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seeds heating mats for seedlings

I started off using an electric blanket, but with the insistance of my future father-in-law (who's an insurance loss adjuster), I was talked into getting something a little more safer.

Here in Australia, they do make specialised grow heating pads with adjustable thermostats, but I settled on an 11W thing waterproof heating mat for $30, and bought a seperate thermostat that I figured I could use for something else.

What I've ended up doing it buying a really small water pump, and an air stone, and growing my seeds in rockwool cubes inside an enclosed dome. I just recently ran a test with 5 pubescens seeds, and all 5 came up within a week, so I think I found my newest and best way to germinate seeds.
 
cliff n york said:
does anyone use them and do they help;)
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I use them, and they do help. Pepper seeds need to be warm to germinate. Some of the people around here use some sort of bottom heat, like a seed starting mat or heating pad to far more elaborate sets ups that I'll let the proud owners describe. Some use top heat in the form of heat lamps, or they just let the lights they're using warm up the seed trays. Either way works, the seeds don't care where the heat is coming from, they just want to be warm.
 
I used a heating mat that i paid 45$ for at my local hydro shop for one tray/dome under two flo tubes, and i did one without, under the same two flo tubes... no difference in germination time for me... enough heat from the lights i guess..
 
melv1n said:
So you are pumping aerated water into the bottom of your enclosed dome?
Interesting.
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Yeah, essentially the dome has a base to hold the water, then a strainer type base that sits inside it where the rockwool goes. I clean the water once a week, and top up where necessary. It also sits under a 130W CFL lamp, so as soon as the seedlings pop, they have light ready for them.

Can't remember where in Vic are you, I bought the dome from a new hydro store in Epping.
 
Heat is very helpful for germination. At cold temperature they might not sprout or will take much much longer. I guess it depends on how warm your grow area is. I try to keep my seeds around 80-85 for germination. If they have already sprouted you don't have to worry as much about the temperature but if it is too cold it will slow growth.
 
IF you're going to use human heating pad(s), be sure to buy the ones that DO NOT have the auto shutoff feature. Also, not all heating pads are created equal. They can have "hot spots", where one spot is a lot warmer than another spot. To balance out the heat evenly, cover with a hand towel or two.
 
Well tonight after getting back from church I thought I might peek at my plants to see how they doing for its about time to water. Low and behold major percent of the little guys in the middle of the 72 cell was completely wilted to nothing!!!! I wanted to scream and on the outside area all of them were doing well and looking good. They were the 7 pod, fatalli, manzo Amarillo, rocoto yellow the ones I have not grown before and I do think that the 7 pod had enough heat to keep the rest of them warm. So just a warning from experience that the center of the 72 cell drys out real quick . I am going to set it back up for another group of seedlings and cut one section off the end to keep an eye on the moisture. For this is my first year using the heating mats.
 
I bought the heated greenhouse from Jiffy, which includes a heating mat and domed cover. It also came with 72 peat pellets. I got it for $29.95 at Wal-Mart. It worked fantastic! It's amazing how steamy and "rain forest-like" it becomes inside the dome. The seeds started germinating within a few days. I was shocked. This is my first year germinating seeds and I am hooked!
 
cliff n york said:
does anyone use them and do they help;)
Click to expand...

Yes, it works great. I get a much higher germination rate, some seeds dont even germinate without some extra help with the heat. But, if on a budget, or if just dont wanting to buy a mat, look around the house and you might come up with a spot that has that extra heat.
 
I use a heating pad and a the mat from the jiffy mini-house -- I found the jiffy one didnt generate enough heat I put a towel down on the mat and some insulation foam board on the bottom. I grow in my basement that isnt heated and stays around 50-ish --never had a problem only when they get bigger and pot up.
 
PrairieChilihead said:
I bought the heated greenhouse from Jiffy, which includes a heating mat and domed cover. It also came with 72 peat pellets. I got it for $29.95 at Wal-Mart. It worked fantastic! It's amazing how steamy and "rain forest-like" it becomes inside the dome. The seeds started germinating within a few days. I was shocked. This is my first year germinating seeds and I am hooked!
Click to expand...

yeah i got the same one - only it was from menards. works great though especially for only $30.
 
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