When spring starts to show its face, I can’t wait to get into the garden. But there are some seeds that need to be started indoors first.
In your growing zone, you might want to grow plants that need to be started inside before they can be safe to plant outside.
Or, you want to spare the expense of buying seedlings. Perhaps the varieties you want to grow aren’t even available at your local nursery.
Whatever the motivation for planting seeds indoors, putting together a simple seed starting setup is helpful.
I’m walking you through my affordable seed starting setup in this post to help you get started. We will talk about the things you will need, how to choose grow lights, how to choose trays and inserts for planting seeds indoors, the best soil for seed starting, and when to start your seeds.
Starting your own seeds indoors allows you to grow unique vegetable and flower varieties perfectly suited to your garden. You can get a head start on the growing season and gain more control over the health and maturity of your plants. However, commercial seed starting kits and supplies can be expensive. With a bit of creativity, you can sprout seeds successfully on the cheap using everyday household items.
Why Start Seeds Indoors?
Here are some key benefits of starting your own seeds rather than buying transplants:
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Cost savings – Packets of seeds are far cheaper than purchased seedlings.
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Wider variety – You can grow heirloom exotic or hard-to-find plants.
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Custom schedule – Sow seeds when you want and transplant on your timeline.
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Healthy plants – You control growing conditions and avoid diseased nursery plants.
As long as you can provide warmth light and moisture, sprouting seeds indoors is easy even on a tight budget.
Choosing Low-Cost Containers
You don’t need fancy pots or trays to sow your seeds Consider repurposing these household items
- Yogurt cups or containers
- Cottage cheese tubs
- Milk or juice cartons
- Egg cartons
- Takeout containers
- Ceramic or plastic cups
- Cans or tin cans
- Cut plastic bottles
Make sure to clean and sanitize any used containers thoroughly first. Punch holes in the bottom for drainage.
DIY Seed Trays
Rather than purchasing seed trays, create your own from:
- Aluminum roasting pans or baking sheets
- Disposable aluminum pans
- Broken ceramic plates, glued together
- Reused plastic container lids
- Egg cartons
- Melted plastic lids as molds
- Repurposed food trays
Line with plastic wrap or a trash bag with drainage holes poked through.
Cheap Soil Options
You don’t need fancy seed starting mix. Consider these frugal soil alternatives:
- Screened, sterilized garden soil
- Coconut coir or shredded coco fiber
- Compost sifted through wire mesh
- Vermiculite or perlite mixed with compost
- Finely crumbled newspaper or shredded paper
- A 50/50 mix of compost and vermiculite
Avoid using straight garden soil which can contain diseases.
Homemade Heat Mats
Purchase heating mats or make your own from:
- A heating pad covered in aluminum foil (set to low)
- A wrapped hot water bottle
- Jugs or containers of warm water replaced daily
- Light bulbs enclosed in a insulated box
- Compost which generates its own heat
Maintain a consistent temperature between 70-80°F.
Providing Light on a Budget
Natural light in a bright, sunny window is ideal for starting seeds if available. If not, consider these cheap lighting options:
- Regular fluorescent shop lights in “cool” and “warm” bulb combinations
- Adjustable desk lamps or gooseneck lamps with CFL bulbs
- LED bulb sets or strings in the proper wavelength for plants
- South facing windows with sheer curtains to diffuse light
- A large mirror positioned to reflect and amplify natural light
Aim for 14-16 hours per day of light exposure.
Low-Cost Germination Aids
No need to buy propagators or warming mats. Try these techniques instead:
- Create mini greenhouses by covering containers with plastic wrap or cut plastic bottles with the bottoms removed.
- Place seed containers above radiators or heating vents.
- Top containers with plastic bags or clear lids to retain humidity.
- Use black containers which absorb heat. Paint recycled containers black.
- Create hot beds by mixing fresh manure into soil to generate warmth.
Just ensure consistent moisture and warmth around 75°F.
Thrifty Irrigation Methods
Water is crucial for seed germination, but fancy equipment isn’t needed. Consider these options:
- Plastic bottles with small holes poked in the lid make great sprinklers
- Use a clean paintbrush, q-tip, or eyedropper for precise watering
- An old spray bottle works perfectly to gently mist seedlings
- Fill a ziplock bag with water and clip a tiny corner for controlled watering
- Line trays with soaked newspaper or moist paper towels
Always use room temperature water and avoid cold tap water.
