Plant Propagator Top

Click here for Technical Specifications of the product.  About 10 pages

All care is taken to produce a quality product that will last for many years of propagation fun.   Remember to harden off your plants when you remove them from beneath the propagator top as it contains some UV protection to ensure the product lasts.

Lately we have had trouble sourcing the best material, as for what ever reason, the companies here is Australia have decided not to make the raw material for this product anymore.   We have sourced another material which has a slight yellowish tinge to it, and though it looks slightly different in colour, it still works the same way.  We will endeavour to keep looking for another suitable product that is more clear like the original product.

Please see our returns and refunds policy if you are not satisfied with your purchase but please call us first.

Or check out our FAQs and Tips and Tricks page.

Compot Top Height: 21cm
Compot Top Width: 21.5cm to 23cm
Stakes – Length: 11cm Width: 2.5cm
Lift Pin Length: 10cm Tab: 2cm Circle: 4.5cm
Box Dimensions for shipping: 26 x 26 x 25
Weight for shipping: 1kgs

The Compot Top is made of clear plastic with a small amount of UV stabilizer added.  This means it will last for many years in your garden before it deteriorates.  I have had one in the garden in the same spot every day for over 8 years now and it is still going strong. There is no reason why you won’t get 10 years of use out of it as you will most likely not have it in the sun every single day like I have done to test its endurance.

You can order then separately if you like but unless you are ordering a large quantity of Compot Tops it is cheaper to order then with an order of Compots as they fit inside a Compot and don’t take up much extra space, therefore you get more value out of the postage costs.  It is up to you of course how you purchase them.

POSTAGE COSTS:

The updated website and shopping cart should automatically calculate any variations of products you add to your order and offer you the three cheapest options so you can choose which option you prefer, be it courier or Australia Post.  However, if this does not appear to happen then please call us (0467 006 529 / (07) 3358 3716) for a correct quote or continue to payment options.  We will refund you any postage charges over and above what the real cost is when we calculate and book your order.   So don’t be put off by the post.

If for any reason you feel the postage to your area is excessive (and sometimes it is too remote areas) please email us  so we can work something out for you.  The updated website will now give you Australia Post and courier costs, but this still may be excessive.   So, contact us to see how we can help.

Click here for instructions on how to calculate postage with Australia post – if you want to check the postage rates

If you get no satisfaction with the post, then please call us or email us and see if we can’t help you get a better deal.

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All you do is reverse the Compot Lid, fill it with soil or propagation mix, water it then plant your seeds.  Next - place the lid (with the soil and seeds) on top of the Compot but DO NOT lock it.  Place the Propagator top on top of the lid, and with a little downward pressure, twist it clockwise and lock it into place.  The gases escape through the top where you can also water it through the same holes.  The heat generated from the composting waste below creates just enough heat to keep the seeds warm.    Not only that it creates a nice humid environment in the top, much like a glass house or terrarium. And you can water the seeds through the hole in the top of the Top where the gases also escape.  It is fun to see your seed sprout and grow under the Propagator Top

Propagate directly in the garden

Plant Propagation Top can also be used directly in the garden over any new seedling or plant.  Place it over the plant or seed and secure it in place with the 4 stakes through the holes in the side tabs.  This protects the plant from the elements and garden critters till it is big enough to be left uncovered.  Water the plant through the holes in the top so you don't have to remove the top every time you want to water. The new Top has the holes arranged so you can water directly onto your seeds when using toilet rolls to propagate.  Remove the cover when the seedling is big enough to fend for itself and harden it off to the sun.  Hardening off is necessary as there is a small amount of UV protection in the material to protect your seedling.  The UV also ensures the top will last for many years in the sun before ending up in your recycle bin. You can purchase seeds to add to an order of pots and tops on our seed site ABSeeds

Use in your chicken pen

You can even use it in your chicken pen over the Compot for growing wheat, barley or oats.  Or use it directly on top of a big pot plant so the chickens don’t destroy whatever it is you are trying to grow. With the above ground method you can dispose of some chicken waste as well.  (video coming soon)   The lift pin allows for easy removal of the lid to fill more waste into the Compot below.  Whatever you do will depends on what you want to achieve in your garden, and thus determines whether this is a valuable addition to your Compots. I love mine for growing wheat grass in record time ready to juice and for having fun propagating seeds when I have time.    Propagating in Summer can be hard in extreme climates so try doing it in the shade or semi-shade.  You can usually propagate in the sun or shade in winter depending on what you are trying to grow. Keep experimenting and just have fun with it. It works. It's fun. It's great for the kids. And it's great for your chooks.  All gardening can be trial-and-error, so just have fun with it and enjoy what comes. Articles coming soon Growing Wheatgrass Propagating seeds Growing in your chicken pen Shop Now Shop ABSeeds

The Compot Propagator Top is a simple plant propagator that takes up less space than many other propagators.   It can be used on top of your Compot or directly in the garden. It all depends on how you want to use it.   All you have to do is reverse the Compot Lid, fill it with soil and/or toilet rolls, water the soil, plant the seeds, position it on top of your Compot, cover with the top then lock the top into place with a little downward pressure as you turn it clockwise.

I have not tried every single seed to see what will and won’t grow, so it’s up to you to find out what works in your garden, and in your climate.   But don’t give up the first time because you might have had bad luck.  There are hundreds of reasons why one seed will sprout and another will not.  It might have been too hot or too cold, or the moon might have been waxing instead of waning or vice versa, or the pH might have been a little out, or the propagation mix your bought was bad (as happened in South Australia) or it was the wrong seed for your climate, or the micro-climate in your garden was not right, or etc etc etc.  How long is a piece of string.  So many variables.

Like all gardening, it can be trial-and-error finding what works in your climate and your particular garden environment.   But it is fun and rewarding when you see those little seeds sprout and find out it actually works.

It’s great for the occasional gardener that wants a few homegrown herbs and veggies without the need for heating trays, greenhouses etc.

Wheatgrass can be grown in less than 10 days for juicing, to feed for your chickens or even to put in a salad.   It’s a fun way to teach your kids how to grow seeds.   If you are super serious about propagating you can get as many as you like depending on how many Compots you have, or how many you want to use directly over plants in the garden, as some plants need planting directly in the garden.  The Compot Top will protect your new little seedlings till they are big enough to be exposed to the sun and all the other elements in your garden.

You don’t even need Compots to use the Propagator top because you can use it directly in the garden over a seed or seedling.   Simply hold it in place by placing the 4 stakes through the holes in the side of the Top.   This will stop all manner of little critters from eating your new plants.   The same level of heat is not generated this way but it still works.   Just experiment what works best for you and your garden.