square and 2.25″ deep. You will be able to plant 78% more seedlings with one tray than the more common 72 cell seed starter trays. These 128 seed trays are compatible with the heavy-duty deep tray for bottom watering. You will want to up-pot your seedlings from this size seed tray into a larger pot or grow bag if you do not plan to transplant outdoors for an extended period to prevent seedlings from becoming root-bound.

200 cell seed tray

These 200 Cell Trays are excellent trays if you want to be economical about growing cole crops, lettuces, and other small-seeded crops. You will be able to grow 2.8 times as many plants with one tray as you would with a 72 cell tray. Each cell is 0.75″ square and 2.25″ deep. 

If you are using 200 cell plastic trays to start seeds, you will need to transplant your seedlings at an earlier stage. Typically once they have one, at most two sets of true leaves. This plastic tray size is most frequently used by larger-scale farmers and those who intend to pot up their seedlings multiple times before moving outside.

Factors to consider before using seedling trays

• Specification of seedling tray

The common seedling tray size is 540mm x 280mm with different cells. The less the number, the larger the cell. The numbers of cells are 50, 72, 105, 128, 200, etc. The selection of plug tray specifications should not only consider the size and shape of the seeds, but also the size of the young plant. Only by selecting the proper size can the seedlings achieve optimal growth.

• Hole shape of seedling tray

There are two shapes of holes in seedling trays: round and square. The round hole has a smooth inner wall, without corners of the square hole, which is conductive to the winding of the root of the plant on the inner wall. The square hole is good for guiding the roots to extend downward, and the substrate capacity is about 30% more than the round one. The water is distributed evenly and the roots can grow better.

• Thickness of seedling tray

The thickness of the common seed trays on the market is 0.6 to 1.2 mm. 0.6-0.8 thickness plug trays are mostly used for manual sowing or one-time use, for example, if selling the young plants with seed trays, the seedling company can choose 0.6-0.8mm thickness trays. 1.0~1.2 mm thickness trays are suitable for machine sewing and reuse after disinfection.

• Depth of seedling tray

The depth of the seed tray on the market is 3-5 cm, the deeper the tray depth, the larger substrate quantity and the greater the substrate water retention, then the more conductive to roof growth. There are also special-purpose seedling trays with a depth up to 9-11 cm.

• Suitable trays for vegetable and fruit seedlings

Generally, a 50 cell tray is fixed for fruit plant seedlings, such as cucumbers, melon, watermelons, pumpkins, etc. The 72 cells one seedling tray is mostly for vegetable propagation, such as eggplant, tomatoes, etc.

105 cells and 128 cells are mostly for leafy vegetable propagation, such as lettuce, cabbage, kale, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, etc.

• Material of seedling tray

At present, the seed trays used for seedling cultivation mainly include plastic seed trays and polystyrene foam trays. The main materials of the plastic plug are polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP). The polystyrene is resistant to high temperature, not easy to deform in summer, has good toughness, and does not break easily in harsh climates.

Benefits of using seedling trays

There are many advantages to using a nursery tray as opposed to other solutions, like growing in larger containers. It is incredibly simple to handle, sow, and plant seeds, and it also makes transplanting easier as seedlings grow. If you want to improve your chances of growing healthy plants and make sure they have enough room to grow and thrive as they should be anticipated to do when they become fully grown plants in only a few months or years from now, it’s crucial to utilize nursery trays. The benefit of employing a nursery tray is that seeds can be sown indoors under the safety and supervision of a grower. Here are some of its benefits:

• Grow a variety of plants

• Improve Germination success rate

• Fertilize easily

• Excellent water drainage

• Effectively manage the temperature

• Transferring plants to larger containers is simple.

• Boosts productivity

• Saving money

Mazero Agrifood ltd has a variety of quality seedling trays that are of high quality and cost effective. Contact us today on + to order.

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