It’s that time of year again, and as the temperatures start to rise, we’re all getting excited about gardening, but it’s still a bit too early for cannabis plants to be planted outdoors, so it’s the perfect time to get a head start on things, by working on germination and sprouting healthy seedlings that will be robust and strong once the weather allows for a transfer into the great outdoors.
Now, some people like to utilize old school methods that are easy to do with things that you have lying around the house, but if you want an elevated experience, then you might want to invest in a few mini greenhouse kits. It might seem like an extra step in an already extensive procedure, but the benefits that come from this one small difference are more than worth it, and we’re here to tell you why that is.
What are mini greenhouse kits?
If you read the title of this article and you’re envisioning a fancy little grow tent setup, complete with everything that you need, then you might need to re-adjust your expectations, because what we’re referencing here are those small plastic greenhouses that are often sold in garden centers for starting vegetables and flowers. Do you know the ones with the see-through lid that keeps everything locked in and safe? Well, those are the ones that we highly recommend you look into, for the following reasons.
1. No limits
If you browse the mini greenhouse kits that are available in your local stores, one of the first things you’ll notice is that they come in all different shapes and sizes to accommodate anywhere from 10 to more than 100 cannabis seeds. They are also adjustable, with pull-apart plastic trays that can be separated, so if you only want to start a handful of cannabis plants, you don’t have to stare at a bunch of empty pots. This makes them absolutely perfect for the small-scale cultivator as well as larger producers because you can get them in literally any size that you could ever possibly want.
2. Save space
One of the best things about starting your cannabis seeds in mini greenhouse kits is how little room it takes up. With only a few square centimeters of space to spare for each one, it can house hundreds of plants in as little as 2-3 square feet, which is nearly impossible with any other germination method that’s out there. You can save yourself the space and the trouble of the old paper towel or water ideas, by picking up one of these mini greenhouse kits.
3. The greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect holds a great deal of potential for germination because it helps the cultivator to provide the ideal environment for cannabis seeds to open up and thrive. A mini greenhouse does this because it holds in moisture which aids in softening the hardened shell, it keeps in the heat which stimulates the growth that is necessary for a bright, little seedling to make its way through to the surface of the soil in stride, and it keeps everything enclosed so that once they do sprout, your seedlings aren’t susceptible to a cold chill or pests.
4. Reduce the number of times you have to transplant seedlings
One of the worst parts of germination is transplanting, because any amount of mishandling can leave your fresh little seedlings less than impressed with intervention. It can really stress them out, especially at such a fragile stage, so if you have to pull apart roots that are either tied up in knots or tangled in fibers of paper towels, chances are pretty good that you’re going to cause some long term damage. Mini greenhouse kits can help you to avoid that, as each cannabis seed stays nestled safely tucked away in a pod that can hold them right up until you’re ready to move them outdoors, or into larger pots.
5. All of the benefits at an affordable price
The absolute best part about starting your cannabis seeds in a mini greenhouse is that it can be done on virtually any kind of budget, and it allows for personalization throughout the entire process. You could order directly from a cannabis-focused company that provides everything from the soil to the fertilizer, or you can head on over to your local hardware store and grab an empty kit that only comes with the basics like name tags and pots. It’s entirely up to you, which means that the cost of this project can run anywhere from $10-$50, a fair and reasonable rate that can fit into almost any budget and preference.
Is germination in greenhouse kits any more effective than other methods?
Greenhouse kits mimic the very same environmental factors that some of the leading cannabis producers around the world use to increase their success with germination, so as long as you aren’t drowning the seeds with too much water, or using acidic soil, this method should definitely produce better results than most other common ways used to start seeds. Aside from a higher success rate of seeds that sprout, you will also get stronger and faster-growing seedlings, and that is why so many growers are now using greenhouse kits for germination.