The Best Seed Pots

Buying Guide

Whether you’re new to gardening or a dedicated horticulturist, a good selection of seed pots can come in handy. Once used solely to store seeds, these containers have stuck around over the years as a safe, easy way to move plants from one location to another.

One of the best uses for seed pots, though, is to get a plant growing indoors and move it outdoors once it’s gotten a good head start. Getting the timing right can be tricky, though. The best time to start an indoor seed pot depends on when it will be safe to move that plant outdoors. Quick-growing plants like lettuce can be moved only two weeks after you’ve planted the seeds, while longer-germinating plants like peppers and eggplants can stay inside as long as eight weeks.

The problem is, plants that remain indoors too long can sometimes fail to thrive once transplanted. So if you start your plant, only to get an unexpected freeze outdoors when you were planning on making the move, you could get yourself in trouble. It’s best to play it as safe as possible when timing out your indoor planting to ensure your transplant is successful.

The move itself can cause similar problems. You’ll need the right seed pot that gives enough room for your plant to form roots without being crowded. You’ll also have to make sure your plant gets the right amount of light and water while it’s indoors, and that it’s planted in the right location once you’ve moved it outdoors.

The ideal germination period, lighting and moisture conditions can vary from one plant type to another, so it’s important to research each plant carefully before getting started. If one of your plants fails to transplant properly, don’t give up. Simply try again, putting the lessons you learned toward becoming the gardener you’re meant to be.

• Seed pots are often sold in large quantities. If you’re just getting started, hold on to all the extras for future use.
• You’ll see a wide variety of sizes when you’re choosing seed pots. It’s important to find one that’s large enough for your roots to spread out without being so large that it promotes root rot.
• Many seed pots sold today are compostable, which means you can simply plant the pot in the dirt and let it decompose naturally. It becomes part of the surrounding soil. Since moving a plant from the pot to the ground can damage it, this is an eco-friendly solution that also makes life easier.
• A good pot will have drain holes to ensure plenty of air gets to the soil while letting excess water drip out. This can be messy, but it’s a great way to keep your seedlings safe while they’re growing.
• With some pots, a flexible design lets you squeeze the soil out to more easily move the plant from the pot to the ground. This will save you the headache of trying to dig the seedling out safely while also providing a safe way to store it while it’s growing.
• Some seed pots ship with labels included for easily labeling your pots. This can come in handy for logging the type of plant in each pot, as well as information like the date you planted it, the water and lighting requirements and any other notes that will help you as you prepare to transplant your plant outside.
• If you go with a pot that doesn’t biodegrade, you might want to reuse it later. Some seedling pots are sturdy enough to let you wash and reuse them, providing an eco-friendly solution that will save you money and time later.