❤I love my grow station, 3 shelves with heat mats by windows, small rotating fan and grow lights. I can start 200+ seeds in this small space, but have to be careful cause those plants will need to be potted up & moved into the greenhouse (which isn’t heated so has to be warm enough to keep seedlings safe until late May). One year I had 300 four inch pots in that room (my bedroom) and my husband proved how much he loves me by squeezing around larger shelves that I had to move into the room to house everything. 😂 I promised never again once he built my greenhouse! ❤
Eli, you are a perfect example of why a channel is successful: You are funny, charming and in love with your topic. Love to watch your videos, although if I am honest, I can only understand about a fourth of what you're saying! 😉🤷♀
I just love watching your videos. You make a lot of decisions I’ve made and it’s fun to watch you go through the process. Thank you for explaining the WHY as you go through it. ❤❤❤
Not related to seed starting. But. I want to say. I've been super sick this week and found your channel and been binging because I like the content but also. Your voice has been very soothing helping me rest while taking in info I enjoy. It's like meditation education ❤😂 thanks for your content ☺️
Great to see your new seed setup. An extra benefit of your reflective cover is that it will help hold the warmth around the seedlings as well. I like it!
After researching what type of light grow lights use I went for the cheapest efficient option for my lights using a 30W LED Floodlight that has 6500K and 4100lm and it cost me about £15 last year. These are the type of floodlights that people use outside the house (without the pir). I bought it so if it didn't work as a grow light I could use it for its intended purpose (it worked great) and when not using it as a grow light I use it as lighting for outside my house. They also won't get affected by water splashing them.
I bought lights to attach to the bottom of each shelf with zip ties running the cords down the side to a power strip. Marked each level’s light cord with a different color tape so I knew which I was plugging in and they came with a timer. Instead of lowering the lights I raise them up to the lights with bricks. The top rack doesn’t need a light because it gets full sun, rotating the plants daily so they don’t lean.
Reminds me of my own setup. I repurposed a shelving unit in my basement, which gives me 5 shelves for growing and one for storage. Grow lights can hang from the slats of the shelves. Worked great last year.
Great video Eli. Love the colour Co-ordinated shelving. I use the reflective stuff inside the windows overnight on my camper van, if away over colder months, for added heat and to keep the condensation to a minimum. Why didn’t it occur to me to use the rest of the roll for my seed station last year? I was battling with silver foil that kept tearing 😂😂 Notes taken! Thank you. Here’s to an excellent season for us all. Happy New Year to you and Kate 🎉❤
Hooray, you're getting into indoor seed starting too! This will be my third year with a grow tent thanks to your collaborator from the States (necessitated because we have cats that would otherwise destroy everything) and I'm so excited to get going. I've also picked up a second-hand soil blocker to try for the first time and have a Greenstalk arriving tomorrow!
Another great video! This will be my first year as an official gardener and your videos are giving me lots of invaluable information. Next up, "My favorite seed starting gear." You're costing me money, love! 🤣🤣
Not sure what the price comparison would be... but the reflective material looks very similar to car sun shades (not sure if you have/need those in Scotland?) Just as an option for people wanting a cheap alternative for that portion. Looks great!
Thanks Eli a great no nonsense video i needed this as this is my first year of buying a heat mat and a grow light so it us still going to be trial and error bug last year nothing took off for months, so fingers crossed happy sowing ❤
As always ....just the video I needed ....as Im already planning to make a seedling starting station upstairs ... and I was alittle confused about the lights .... thank you so much ....its like you can read my mind 😊😊❤❤
I've got nearly the same set up, need the reflective cover though that's a great idea! Amazon basics shelves similar to the Ikea ones are also great, use them on the balcony for all of my plants during the season and they're very strong
Muchas gracias por mostrar como lo haces, en España aunque parezca loco también nos viene muy bien una estantería de cultivo para las siembra de verano 😊. Me encanta como explicas todo 🎉
Thank you for this ❤ Had a poor season last year ….weather against me 😢! Lost my gardening mojo for a while ! But was thinking of setting up a wee grow station to give me a better chance ….also not taking over my dining room table as before ! Your video has inspired me to do just that . Onwards and upwards season 2025 …. always learning ! 😊
Woohoo! It is so exciting getting everything ready for seed sowing, I'm getting my kit out soon! Great idea with the proper reflective sheets, I used tinfoil last year and just as you said, it was flimsy lol
When the original tubes on my Vitopod went I couldn't find replacements anywhere. I tried to get the LED versions as well but to no avail so I'm glad they now seem to be available. I tried some cheaper tubes from elsewhere and they were poor to be honest so I ended up replacing them with a Spider Farmer LED growlight as well, the really long version, which has been brilliant (No pun intended! 😁 ) LED's are definitely the way forward and they are so cheap to run as you say.
