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Heat pad + plastic bag/condiment cup method?
- Thread starter Phormic28
- Start date
No matter what method you use, it's still a good idea to keep it in a warm place. Is your heat mat made for seed starting? If so, the ones without thermostats usually run 10 to 20 degrees above room temperature which is a good range for germination. They'll still germinate at room temperature but it just might take a little longer. You can even just put them on top of the fridge where its warm and that usually helps speed things up a little too. Good luck with your grow!
Thanks for the reply! Sadly the top of my fridge isnt warm, tried checking the temp on it via a temp gun and its the same as other surfaces. So would something like this be fine?: https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Waterproof-Seedling-Hydroponic-Standard/dp/B00P7U259C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540042296&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=seedling+heating+pad&dpPl=1&dpID=41MbNXtACLL&ref=plSrch and then Ill just place the plastic bags and condiment containers on top of it?Edmick said:
Thanks!
Yes that'll work just fine but keep in mind, those are meant to be used under a 1020 tray so putting seeds directly on the mat MIGHT be too hot. You can usually get 1020 trays at Walmart for a couple bucks. Most of the mats without thermostats run at a certain temperature ABOVE room temperature so don't put it in a hot room like I did one time and cook the seeds. I used one in my grow room that was already 90 something degrees and when I opened it, it was HOT. Seeds never germinated. Keep it in a room that's around 70 degrees and your temp from the mat will be around 80 or 90 degrees. That's a good range for seed startingPhormic28 said:
Not sure. Never heard of doing it that way. I've been using a propagation mat for years without a thermostat and it works just fine without one. Just keep it in a room temperature setting and the mat will maintain itself at the right temperaturePhormic28 said:
That mat will work fine, I have 2 and use them every year. The description says 10-20 degrees higher than ambient temps so listen to Ed about over heating. I wouldn't put the seeds directly on the mat, they'll probably get burned up and won't germinate.
Here's another method I used last year when I was selling plants and would germinate many varieties at once. I used those cheap aluminum pans with holes punched in the bottom for pots, I could grow 25+ seedlings in there till transplant time. I bought a plastic tote with a lid for a germination chamber, set it on a seed mat and it worked great. I could fill it up and it would hold moisture good.
Here's another method I used last year when I was selling plants and would germinate many varieties at once. I used those cheap aluminum pans with holes punched in the bottom for pots, I could grow 25+ seedlings in there till transplant time. I bought a plastic tote with a lid for a germination chamber, set it on a seed mat and it worked great. I could fill it up and it would hold moisture good.
Thanks for the reply! I don't have the option of starting them in seed starting mix, only plastic baggie/condiment containers though. But your post did give me an idea about using a sterilite tub and then placing the plastic bags/condiment containers in it!Rajun Gardener said:That mat will work fine, I have 2 and use them every year. The description says 10-20 degrees higher than ambient temps so listen to Ed about over heating. I wouldn't put the seeds directly on the mat, they'll probably get burned up and won't germinate.
Here's another method I used last year when I was selling plants and would germinate many varieties at once. I used those cheap aluminum pans with holes punched in the bottom for pots, I could grow 25+ seedlings in there till transplant time. I bought a plastic tote with a lid for a germination chamber, set it on a seed mat and it worked great. I could fill it up and it would hold moisture good.
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I'll try this as well!Edmick said:
CaneDog
Extreme Member
A towel draped over the heating pad as insulation will prevent the cups/seeds from being exposed to the direct heat of the pad, and can also be folded over the cups to "sandwich" them in like an incubator (to make it cooler you can double or triple fold the towel between the pad and seeds and use a second towel over the cups to make the sandwich). Or you can put the cups in some form of small box or container (maybe a shoebox) over the heating pad and a towel, then drape a second towel if needed over that.
Whatever method you choose, you can check your heat by putting a thermometer into the setup or one of the poly-port cups half-full of water for a couple hours then checking the temperature and adjusting the setup until you're comfortably within a good range.
Whatever method you choose, you can check your heat by putting a thermometer into the setup or one of the poly-port cups half-full of water for a couple hours then checking the temperature and adjusting the setup until you're comfortably within a good range.
Edmick said:
CaneDog said:
Decided to test out three options:
1) I keep some Arthropods in an incubator so I put a couple ziplock baggies with seeds in there. Stays around 80-85
2) I put some condiment containers (3 with 5 seeds each) on top of my modem, this gets to around 110 max (is this too hot?)
3) I put some condiment containers (4with 5 seeds each) on top of my cable box, this gets to low 90s max
Do these temps sound okay?
Thanks!
CaneDog
Extreme Member
I usually start seeds directly in mix, but when I've started in baggies or poly-ports I would move to dirt as soon as I saw the root poke out and be careful not to damage the root removing it off the paper.
If you're going to move them into Solo's and under light right away, you might want to put plastic wrap over the top of the cup with a rubber band holding it on until you see the hook break surface. That way the surface mix won't dry out so quickly. And sure, going right into the Solo's as you plan is great.
If you're going to move them into Solo's and under light right away, you might want to put plastic wrap over the top of the cup with a rubber band holding it on until you see the hook break surface. That way the surface mix won't dry out so quickly. And sure, going right into the Solo's as you plan is great.