Short version? Get the Garland XL High Dome Propagator at £18 if you just want a decent dome for seeds and cuttings. Taking cuttings every few weeks? The X-Stream Aeroponic Propagator (from £53.99) roots them in a fine mist, no compost involved. Starting seeds from scratch in a cold room, the AC Infinity Germination Kit (from £94.99) gets you dome, lights and heat mat in one go. And the Vitopod Large (from £110) is the big adjustable one, where heat, humidity and height all get set separately. Watching the pennies? The Root!T Propagator Complete is a tenner.
The best propagators
Garland XL High Dome Propagator
A big clear lid, a deep tray and a dial vent. There's not a lot to it, and most people don't need there to be.
- 58 x 40 x 22.5cm
- Dial vents
- Solid base
- Deep base takes smaller pots, seed trays or multi-cell inserts
- Crystal clear cover, so your light still gets through
- No drainage holes, which means no puddle on the bench
X-Stream Aeroponic Propagator
No compost, and no cubes unless you want them. Cuttings sit in mesh pots with a fine mist of water and nutrient sprayed underneath, and the roots grow out to find it.
- 12, 20, 40, 80 or 120 sites
- Pump and spray assembly
- Butterfly vents
- Turns up ready to use, with mesh pots and neoprene collars in the box
- Plants are typically ready to transplant after 7 to 10 days
- Works with the supplied collars, clay pebbles or large rockwool cubes
- A small water heater set at 19 to 20C cuts rooting time further. The Hailea Nutrient Heater starts at £14
AC Infinity Germination Kit Combo
Dome, light and heat in a single order. Starting from nothing, that's most of the shopping list sorted.
- 40 or 72 cell tray
- Samsung LM301H EVO LEDs
- Dimming timer
- Digital heat controller
- The HDL5 dome has a 40 cell tray, the HDL7 has 72
- Two full-spectrum LED bars live inside the dome, so there's no separate light to hang
- Adjustable vents plus a drip tray to catch the run-off
- The SUNCORE H3 mat is IP67 and shows the temperature on its controller as it runs
Vitopod Large Propagator
Part propagator, part cold frame, part mini greenhouse. You start with just the lids on for maximum humidity, then build it up in layers as the plants get taller.
- 111 x 58 x 27cm single height
- 42cm tall double height
- 100W heated models
- 5C to 30C thermostat
- Thermostat and probe hold your target temperature to within 1C
- Fits up to 12 half seed trays or 55 pots
- Vents on the lids and the side panels, so you can harden plants off gradually
- Picked up a BBC Gardeners' World Best Buy and a Grow Your Own magazine Most Innovative Product award
Want heat for less? The X-Stream Heated Propagator with thermostat is £114.98 for the small one. There's a cheaper version without the thermostat, but then the base just runs flat out all the time, so we wouldn't bother.
View Vitopod Large
FloraFlex Deluxe Propagator Incubator
The one to look at if you're already running plugs. A 50 cell insert sits in the bottom tray with the dome over the top, and the whole thing is built around moving air through it.
- 50 cell insert
- Dome and bottom tray
- Takes 40|40 coco plugs
- Wider and taller than the original FloraFlex Incubator (£25), so there's more room around the plants
- Same 50 cell insert as the original
- Every part's sold on its own, so a cracked dome (£13.50) doesn't mean a whole new set. Same goes for the tray (£13) and insert (£8)
Root!T Propagator Complete
A tenner. For that you get a tray and a lid with two air vents, and it keeps humidity in around your seeds or cuttings.
- 57 x 36 x 19cm
- 2 air vents
- Channelled base
- Lid's 19cm tall, a bit higher than plenty of others, so taller cuttings fit
- Channels in the base keep young plants from sitting in water
- Takes one SBS 77 or SBS 150 tray, or two SBS 24s
Do you need heat?
A propagator looks after humidity. Warmth is a separate job, and a plain dome won't do it for you.
Late autumn in a garage or a shed? Then yes, you want heat under there. Seeds and cuttings left in the cold just sit and sulk. In a warm room you can often get away without. Secret Jardin suggest using a mat whenever the air's between 15 and 25C for clones and seeds, which gives you a decent rule of thumb.