I didn't know reflective insulation was even a thing! I was wondering about getting an extra reflective windshield visor or two since I need to replace the one for spouse's van before summer anyway, but the insulation is cheaper, so now I'm thinking I should get a piece of that for the van instead! 🤣 MIGardener has a whole series of videos explaining how to use shop lights instead of more expensive grow lights, by selecting for daylight range with higher kelvin (5000+) and lumens (3000+).
I spent ages looking for an affordable shelving unit for my upcoming seed starting setup, and somehow ikea didn't cross my mind i feel so stupid now😅 thanks Eli!
Happy New Year Eli and Kate! That's a great idea! Do you have a link to the Ikea shelves please? I think we still have some of that radiator sheet in the loft and totally didn't think of that as i too made light boxes with cardboard and foil a few years back! Did you get any snow there yet? They are teasing us with snow in the south but i doubt it would reach London. Anyway, take care and hope you both have a wonderful week!
No snow for us but we rarely get snow so it’s no surprise. I bought them in the store I’m afraid. If you do a search when you’re on their site you’ll see all the options.
Oh wow, that’s fantastic. I have a heat mat that seems to work ok but currently have it in my unheated laundry. (Glass roof and half walls.) it gets all the light available but there isn’t really enough light and everything is. leggy. I can’t really afford to splash out on a proper grow station like yours. My hobby is watercolour painting and I have two large daylight lamps, would they do the same sort of thing as a grow lamp? I can do some research to see if my lamps are suitable. They are long and angle posed, so I can set them at any angle. They have two light settings. You have inspired me again. Thank you.
Oh yeah, you see lots of folk making little mini versions for seedlings they grow on window ledges to help reflect the sunlight to the back of the seedlings. You make things suit what you need.
See seed starting stations popping up all over the world now Eli. Great video
I think it’s the convenience, just that but easier maybe?
❤I love my grow station, 3 shelves with heat mats by windows, small rotating fan and grow lights. I can start 200+ seeds in this small space, but have to be careful cause those plants will need to be potted up & moved into the greenhouse (which isn’t heated so has to be warm enough to keep seedlings safe until late May). One year I had 300 four inch pots in that room (my bedroom) and my husband proved how much he loves me by squeezing around larger shelves that I had to move into the room to house everything. 😂 I promised never again once he built my greenhouse! ❤
ha ha ha You better make sure you don't break that promise or he'll take the greenhouse away
Thank you for posting this! I needed one of my trusted gardening youtubers to post an updated version of an indoor seed starting video
It’s almost like I knew 🤣🤣🤣
Eli, you are a perfect example of why a channel is successful: You are funny, charming and in love with your topic. Love to watch your videos, although if I am honest, I can only understand about a fourth of what you're saying! 😉🤷♀
I just love watching your videos. You make a lot of decisions I’ve made and it’s fun to watch you go through the process. Thank you for explaining the WHY as you go through it. ❤❤❤
Not related to seed starting. But. I want to say. I've been super sick this week and found your channel and been binging because I like the content but also. Your voice has been very soothing helping me rest while taking in info I enjoy. It's like meditation education ❤😂 thanks for your content ☺️
Hi Eli & Kate, love your videos, another great one with lots of useful info. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Great to see your new seed setup. An extra benefit of your reflective cover is that it will help hold the warmth around the seedlings as well. I like it!
