Start More Seedlings in Less Space
The 128 Cell Plug Tray is a rigid seedling tray with 128 individual 1.17" (2.97 cm) cells arranged in an 8 x 16 grid. Each cell holds its own plug of soil, giving every seedling a defined root zone so roots grow down instead of tangling sideways into their neighbours. At transplant time, compact plugs slide out clean with the root ball intact, so seedlings move to their final home with minimal root disturbance and less transplant shock.
Why Plug Cells Beat Open Flats
Individual root zones. Seedlings started in open flats grow into a shared root mat that has to be torn apart at transplant. Plug cells keep every root system separate, so each seedling comes out whole.
Cleaner, faster transplanting. Gently squeeze the sides of each cell to loosen the roots from the cell wall, then a light push from below releases the entire plug. No digging, no root tearing, no untangling.
Efficient use of space and soil. Each cell holds a compact plug, so a full tray of 128 starts uses about 3.5 L of soil or Seed Starting Mix. Sized at 21.50" x 11", the tray works on the standard 1020 footprint under your lights or on your bench.
Who It's For
At 128 cells, this is the high-density format, built for growers who want the most starts per tray. You can start just about anything from seed in these: lettuce and salad greens, the whole cabbage family (broccoli, kale, cauliflower), onions, leeks, celery, chard, herbs, and flowers, along with warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. They also work well for rooting cuttings and for getting a jump on heat-loving crops so plants are ready the moment the weather turns. The trade-off with the smaller 1.17" cell is timing: whatever you sow, plan to transplant or pot up sooner, before roots fill the plug and start to circle.
Which plug tray to reach for really comes down to your goals and timing. If you know you want to transplant quickly, you can start a lot in smaller cells and move them on before they outgrow the space. If you need seedlings to hold in their cells longer before transplanting, step up to a larger cell like our 98 Cell Plug Tray or 72 Cell Plug Tray, which give each start more room and more time. In a 128 the plugs fill with roots sooner, so quick croppers can go from cell straight to the garden, while larger or slower starts germinate here and pot up on a shorter clock.
Market gardeners and greenhouse growers reach for the 128 when they want maximum count for succession sowing; home growers use it to start a full season of transplants on a single shelf.
How to Use
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Fill cells with pre-moistened seed-starting mix like our Seed Starting Mix and tap the tray to settle it. Each tray takes about 3.5 L of mix.
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Sow 1-2 seeds per cell at the depth the seed packet calls for.
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Set the plug tray on a 1020 Tray. For germination, cover with our 2" Vented Humidity Dome or 7" Vented Humidity Dome; both fit the standard 1020 footprint.
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Once seedlings have their first true leaves and roots hold the plug together, gently squeeze the sides of each cell to loosen the roots from the cell wall, then push up from the base to release the plug for transplanting or potting up.
Rinse out well before re-using.
Specifications
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Cells: 128 (8 x 16 grid)
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Cell diameter (inside): 1.17" / 2.97 cm
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Length x width: 21.50" x 11.00" / 54.61 x 27.94 cm
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Height: 2.00" / 5.08 cm
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Capacity: 217.60 in³ (3.77 qt dry / 3.57 L liquid / approx. 3.5 L soil)
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Standard 1020 footprint; pairs with solid-bottom microgreen trays and humidity domes
Additional Tips
We find this plug tray sits flattest and sturdiest on our 1020 Microgreen Tray - No Holes. The solid bottom gives it stable, even support and catches any runoff.
Our Seed Starting Mix is designed to work excellently with plug trays. Its fine texture and small perlite, coconut coir, peat, and worm castings feed beneficial biology and hold the perfect moisture balance seeds need to germinate evenly and grow to their full potential.
