Plant Propagation: Growing Young Plants with Indoor Growing

What is plant propagation?

Plant propagation is the process of growing a seed or tissue culture into a young transplantable plant. In this early stage, plants are grown at a very high density until they need more space. At that point, you can (automatically) transplant them to the next growth phase, or they can be planted directly in the greenhouse or open field.

What is indoor plant propagation?

Unlike traditional greenhouse growing, indoor growing doesn’t rely on daylight. Young plants are propagated in a high-density setup, either horizontally or vertically, in a fully enclosed indoor growing cell. In this daylight-free environment, external influences like weather are eliminated. You manage all key parameters such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, and energy management, creating the perfect growing conditions. This way, you can produce the exact plant type you want, cycle after cycle, with consistent quality.

6 key benefits of indoor plant propagation

1. Full control over growing conditions

By controlling every growth parameter such as climate, irrigation, and nutrition, you create the ideal environment for your plants to thrive. No natural fluctuations mean predictable, repeatable results.

2. Consistent, clean young plants all year round

A fully controlled indoor environment minimizes risks. Diseases and pests are virtually eliminated, so you don’t need corrective treatments. This reduces costs, supports more sustainable growing, and prevents negative publicity around chemical use.

3. Faster and stronger root development

Healthy roots are the foundation of a strong plant. By using LED lighting and precise control, you can stimulate faster and higher-quality root growth, giving plants a stronger start in the next cultivation phase.

4. Shorter crop cycles and more harvests per year

Indoor propagation can significantly shorten the overall cultivation cycle. For grafted tomato plants, for example, you can save 7 to 10 days per cycle, depending on the plant type and the desired plant age. In certain crops, such as ornamentals, this shorter cycle even makes it possible to achieve more growing cycles per year, which can lead to higher production per square meter. 

5. Higher yields per square meter

Growers who use this innovative cultivation method produce higher-quality plants with stronger root systems. The plants also grow faster, which means your output per square meter increases during the finishing phase. This leads to:

• more plants per square meter, including vertical setups;
• higher stem or branch weight;
• greater production thanks to improved fruit set; and
• reduced losses of young plants.

6. Higher success rate

By combining the right growth recipe with optimal conditions, you reduce plant loss and increase overall success rates. This is especially valuable for sensitive processes like graft healing or rooting cuttings that require precise and stable conditions.