Oh I didn't consider the warmth aspect too - bonus!!!
Great video :) If you have any spare of that shiny insulation, you might wanna put it under your heat mat, might make things more efficient :)
Thinking I need to add the reflective layer to my seed starting set up. Too many leaning seedlings last year. Thanks for the inspiration!
A perfect shelving unit that matches the Rhino. I'm really looking forward to joining in the growing fun.
Ha ha ha nah it’s not going near the greenhouse 🤣🤣🤣🤣
After researching what type of light grow lights use I went for the cheapest efficient option for my lights using a 30W LED Floodlight that has 6500K and 4100lm and it cost me about £15 last year. These are the type of floodlights that people use outside the house (without the pir). I bought it so if it didn't work as a grow light I could use it for its intended purpose (it worked great) and when not using it as a grow light I use it as lighting for outside my house. They also won't get affected by water splashing them.
Oh, dual function! 😁
I bought lights to attach to the bottom of each shelf with zip ties running the cords down the side to a power strip. Marked each level’s light cord with a different color tape so I knew which I was plugging in and they came with a timer. Instead of lowering the lights I raise them up to the lights with bricks. The top rack doesn’t need a light because it gets full sun, rotating the plants daily so they don’t lean.
good idea with the labels!
Reminds me of my own setup. I repurposed a shelving unit in my basement, which gives me 5 shelves for growing and one for storage. Grow lights can hang from the slats of the shelves. Worked great last year.
Sounds perfect 👌
Great video Eli. Love the colour Co-ordinated shelving.
I use the reflective stuff inside the windows overnight on my camper van, if away over colder months, for added heat and to keep the condensation to a minimum. Why didn’t it occur to me to use the rest of the roll for my seed station last year? I was battling with silver foil that kept tearing 😂😂
Notes taken! Thank you. Here’s to an excellent season for us all.
Happy New Year to you and Kate 🎉❤
😂 you're actually not the first person to say that about the car!!!!
Reminds to to get some fans for this years seed starting adventure.
Hooray, you're getting into indoor seed starting too! This will be my third year with a grow tent thanks to your collaborator from the States (necessitated because we have cats that would otherwise destroy everything) and I'm so excited to get going. I've also picked up a second-hand soil blocker to try for the first time and have a Greenstalk arriving tomorrow!
🤣🤣🤣 oh I’ve been doing this a while
Just upgrading
@@eliandkate I don't doubt that! I'm still very much a beginner 🙂
Great set up. I store my heat mats flat, to avoid breaking the internal wires.
Then you get to play the game of trying to lay it out when it’s cold 🤣🤣🤣
@@eliandkate just like a new rug...upside down for a few days, with a few books on top lol!
@anirishmammy5658 🤣🤣🤣🤣 hell yeah
Another great video! This will be my first year as an official gardener and your videos are giving me lots of invaluable information. Next up, "My favorite seed starting gear." You're costing me money, love! 🤣🤣
Oh no
you don't get to blame me for your shopping habits 😂😂😂😂😂😂
So what makes you an official gardener versus unofficial?
@ I’m actually going to do it this year and not let my seedlings die in their trays. 😄
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Not sure what the price comparison would be... but the reflective material looks very similar to car sun shades (not sure if you have/need those in Scotland?) Just as an option for people wanting a cheap alternative for that portion. Looks great!
Thanks Eli a great no nonsense video i needed this as this is my first year of buying a heat mat and a grow light so it us still going to be trial and error bug last year nothing took off for months, so fingers crossed happy sowing ❤
a heat mat makes a huge difference to germination speeds and of course lights are fantastic for those little plants... you'll notice a huge difference
As always ....just the video I needed ....as Im already planning to make a seedling starting station upstairs ... and I was alittle confused about the lights .... thank you so much ....its like you can read my mind 😊😊❤❤
HA HA HA oh no, no mind reading abilities... it's the spy camera!!!!
