Hydroponic germination sponge pods in peat — main view of the pack for seedlings of lettuces, herbs and tomatoes

Peat germination plug measured dry, 2 x 5.5 cm, and after soaking, 2.3 x 6.5 cm

Univers-Aquaponie germination pods — indoor hydroponics use for basil, lettuce and strawberry

Micro-porous structure of the peat germination plug, balancing water and air retention for rapid rooting

The four steps for using peat pods: soaking, sowing the seed, placing in the basket, transferring to the growing system

Hydroponic seedling pods — soaking, sowing, germination and transplanting into a planting basket

Peat germination pods used in indoor hydroponics, for transplanting in the kitchen garden, in vertical towers, and in NFT tubes

Hydroponic peat germination sponge pods

Name: Hydroponic peat germination sponge pods
SKU: 1005008323789172_173
Availability: InStock

15,90 €

5,30 € × 3 with no fees Klarna.

These compressed peat pods have a centre hole to receive a seed directly. They fit into the 32 mm net pots of hydroponic towers, NFT kits, and DWC systems, and the plug transplants whole, with no potting out required.

Ref. 1005008323789172_173·Germination substrate

Quantity : 20 pieces

20 pieces

50 pieces

100 pieces

200 pieces

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Delivery within 2 to 15 business days

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The summary

What you receive: pressed peat pods with a pre-drilled centre hole, in packs of 20 to 200.
Preparation: 3 to 5 minutes soaking in clean water, never more than 30.
Compatibility: 32 mm hydroponic baskets, the standard size for towers and NFT kits.
What happens next: the whole plug transfers directly into the basket, with no repotting and no compost in the water.
When to transplant: between 5 and 10 days, once the roots are showing through the bottom of the plug.
How it arrives: in a compact bag, alongside the rest of your order.

Pre-pierced peat plugs for 32 mm baskets, to be transplanted whole

A pod is a pressed peat plug with a hole in the top. You drop the seed in, let it sprout, then slip the whole plug into your grow basket. Nothing needs repotting and nothing gets disturbed, which neatly solves the main difficulty of transplanting in soilless growing.

💦 Soaking, in 3 minutes

The pod arrives dry and measures 55 by 20 mm. Soaking for 3 to 5 minutes in clean water is enough, as it swells to about 65 by 23 mm and takes on an even dark colour, a sign that it is ready. Beyond 30 minutes, the plug becomes waterlogged and the seed suffocates before it sprouts. You then place one or two seeds in the central hole, and leave uncovered those that germinate in light, such as lettuce and basil.

🧩 From seedling to basket

NFT tower or kit

The pod slips into the 32 mm basket and joins the growing line.

Float tray

The method is the same, in a basket placed on the floating plate.

In the ground

The whole plug goes into the ground, without ever having been opened.

Once swollen, the conical pod fits into the 32 mm baskets. When the roots protrude from the plug, after 5 to 10 days, you push the whole pod into the basket and place it in the system. In aquaponics, this step avoids introducing compost into the water, since no fine particles head towards the strainer and the biofilter receives no extra organic load. The operation of a grow tower shows where these plugs sit.

What takes over from the seed

A few days after germination, the seed's reserves run out, and the complete fertiliser then takes over to feed the young plant. If you are sowing a lot at once, a cell tray keeps your pods grouped together during germination and saves you from handling them one by one. Allow one pod per slot in your support, plus a margin, since not every seed will germinate.

The dry pod and the flooded pod

A seed sown in a pod that has stayed dry will not germinate, because moisture never reaches the heart of the plug. Conversely, a pod left half an hour too long in the water becomes saturated and smothers the seed. Once the seedling has emerged, never separate the pod from the root ball: keeping it whole is what spares you the shock of transplanting and preserves the finest root hairs.

🌡️ Where to germinate

Swollen pods are generally placed in a cell tray, under a dome, while the seeds germinate. Temperature matters more than light at this stage, as most spring vegetables need between 18 and 24 °C at grow medium level, and a room at 15 °C can easily double the time taken. Light, however, becomes necessary as soon as the stem emerges, otherwise it grows leggy and the seedling is lost. Space the pods slightly apart rather than packing them together, because a damp peat plug stuck against its neighbour dries poorly and develops a white film on the surface.

♻️ What happens to the plug

The compressed peat does not disappear into the system: it stays in place around the roots throughout the crop and is removed with the plant at harvest. On a long crop, such as a tomato, the plug slowly breaks down and loses its hold without this causing any problem, as the roots took over long ago. At the end of the cycle, everything goes to the compost, plug and roots included, where the peat decomposes like any other organic matter. Any netting or mesh around the pod, if it has one, should however be removed before composting.

Technical specifications

The essentials

Dry dimensions: 55 × 20 mmLength and diameter at the top, before soaking.
Soaked dimensions: Approximately 65 × 23 mmThe swelling wedges the conical plug into the basket.
Soaking: 3 to 5 minutesNever beyond 30 minutes: the plug becomes saturated and the seed suffocates.
Compatibility: 32 mm basketsThe standard for vertical towers, NFT kits and floating-raft beds.
Seedling per pod: 1 to 2 seedsPlaced in the central hole, which stops them from falling to the bottom.
Transplanting: In 5 to 10 daysAs soon as the roots poke through, with the plug left unopened.

To budget for separately

32 mm baskets: Those of your growing lineThe swollen pod slips in without any cutting or wedging.
Fertilisation: A complete fertiliserAs soon as the seed's reserves are used up, a few days after emergence.

In the box

20 to 200 germination pods of pressed peat with a hole in the centre, depending on the lot chosen

Dry and soaked dimensions, soaking time and basket compatibility: values stated for this model, recorded on 19/09/2026 and 08/10/2026.

Estimate your
delivery time

The pods travel dry and compressed, keeping the parcel light even for large orders. Exact shipping costs and final delivery times are shown in the basket once the address has been entered.

Frequently asked questions

8 questions

6 key questions, 8 in the detailed view

Does the pod fit into a 32 mm basket without being trimmed?

Can a pod be transplanted into open ground?

What happens if you leave it to soak for an hour?

How many seeds per pod, and do they need covering?

At what temperature should pods be germinated?

Are the pods suitable for an aquaponic system?

Can a pod be reused after harvest?

Which set should you choose, depending on what you grow?

Pack	What it covers
20 pods	A first trial, or a row of a few positions.
50 pods	A tower or an NFT kit run over one season.
100 pods	Several rows, or staggered seedlings all year round.
200 pods	A complete installation, renewed several times.

As the pod cannot be reused, your pack should be chosen according to the number of seedlings you will sow, and not the number of positions installed.

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Hydroponic peat germination sponge pods

The summary