- Match the mat to the base. Measure first. A Root!T Hobby 30W mat is 60 x 40cm, which suits a Garland XL. It goes under the propagator. Grow Gadgets mats go inside it.
- Get it off the floor. A raised surface heats up quicker and stays steadier.
- Add a thermostat. The Grow Gadgets Temperature Controller (£23.95) holds to within 1C and has a probe in the box. Pop the probe in a spare cube and you're reading root temperature. Hang it in the air and you're reading air, and the roots will usually run 1 to 2C warmer.
- Sort out your light. Only the AC Infinity kit comes with lights built in. For the rest, Sunblaster LED bars start at £29.95 and the MaxiLED Clone at £59.95.
- Condition rockwool before use. It's naturally high pH, so soak cubes for 24 hours in a weak feed under 1.0 EC at pH 5.5, then let them drain until damp.
- Open the vents bit by bit. Keep them tight while seeds and fresh cuttings establish, then open up as the plants develop. That hardens them off before they're potted on.
The bits we'd add:
More on getting cuttings going in our root stimulators guide.
At a glance
| Propagator | Best for | Heat | Holds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Garland XL High Dome |
Seeds and cuttings | Add a mat | Trays and small pots | £18.00 |
 X-Stream Aeroponic |
Regular cuttings | Water heater optional | 12 to 120 sites | From £53.99 |
 AC Infinity Germination Kit |
Seeds, all in one | Mat included | 40 or 72 cells | From £94.99 |
 Vitopod Large |
Big batches | 100W on heated models | 12 half trays or 55 pots | From £110.00 |
 FloraFlex Deluxe Incubator |
Coco plugs | Add a mat | 50 cells | £29.00 |
 Root!T Propagator Complete |
Tight budgets | Add a mat | One SBS 77 or 150 tray | £10.00 |
Prices as at November 2026. Check the product page for the live price.
How to choose
- A few trays of seeds, not much to spend? Garland XL or Root!T, plus a mat if the room's cold.
- Taking cuttings regularly? X-Stream Aeroponic. The 12 and 20 site share the same footprint, so go 20 if you've got the shelf for a 12.
- Starting from nothing? The AC Infinity Germination Kit saves you shopping for three things.
- Sowing lots of seeds early in the year? Heated Vitopod Large.
- Already on coco plugs? FloraFlex Deluxe with the plug kit.
- Want a dedicated space for the lot? Have a look at our propagation tents, or the Lighthouse Clone and Cuttings Kit (£174.95) with the tent, light, dome, plugs and gel together.
Can't decide which way to go in the first place? Our seeds or cuttings guide talks you through it.
Quick answers
Do I need a heated propagator?
Not always. In a warm room an unheated dome is often enough. In a cold room, garage or shed, add a heat mat or buy a heated propagator like the Vitopod.
What is the best propagator for cuttings?
The X-Stream Aeroponic Propagator, if you take cuttings regularly. Plants are typically ready to transplant after 7 to 10 days. For the odd batch, a Garland XL High Dome with plugs and rooting gel does the job for far less.
How long do cuttings take to root in a propagator?
Usually 7 to 14 days in rockwool cubes, and typically 7 to 10 days in an X-Stream aeroponic propagator. Keep an eye out for white roots showing through the sides of the cube.
Can I use a heat mat with any propagator?
Mostly, as long as the mat suits the size of the base. Root!T Hobby mats go under the propagator and Grow Gadgets mats go inside it. Add a thermostat if you want proper control.
Should propagator vents be open or closed?
Closed to start with, then open them a bit at a time. Seeds and fresh cuttings want high humidity, and opening the vents gradually hardens plants off before you transplant them.
Can I use rockwool in an aeroponic propagator?
Yes, but run the pump on a timer so the rockwool doesn't get oversaturated. A mechanical timer sorts it, and it's £9. With the supplied Clone Collars the pump can run 24/7.
Still stuck? Give us a ring on 020 8686 9643 or email info@thehydrobros.com.
Or pop into the shop for a natter: Unit 12, Progress Business Park, Progress Way, Croydon CR0 4XD.
More grow guides
- Best root stimulators
- Seeds or cuttings?
- Best grow tents by size
- Best pH and EC meters
- Grow tent setup guide
- CANNA Coco A&B: a closer look
The Hydro Bros Team. We sell this kit and talk growers through it every day in our Croydon shop.
