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Vegetable Gardening

heat mats for seed starting

11 years ago

Does anyone have experience with these? I used to put my seed trays on top of the boiler in the basement. It seemed to do well, but it is awkward, ill fitting, hard to see what's happening, etc. I'm re-organizing my growlights and seed starting area this year and thought about getting warming mats to go under the seed trays. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Laura

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Comments (6)

digdirt2
11 years ago
You'll find this currently discussed in great detail over on the Growing from Seed forum. That is the best forum for this question.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed forum
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digdirt2
11 years ago
Here you go.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heat mat discussions
0
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Newbie question...alternatives to heating mats for starting seed
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I agree with mandolls....fluorescents don't put out much heat compared to incandescent, but it still puts out noticeable heat which surprised me. I am also a newbie and need to invest in a soil thermometer, but I can tell by experience so far that the shelf I added immediately above my top tier 4' 2 bulb fluorescent light fixtures stays a nice comfortable "warm" and has been perfect for germinating all manner of vegetables so far. You could even box in (or just tent it with plastic) the area above the light and it would become even warmer but that's not necessary for my setup inside the house where the air temp is usually 70-75 anyway. With a cooler basement setup you may want to build a sort of grow box to trap more of the heat rising from the light fixture as your germination station. Now I've just planted daylily seeds on the rack to germinate so we'll see how they do but I expect good results. Good luck with your seed starting!
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Heating Pad or Seed Warming Mat?
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I was curious about the heating pad v seed warmer difference too but mine is mostly for some plants that seem on the edge of unhappiness from the poorly regulated temperatures. I reckon if I can help them through to longer days than more light will help them too. "Water risk" is balony, IMO. My partner's (not so bright) ex made what was essentially a 6' heating element wired into an extension cord. I had to pack her stuff (yup) and when I saw that I was alarmed. Fortunately she's a dilettante and had forgotten about her (messed up interpretation weed filled) fling with what she called permaculture. So apparently some 15 years ago you could buy bulk heating element but I strongly encourage you to follow at least basic safety precautions. If you plug it in and the naked element scorches you, that's not good.
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seed starting with heat mat but no flourescents
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Comments (7)
That amount of light is fine for germination, which should be very fast with a heat mat. Very bright light is needed after germination, otherwise your seedlings will start stretching towards the light source and get leggy quickly. I use Jiffy pellets and a heat mat (plus a thermostat) and most things come up in 1-7 days. Tomatoes will also outgrow a Jiffy pellet quickly. If you have a yard or balcony and your temps are warm now, you can just pot up the seedlings, harden them off and move them outside at that point though.
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heat mat questlon
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Comments (1)
Is your heat mat thermostatically controlled with a probe in the soil? If not it is quite difficult if not impossible to achieve any consistent temps in the soil. Dave
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zzita
11 years ago
I use old water bed heaters :).
0
AiliDeSpain
11 years ago
I put mine on top of the cable box in my room. When the box is on it makes a nice heat surface for my seeds. Works like a charm.
0
wertach zone 7-B SC
11 years ago
If you have a fireplace, this may interest you. I posted it just before reading your post!

Here is a link that might be useful: Starting seeds on fireplace hearth, I like it! Just sharing!
0
foolishpleasure
11 years ago
I use heating pads under my seedling dome it works it speeds the germination of seeds. But you have to provide bright light as soon as the germination starts to show up or the seedlings will be leggy and weak it happened to me and I had to transplant the seedlings deep. Transplanting young seedlings trying not to injur tem is pain in the A
I forgot about sponges and these craps I saw the seed directly in JEFFY paper pots and put them under the dome no ned to waste time for transplanting pain
0

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