Frugal Supports and Covers
Once sprouted, seedlings need various supports. Improvise with:
- Popsicle sticks or chopsticks as miniature stakes and trellises
- Strips of old pantyhose, tulle, or mesh bags as plant ties
- Extra Lego blocks, toys, or craft supplies as props
- Recycled plastic or wood items for plant markers and labels
- Sheer fabric remnants or perforated plastic bags to make mini tents
Get creative hunting for materials around the house to support and protect your seedlings.
Repurposing Household Items for Seed Starting
Don’t throw out items that could help you start seeds on a budget. Reuse:
- Takeout containers, yogurt cups, butter tubs for pots
- Spoons, skewers, straws to make dibble tools for sowing
- Scissors, nail clippers, or razor blades for cutting opening in containers
- Old pencils, chopsticks, cutlery for plant stakes and supports
- Scraps of fabric, string, or twine for plant ties and trellising
- Empty yet cleaned squeeze bottles, spice jars, spray bottles for watering
- Old newspapers, scrap paper, junk mail for labels
Repurposing common household materials helps cut down on waste while saving money.
Budget-Friendly Tips for Success
Follow these tips to successfully start seeds without spending much:
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Scour thrift stores and garage sales for cheap containers and trays. Seek out off-season sales on soils and seeds.
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Swap seeds and cuttings with other gardeners to gain more variety. Join a local seed library if available.
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Use fridge and pantry leftovers like milk cartons, containers, and egg cartons for containers.
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Position seed trays in warm spots like near appliances that vent heat such as a fridge or electric heater.
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Maximize free natural light in bright, sunny south-facing windows or porches. Use reflectors and mirrors to amplify light.
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Monitor soil moisture diligently. Allow soil to dry out between waterings but don’t let it get completely dry. Mist leaves occasionally.
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Rotate containers frequently so all sides get even light exposure. Stake/trellis plants as needed once sprouted.
With creativity and resourcefulness, you can successfully start a variety of flower and vegetable seeds without expensive kits. Follow these tips to establish your plants on the cheap.
Can I Plant My Seeds in Dirt from Outside?
The short answer is no. Seed starting mix is the best choice for planting seeds indoors.
If you want to plant seeds inside, don’t use dirt from outside because it has bug eggs and fungi that can hurt young seedlings. They can also die quickly from a disease called damping off.
The exception to this rule is if you’re planning to sterilize your dirt before planting.
Things to Consider When Choosing Grow Lights
For a cheaper alternative to grow lights, regular fluorescent shop lights work too.
Then you can buy one “cool” bulb and one “warm” bulb to get the full spectrum, or you can choose full-spectrum LEDs.
If you’re planting seeds indoors, 6500 Kelvin is best for bulbs. But other gardeners have said that their seeds grow just fine without this.
So, what is the deciding factor in choosing grow lights versus a more cost-effective alternative?
For those who have spent a lot of money on seeds and want to keep their seedlings inside for a long time, I recommend grow lights.
Because I live in the north, I know that my planting date could be pushed back even further past my last frost date. I also have a lot of seedlings at stake so, for me, the grow lights made sense.
BUDGET Indoor Seed Starting Setup THAT WORKS!
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start seeds?
What to use instead of seed trays?
What is the best seed starter method?
What can I use to start seeds indoors?
Most garden centers sell plastic trays and pots, soil blocks, or peat pots to use for starting seeds indoors, but if you’d like to start your seeds without having to go purchase a bunch of new stuff, there are a bunch of inventive DIY seed pots that can be made from items you probably have in your recycle bin right now. 1. Newspaper pots
How do you plant seeds indoors?
To plant seeds indoors, first insert the plant labels into the soil near the edge of the container or tray. The hardest part of starting seeds indoors is providing the optimal temperature, light, and humidity levels for them to germinate and sprout into seedlings. Begin by covering the trays or containers with clear plastic.
How do you start a seed plant?
To start a seed plant, fill your pots or trays with seed starting mix (Step 2 in the passage), sow your seeds (Step 3), and label your newly planted seeds (Step 4). You don’t need any fancy gear or grow lights and can even upcycle small containers for this process. Keep your seeds moist and warm (Step 5).
Is it necessary to start seeds indoors?
For some species, such as tomatoes, it is necessary to start seeds indoors in cold-weather climates. For other species, it may be optional, and for fast-growing species, there may be no indoor starting information at all—these plants are best planted directly in the outdoor garden.