Not to take business away from your store but there are heat mats out there with adjustable thermostats that have a probe that you insert into your seed tray soil and you can set them to whatever temperature you like and they will toggle themselves on and off as needed
Have you watched JacobsBackyardGardening? He reminds me of you early on in your gardening.Happy New Year.I look forward to a fruitful 2025 with your wisdom and knowlege .
OK so you said heat stress can cause legginess in cool weather crops. I sowed some bok choy seeds in a flat with the lights close to the surface. Now they're long and spindly, not that they're reaching for the light. My basement is about 72 degrees. Also I have peppers that germinated without a heat mat. Pretty sure during this comment I answered my own question but a professional opinion is always welcome 😊
HNY! Aren't those plants okay with the cold? I got them in the backyard and they're growing like crazy. I just added organic banana peel in the soil to fertilize them and maybe, they work like composts – natural heating for the roots.
I use a single flat sized heat mat and have always set it on a perlite-filled flat so that it doesn’t work hard trying to heat the ceramic tiles where the it is plugged in .
Last growing season was my first growing season with a heat mat and because I had watched a video you made on the do/don't of them, I was successful. Before watching that video I thought you kept the seeds on the mat for weeks and weeks. I didn't realize it was just during germination. Such good information you provide. Thank you!
I started using heat mats 2 years ago. There is a little draft that comes in at our bow window, and the heat mats help. I always take the mats out as soon as the seeds germinate. If I want to start seeds when it gets a little warmer, I can use my little greenhouse. But I can't wait until then to start seeds in zone 6b. I can't wait to get started!
My issue is I can't find any info on what temp to set it to, and should I use it if the ambient temp is high enough already?? Ex: House at 70F, seeds in question germinate best at 60F to 70F or 65F to 75F…. Heat mat on or off? If on, what should it be set at?
I bought a heat mat and have used it for sourdough, starting seeds, and in an emergency I finally used it to keep my chicks warm when their heat lamp burned out during he night. I never thought about kombucha. I eventually used it under plexiglass to keep my old dog warm in his doghouse. I put an old blanket on it and he was quite comfortable. It sounds like it has a lot more uses.
I have a couple of heat mats for gardening, but I also bout a couple of small ones to put in my nest boxes for my chickens so the eggs don't freeze, I haven't put them in there yet cause I got them for Christmas, has anyone else done this and would it be ok to keep them on all the time for would it be a fire risk?
Question. You say to take the plants off the heat mat after germination even for tomato plants. How do I deal with my house being too cold for tomato plants? My house is between 63 and 65 until the outdoor temp is warm enough to open the windows and heat the house. My house is to cold to germinate tomatoes without a heat mat. Last year I had success germinating with a heat mat, but they didn't grow so great. I can't heat the air more. How do you recommend starting tomatoes indoors if I can't keep them on the heat mat?
I used heat mats for several years and noticed that the plants around the outside of the tray generally germinated faster and in higher percentages, while plants toward the middle often didn't germinate at all. Eventually I ended up using a simple kitchen heat probe to determine how much heat the mat was giving off. If was over 100F, which was way too hot. I purchased an inexpensive dimmer cord from Home Depot and used it to adjust the amount of electricity received by the heat mat. After setting a proper temperate (75F – 85F), I get nearly 100% germination and fairly consistent germination. Note: You can also buy products which will allow the temperature to be set for the heat mat. Bottom line: Test your heat mat, and if necessary do something to reduce the heat if it is too high. Another method would be to stack towels or blankets between the mat and the tray(s) to reduce the amount of heat transfer.
HELP!! I have garlic that I purchased, used like three toes of it. Four days later it is all growing. I live in sw mi and can't put it in ground. ??? Hugs and kisses to all. Stay safe 💕
I have a very small seed-starting nook in my house and do use a heat mat for some seeds in very specific circumstances, but start a lot of seeds without it. I also brew kombucha and haven’t ever used it for that.
39 Comments
Not to take business away from your store but there are heat mats out there with adjustable thermostats that have a probe that you insert into your seed tray soil and you can set them to whatever temperature you like and they will toggle themselves on and off as needed
This will be my first year using heat mats. Thanks for the extra info that you have provided.😊
Happy New Year – Wishing everyone awesome 2025 Gardens, Grow Bigger 🍅🥕🍉🌽🫑
Do you leave it on the heat mat to all your seedlings germinate
Thought they were going to expensive. Just checked and they very affordable. Thanks for the info too.
Have you watched JacobsBackyardGardening? He reminds me of you early on in your gardening.Happy New Year.I look forward to a fruitful 2025 with your wisdom and knowlege .
