seeds Germination, Thermometers, & Variables

[SanSoo]

I use a mini-greenhouse with jiffy pellets to sprout.

My previous and recent germination project was Red Hab, which all sprouted within 6-7 days, and are now healthy one month plants. I used a grocery store Meat thermometer on top of my pellets to watch temperature. (Don't laugh, it worked great!) I did my best to keep temp at 90f.

Now, I have been trying to germinate 2 types of Jolokia: Bhut from one source & Bih from another.

Ah, but for this new project, I changed thermometers - Bigger and easier to read.

Very little was happening after 2 weeks, so I placed my old thermometer back in, and added a third.

Of course you already know where this is going - all 3 read different.

OY.

They say germinating the super hots is tricky - but finding the right thermometer my be even more so.

QUESTIONS:

1) Within an enclosed environment, what type of thermometer do you use?

2) Where do you place it within your environment (high, middle, low)?

3) What growing medium?

Yes, I know, another Big Subject.

Don't you just love this stuff?

Rick

 

[Silver_Surfer]

I don't use a thermometer, but best placement would be within the medium. I'd suggest sticking it into one of those pellets from the side about midway. Maybe use an unused pellet.

 

[SanSoo]

I have tried all of those, actually. I have placed 2 diff thermos in various places - I do try to be thorough & precise.

I'm not sure about placement within the environment.

 

[patrick]

You're one of those guys eh? The type that has to have every single teeny tiny detail analyzed every which way. No offense meant it's just you end up taking all the fun out of growing peppers. Instead of watching the progress you're busy taking notes and adjusting everything.

As far as germinating the seeds, put them in the peat pellets, keep them moist and not wet, keep the container covered and set it in a warm spot in your home or give it some supplemental heat. Then when one of them peeks out of the peat remove it from the container and put some light on it. Depending upon the type of light you want it about as close to the seedling as possible.

Good luck man.

 

[AlabamaJack]

QUESTIONS:

1) Within an enclosed environment, what type of thermometer do you use?

I use a remote bulb thermostat not unlike the one in this link...

http://www.drillspot.com/products/51297/Honeywell_T6031A1136_Remote_Bulb_Thermostat

the difference in mine and this one is mine has a night time and day time setting on it and also has a 3, 5, and 7 degree setting to let the temperature vary a little more...I use the 3 degree setting...

2) Where do you place it within your environment (high, middle, low)?

I put the remote bulb (sensor) in the soil in the middle of my germinator

3) What growing medium?

I only use Hoffmans Seed Starting Mix to start seeds with...I have tried many other brands but always come back to Hoffmans...

http://marketplaceadvisor.channelad...mDetail.aspx?sfid=124287&c=729283&i=238378589

 

[thaichillihead]

Maybe you should try to aim for 86F. That seems to be sweet spot for seed germination.

I always put my digital therm about one inch in growing medium to approximate where seed actually is. I use seed starting mix. Jiffy pellets are fine.

 

[AlabamaJack]

Maybe you should try to aim for 86F. That seems to be sweet spot for seed germination.

I always put my digital therm about one inch in growing medium to approximate where seed actually is. I use seed starting mix. Jiffy pellets are fine.

agree on the 86F (30C)...that is what I keep mine on constant until they come out of the germinator..

Thank you AJ.

After reading your post, I am amazed I germinate at all, lol.

Rick

don't be surprized...everyone likes things a little different and the way I do it just works best for me...

however, there is one tid bit of information you need to see...germination rate vs temperature graph for a couple different annuum varieties...I have searched and searched for some scholarly articles on germination rate vs temp for chinense to no avail...as you can see there is a dramatic drop between 30 (86F) and 35 (95F)

found a couple of shots of my thermostat...

 

[LGHT]

What type of thermometers are you using? I mean are you going to the grocery store and getting what they have for $5.00 or less, or are you buying a professional thermometer that cost $50.00 plus? If your not investing the money in good equipment you can buy 10 thermometers and probably get different temps if they are all cheap. Also what are you using to heat your jiffy greenhouse and where are you trying to germinate them? Does the room stay around the same temp all day and night or does it get really hot in the day or really cold at night? Also how wet are you keeping your peat pucks? Are they sitting in water, light brown on top, or moist but not wet?

Although temp is important there are a lot of other factors to consider including patience.

 

[AlabamaJack]

moving thread to Grow Tech section...

 

[chillilover]

I use a digital infared temp gun and point it at the top of the soil.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEMG5&P=ML

 

[SanSoo]

The only reason I'm asking these questions is because this is the first time I have had "problems." Maybe they are not really problems at all.

My bottom heated mini-greenhouse setup has always worked great for me until I started the Bhuts & Bihs. I know these can be 'tricky' but I was running with AJ & others who have said they got pretty full germination within 7-14 days.

That's what led me to believe my thermometers may not be accurate. I have 2 going now that both read the same while sitting in variations of the same physical location - 85f/30c window.

After 2 weeks: Of 18 Bhuts, so far 4 have sprouted. Of 18 Bihs, so far only 1.

All mini-greenhouse conditions are fine - they get air, moist but not wet, etc. I'm using Peat Pellets which have always worked great for me, and I understand how they 'think' as it were.

The temp does vary somewhat depending on time of day. I work at home on my PC so I am able to monitor conditions pretty well, but at night the temps in my mini-greenhouse do dip somewhat - but never below 80f.

Maybe I simply need to be more patient with more difficult seeds.

Like the caveat for the business I'm in, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results."

Anyway, this forum has been a great help Thank you all so much!


UPDATE 8-28-09: This is about the middle of the 3rd week, and 12 of 18 bhuts have now popped up, and 4 of 18 bih.