Transform Thrifted Vinyl Record Players Into A DIY Propagation Table

There are a variety of incredible, creative ways to repurpose old items. With a keen eye, a vintage shop or estate sale is a treasure trove of opportunities to upcycle unique pieces for your home. If you stumble across an old vinyl record player while thrifting, consider transforming it into a one-of-a-kind propagation table for your house plants. All you need is an old cabinet-style record player, under cabinet LED lights, and a heat mat. Using these simple materials, you can convert the inside of your record player into your own home plant nursery. 

While it's easy enough to propagate pothos and other vining plants, those like the fiddle leaf fig or succulents can take some more time and effort. That's where a propagation table can really come in handy. This DIY offers a perfect spot for your favorite plant cuttings to root successfully. Grow lights provide a crucial energy source for plant cuttings, while a heat pad can aid in keeping your soil at the optimal temperature. Your propagation table can also elevate your plant care by providing a perfect place to repot, store materials, and display plants. 

If you don't already have one, try shopping around for a vintage vinyl record player at thrift shops, vintage shops, estate sales, or even Facebook Marketplace. Look for a cabinet-style record player with plenty of flat surface to work with on the top. While some old record players are just empty cabinets, others will come with components inside such as the turntable, electronics, record cubbies, or built-in speakers. You'll need to remove anything in the cabinet to make way for your propagation station. You might be able to sell the components or repurpose them for another project. 

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Once you're working with an empty vessel, measure the cabinet space. Pick heat mats that will sit flush on the bottom of the cabinet. LED light strips should be easy to fit into any cabinet so long as there's a flat surface at the top to adhere them to. If you choose to go with a rectangular LED light, just make sure it's long enough to span the length of the cabinet. Once you install the heat mat and LED lights, you can place your plant cuttings in the cabinet and watch them flourish. Feel free to decorate the top of the record player with trending houseplants and other decor. 

If you really want to see your plant cuttings take off, you'll need to water and mist them regularly. You may also find that placing a humidity dome inside the cabinet can be helpful. However, this is a lot of moisture for your record player to endure. If you're concerned about excess moisture damaging your cabinet, consider sealing it before installing your lights and mat. You can also place your plants, propagation bottles, and humidity dome in trays. Dump the trays regularly to avoid any leaks. 

Record player cabinets may have more drawers and storage space you can make use of, too. Take this opportunity to create a sort of one-stop-shop for any and all of your plant care needs. Store your gloves, tools, and fertilizer in the cabinet and drawers. The lift-top lid where the turntable used to be might serve as a handy repotting station. You can place a tray in the basin and even keep your soil in there. With all your plant care items in one place, your DIY record player propagation table is sure to bolster your plant cultivation capabilities while also creating an eye-catching space to display your collection.