OK so you said heat stress can cause legginess in cool weather crops. I sowed some bok choy seeds in a flat with the lights close to the surface. Now they're long and spindly, not that they're reaching for the light. My basement is about 72 degrees. Also I have peppers that germinated without a heat mat. Pretty sure during this comment I answered my own question but a professional opinion is always welcome 😊
HNY! Aren't those plants okay with the cold? I got them in the backyard and they're growing like crazy. I just added organic banana peel in the soil to fertilize them and maybe, they work like composts – natural heating for the roots.
How does the heat mat effect the water below the soil as I was taught not to water from the top?
Very timely,the one I ordered from you should arrive tomorrow 🤩
Happy New Year. Do you have to put a dome over top?
❤🙏
What powers your heat mat? Is there a solar powered version?
Thank you!
If you have no thermostat for your heat mat and wish it to be not as warm you can put some cardboard between the mat and your tray
I use a single flat sized heat mat and have always set it on a perlite-filled flat so that it doesn’t work hard trying to heat the ceramic tiles where the it is plugged in .
Last growing season was my first growing season with a heat mat and because I had watched a video you made on the do/don't of them, I was successful.
Before watching that video I thought you kept the seeds on the mat for weeks and weeks. I didn't realize it was just during germination.
Such good information you provide. Thank you!
Yes! I had to brew kombucha in my basement during the winter. To help with the warmth, I have used a heat mat
I've never used heat mats but always wondered about them. Thank you for sharing this was very interesting and informative.
I started using heat mats 2 years ago. There is a little draft that comes in at our bow window, and the heat mats help. I always take the mats out as soon as the seeds germinate. If I want to start seeds when it gets a little warmer, I can use my little greenhouse. But I can't wait until then to start seeds in zone 6b. I can't wait to get started!
new subscriber I just saw you video from 3 weeks ago about the seed starting trays I'm wondering about humidity domes should I get them or not?
I use a heat mat to germinate my warm weather plants! This will be my third season using them.such a great tool for a gardener.
My issue is I can't find any info on what temp to set it to, and should I use it if the ambient temp is high enough already??
Ex: House at 70F, seeds in question germinate best at 60F to 70F or 65F to 75F…. Heat mat on or off? If on, what should it be set at?
I bought a heat mat and have used it for sourdough, starting seeds, and in an emergency I finally used it to keep my chicks warm when their heat lamp burned out during he night. I never thought about kombucha. I eventually used it under plexiglass to keep my old dog warm in his doghouse. I put an old blanket on it and he was quite comfortable. It sounds like it has a lot more uses.
I use the top of my frige. I don't have an overhead cabinet so it works well.
Learned something new today, Yeah!
I have a couple of heat mats for gardening, but I also bout a couple of small ones to put in my nest boxes for my chickens so the eggs don't freeze, I haven't put them in there yet cause I got them for Christmas, has anyone else done this and would it be ok to keep them on all the time for would it be a fire risk?
Great video, could you schedule one on cold frames for the spring?
Question. You say to take the plants off the heat mat after germination even for tomato plants. How do I deal with my house being too cold for tomato plants? My house is between 63 and 65 until the outdoor temp is warm enough to open the windows and heat the house. My house is to cold to germinate tomatoes without a heat mat. Last year I had success germinating with a heat mat, but they didn't grow so great. I can't heat the air more. How do you recommend starting tomatoes indoors if I can't keep them on the heat mat?
I used heat mats for several years and noticed that the plants around the outside of the tray generally germinated faster and in higher percentages, while plants toward the middle often didn't germinate at all. Eventually I ended up using a simple kitchen heat probe to determine how much heat the mat was giving off. If was over 100F, which was way too hot. I purchased an inexpensive dimmer cord from Home Depot and used it to adjust the amount of electricity received by the heat mat. After setting a proper temperate (75F – 85F), I get nearly 100% germination and fairly consistent germination. Note: You can also buy products which will allow the temperature to be set for the heat mat. Bottom line: Test your heat mat, and if necessary do something to reduce the heat if it is too high. Another method would be to stack towels or blankets between the mat and the tray(s) to reduce the amount of heat transfer.
Happy New Year
HELP!! I have garlic that I purchased, used like three toes of it. Four days later it is all growing. I live in sw mi and can't put it in ground. ??? Hugs and kisses to all. Stay safe 💕
heat mat to keep Luke's feets warm
I have a very small seed-starting nook in my house and do use a heat mat for some seeds in very specific circumstances, but start a lot of seeds without it. I also brew kombucha and haven’t ever used it for that.
not true for keeping pepper seedlings on the heat mat
❤HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!❤😊
Great info! Thanks Luke!
Thank you!!! I did learn something that I was doing wrong = timer on heat mat
Great tip using heat mat for proofing bread. Love it!