😂😂😂😂😂❤
I've got nearly the same set up, need the reflective cover though that's a great idea! Amazon basics shelves similar to the Ikea ones are also great, use them on the balcony for all of my plants during the season and they're very strong
The reflective wrap defo works better than my tin foil attempt 🤣🤣🤣
So happy you tried and failed for me 😂
Muchas gracias por mostrar como lo haces, en España aunque parezca loco también nos viene muy bien una estantería de cultivo para las siembra de verano 😊. Me encanta como explicas todo 🎉
oh now that's interesting. I didn't think for a second you'd use something like that in Spain🥰
Thank you for this ❤ Had a poor season last year ….weather against me 😢!
Lost my gardening mojo for a while ! But was thinking of setting up a wee grow station to give me a better chance ….also not taking over my dining room table as before ! Your video has inspired me to do just that . Onwards and upwards season 2025 …. always learning ! 😊
If it makes you feel better, the weather made it sucky for us all. 😭😭😭
@@eliandkateyip ! 2024 was the year of the slug and rain and more rain !! 😅
@@eliandkate😢
Woohoo! It is so exciting getting everything ready for seed sowing, I'm getting my kit out soon! Great idea with the proper reflective sheets, I used tinfoil last year and just as you said, it was flimsy lol
how many times did yours fall off in the first week?
Mine looked like the cats had got at it!!!!
@ not to mention the noise of you had wee fans running lol
When the original tubes on my Vitopod went I couldn't find replacements anywhere. I tried to get the LED versions as well but to no avail so I'm glad they now seem to be available. I tried some cheaper tubes from elsewhere and they were poor to be honest so I ended up replacing them with a Spider Farmer LED growlight as well, the really long version, which has been brilliant (No pun intended! 😁 ) LED's are definitely the way forward and they are so cheap to run as you say.
I wish I’d got the longer one 🤣🤣🤣
I didn't know reflective insulation was even a thing! I was wondering about getting an extra reflective windshield visor or two since I need to replace the one for spouse's van before summer anyway, but the insulation is cheaper, so now I'm thinking I should get a piece of that for the van instead! 🤣
MIGardener has a whole series of videos explaining how to use shop lights instead of more expensive grow lights, by selecting for daylight range with higher kelvin (5000+) and lumens (3000+).
Glad I could help! 👏👏👏
I made one on one end of my greenhouse.
Oh fancy 😁
Fab video, growing along in 2025 😍
Yay! 🙌
I spent ages looking for an affordable shelving unit for my upcoming seed starting setup, and somehow ikea didn't cross my mind i feel so stupid now😅 thanks Eli!
Ha Ha ha you would have thought of it eventually
Happy New Year Eli and Kate! That's a great idea! Do you have a link to the Ikea shelves please? I think we still have some of that radiator sheet in the loft and totally didn't think of that as i too made light boxes with cardboard and foil a few years back!
Did you get any snow there yet? They are teasing us with snow in the south but i doubt it would reach London.
Anyway, take care and hope you both have a wonderful week!
No snow for us but we rarely get snow so it’s no surprise.
I bought them in the store I’m afraid. If you do a search when you’re on their site you’ll see all the options.
@@eliandkate Ok. Thanks for getting back to me.
Oh wow, that’s fantastic. I have a heat mat that seems to work ok but currently have it in my unheated laundry. (Glass roof and half walls.) it gets all the light available but there isn’t really enough light and everything is. leggy. I can’t really afford to splash out on a proper grow station like yours. My hobby is watercolour painting and I have two large daylight lamps, would they do the same sort of thing as a grow lamp? I can do some research to see if my lamps are suitable. They are long and angle posed, so I can set them at any angle. They have two light settings. You have inspired me again. Thank you.
Oh they might do, worth checking out
Love this 😊
one for your polytunnel???🤣
Hello! Is it ok to use the reflective cover if your station is near a window? I have large windows but can’t guarantee consistent light exposure.
Oh yeah, you see lots of folk making little mini versions for seedlings they grow on window ledges to help reflect the sunlight to the back of the seedlings. You make things suit what you need.
can i ask what the pulleys are called
@@jennymortimer4622 ratchet hangers, even better Jenny
www.amazon.co.uk/shop/eliandkate/list/2H8XTE5KL1EUI