Easy Seed Starting Shelves DIY: Make a Grow Light Stand Fast

What you’ll need to set up a seed starting shelf with lights (complete shopping list)

1. Sturdy, adjustable shelves for your DIY grow light stand

I recommend using adjustable wire shelves (with wheels) for your grow light shelves—no flimsy pvc pipe for us!

What I love about these wire shelf units:

• They’re sturdy.
• They’re easy to assemble. They only take about 30 minutes to put together. And the only tool you’ll need is a rubber mallet.
• You can adjust the shelves if you change your mind later.
• They’re easy to move because they have wheels.
• You can fit up to four 10″ x 20″ seedling trays on each shelf!
• When you’re not starting seeds on them, you can use them for storage or as a drying rack for herbs or a curing rack for garlic and onions.

The first thing to decide is how deep of a shelf unit to purchase.

You have two choices, 1.5′ deep, or 2′ deep.

If you have the floor space and budget for the 2′ deep shelves and lights, they’re the better investment because you’ll get more light coverage on your seedlings.

Wire shelf unit: 1.5′ x 4′ x 6′

• Pros: Less expensive and has a small footprint.
• Cons: Because the lights that fit this shelf don’t fully cover a 10″ x 20″ tray, the seedlings on the ends of the flat can get a little leggy.
  • Plan to spin your seed trays regularly, so they get more evenly lit.
  • This setup also works best when you can place the shelves next to a wall that you’ve covered with mylar – this helps to bounce more light back onto the seedlings. If you can’t put your stand next to a wall, choose the 2′ x 4′ shelves.
  • The other thing you can do is put only two trays on each shelf, end-to-end, but this cuts the number of seedlings you can grow in half!

Wire shelf unit: 2′ x 4′ x 6′

• Pros: Even light for your seedlings. The 6-tube lights you’ll use with this setup give excellent light coverage for 10 x 20″ trays.
• Cons: The shelves take up more floor space, and the shelves and lights are more expensive.

Shop for supplies: Shelf unit

Prices last updated on 2024-12-19 at 19:15

2. The best seed starting grow lights

Once you’ve chosen your shelf unit, the next thing to do is choose your indoor grow lights.

I recommend fluorescent grow lights from Hydrofarm. They’re reliable, relatively inexpensive, and use fluorescent bulbs.

I’ve used them for years and have always been happy with them. They’re my favorite grow light for starting seeds indoors.

And they have a “designer” series, which has a bronze finish if you don’t like the look of the white fixtures. 

LED grow lights are another option, but be aware that you generally need to keep LED lights very far away from the tops of your plants (20 inches or more), which means your grow light setup will take up a lot more floor space and may require multiple shelving units.

If you choose to use a shop light, make sure to choose a full-spectrum fluorescent bulb that puts out enough lumens for your indoor plants.

Here’s how to make it easy to grow healthy seedlings every year: download my FREE grow light plans.

The size of fluorescent light you choose depends on the shelving unit you’re using.

• The 4-bulb fixtures fit the 1.5′ x 4′ shelves.
• The 6-bulb fixtures fit the 2′ x 4′ shelves.
• But if you hang one light from the ceiling, and use the top shelf for growing plants, you can use one 6-bulb fixture with the 1.5′ x 4′ shelf unit.

Another option is to use two 2′ x 2′ fixtures on one shelf. This gives you more flexibility.

• You can start 2 flats under one light, and not have to turn an entire 4′ fixture on.
• Or start flats at very different times and raise and lower the heights of the two lights independently.

Shop for supplies. Best grow lights: 4-bulb lights (fit the 1.5′ x 4′ shelves)

Prices last updated on 2024-12-19 at 19:15

Shop for supplies. Best grow lights: 6-bulb lights (fit the 2′ x 4′ shelves)

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 04:30

3. Must-have accessories for your grow light shelves

Accessory #1: Hang the lights with adjustable light hangers

An adjustable grow light stand is a must so you can move your lights up as your plants grow.

And you need a secure way to hang your lights on the grow shelf. The best tool for the job is ratchet hangers that are designed to suspend plant lights.

They’re easy to use and will support the weight of heavy lights.

The best hangers for your DIY seedling rack

A common alternative is to use chain and S hooks, but these can be finicky and require you to unhook the light to move the light up or down, which is just asking for trouble. You don’t want one slip of the finger to destroy all your hard work!

These ratchet hangers make raising and lowering the lights a pleasure rather than a chore.

You’ll need one pair per light fixture.

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 04:30

Accessory #2: Set up an oscillating fan for each shelf

Besides growing your seedlings under lights, the other critical item that’ll ensure you grow healthy seedlings is an oscillating fan.

I can’t stress enough how important air movement is for seedling health!

An inexpensive oscillating fan pointed at each of your shelves will cut down on diseases like damping off and make your seedlings stockier and sturdier.

The type of fan you should use depends on your setup.

I have a second set of shelves across from my plants that I clamp my fans to and point directly at the plants.

You could also set a tabletop fan on a shelf unit that’s next to your grow light stand.

You may need to get creative if you don’t have anywhere to set a fan.

• One thing you could do would be to clamp a small fan on one side of each shelf and sacrifice some space for the fan.
• Another idea is to get a long tension rod that is long enough to go from floor to ceiling, and clamp clip-on fans to it.

You’ll need one fan per shelf.

Could you use a FREE set of plans so you can set up your seed starting rack in an afternoon? Click to download my seed starting rack plans right now.

Shop for fans

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 01:00

Accessory #3: Plug your lights and fans into a heavy-duty timer

Since your plants need some darkness each day, you’ll need to set your light(s) on a timer.

You’ll also want to put your fan(s) on a separate timer.

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 04:30

Accessory #4: Plug everything into a surge suppressor

You’ll also want to protect all of your seed-starting equipment from electrical surges.

A surge suppressor is a good insurance policy against losing all of your equipment because of some weird power spike.

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 04:30

Accessory #5: Consider using a heat mat

A heat mat is optional but will help your seeds germinate faster.

• Unless you plan to start hundreds of plants at once, one heat mat should be enough.
• If you get a heat mat, I highly recommend getting a heat mat thermostat with it.
• It’ll turn your mat on and off automatically and keep your soil at a more even temperature.
• You can fit two 10″ x 20″ flats on one mat.

Shop for a heat mat & thermostats

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 04:30

Accessory #6: Use mylar to reflect light back onto your plants

If you plan to put your seed-starting rack next to a wall, covering the wall with mylar is a good idea.

• It’ll bounce light back onto your seedlings better than paint.
• It’ll protect your wall from water splashes and dirt.
• And, if you chose to go with the 1.5′ deep shelves, it’s helpful to bounce all the light you can back onto your plants since the 4-bulb fixtures that fit those shelves don’t provide full light coverage for your trays if you put 4 trays on a shelf.

Prices last updated on 2024-12-20 at 08:25