I get what you're saying. There is a place for them. There are a lot of ways to misuse them. I really find that they're helpful to regulate moisture for germination.
I’m new to germinating seeds and growing seedlings. Now I’m really confused. I bought a small kit that has small grow lights into the humidity dome with adjustable vents. Did I make a huge mistake? If I need to take the humidity dome off when the seedlings sprout, how am I supposed to use the grow lights if I can’t put the dome on top? Right now I’ve planted jalapeño, Banana pepper and tomato seeds. Soon I’ll be starting cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe. Any advice would be so helpful.
I think they are more so meant for propagation of cuttings, still though I think they need vents, these sealed ones are asking for mold and rot, if you use these please poke holes or cut slits similiar to the size you will see on expensive 6'-12' tall humidity domes.
totally agree. I am ok with them until emergence to help keep seed moist. After that you suffocate them and make mold. If you have to use a dome allow air to exchange slowly then. stagnant air is your enemy. I guess I should watch before commenting. You addressed my concerns with domes. I will leave comment up to help the algorithm.
I soil block as well and been looking at starting to use domes without heat mat. Just for the purpose of getting them to germinate. I struggle with small seeds and watering from the bottom but dries out at the top first
I admittedly was once one of those new gardeners that lost starts to the domes. So I stopped using them in general. Many years of growing later I only use them for my pepper seeds and surface sown seeds like chamomile. My current growing area is dry enough that the surface will dry out in about 6-8 hours, especially with a fan going to strengthen sprouts that are already up. It's a struggle for me to keep the surface just moist enough. It's also too open of a space for a humidifier to make a difference, I tried. Still, I only use domes for the first few days to a week or so. As soon as it sprouts the domes come off. I also check them atleast twice a day so I can monitor any changes. And yes, bottom watering is a game changer! ~ happy growing and may all gardens be bountiful!~
Humidity domes are not for seedlings at all. It is only to germinate the seeds, keeping those tiny seeds often sown on surface of top 1/8 inch from drying out. Once you see the seeds sprout, you remove the dome.
Having a title to this video of NEVER use this, is just you being alarmist and saying stuff that really isn't true!
I am a experienced gardener. I use humidity domes bit use the ones with two adjustable vets in them. I also remove the excess water in my trays. I get what you are saying though.
Good to know, I live in high desert so humidity is always my concern, I wasn't aware of overwatering in the seed trays, dang it, the bottom tray needs to be clear, or have a window to easily monitor the water level!! If you could design, or find such a tray design and market that that eould HUUGE!! 🤨
I'm so glad you addressed this! I'm in my late 50's and have been gardening since I was a kid with my parents. I've tried to use humidity domes many times, but like you said, the seedlings would rot. I haven't used them for the past 8ish yrs and haven't had a problem with that since.
Thank you Luke and MIG! For those who are total beginners this is a blessing of information for seed starting. This explains what happened last year! Thank you again!! God bless and much love.
In the desert southwest I often overwater because our dry air dries out the top of the soil so quickly. The seeds either dry out or rot. I have found plastic wrap with holes poked into it works pretty good as long as I do not overwater.
I like going the advanced route – vermiculture. I keep a thriving colony of springtails in jars big enough to fit my hand in. When it's that time of year, I tap out some into my seed trays and cover with plastic to hold in moisture. Any mold that creeps up doesn't stand a chance.
You need domes in Canada during the winter even without wood heat. The humidity gets very low with the heat on and I'm on a heat pump. You can only raise your house humidity to 40% too or you risk mould because of condensation unless you have a grow tent. I don't like those jiffy domes though, because they don't have adjustable vents which can be used to slowly acclimate your plants before taking the dome off.
"Beginner gardeners shouldn't be using humidity domes like the ones we sell as beginner kits". Good to see you identify yourself as just another scammer, just in it for the money by ripping off the less experienced.
I live in Yuma AZ and been here 5 years killing plant after plant. We are the sunniest place in the States and we grow for example more lettuce for most of the country almost all year round, but I can't grow a flower plant that lives for more then 2 months before the heat fries them. We've had 100 days of over a 100 degrees in a row. I lived in Virginia for 30 yrs before coming here and grew everything. I thought I knew what I was doing until now. I ask around for solutions but it's like asking for Top Secret information. They don't tell me. I know you're from the mid west and don't have answers for me. Would you know where I might find answers?? Help! lol
29 Comments
I get what you're saying. There is a place for them. There are a lot of ways to misuse them. I really find that they're helpful to regulate moisture for germination.
I’m new to germinating seeds and growing seedlings. Now I’m really confused. I bought a small kit that has small grow lights into the humidity dome with adjustable vents. Did I make a huge mistake? If I need to take the humidity dome off when the seedlings sprout, how am I supposed to use the grow lights if I can’t put the dome on top? Right now I’ve planted jalapeño, Banana pepper and tomato seeds. Soon I’ll be starting cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe. Any advice would be so helpful.
been gardening for years and still overwater.
I have had my best seed germination using bottom heat with humidity domes taking it off as soon as they germinate.
I think they are more so meant for propagation of cuttings, still though I think they need vents, these sealed ones are asking for mold and rot, if you use these please poke holes or cut slits similiar to the size you will see on expensive 6'-12' tall humidity domes.
totally agree. I am ok with them until emergence to help keep seed moist. After that you suffocate them and make mold. If you have to use a dome allow air to exchange slowly then. stagnant air is your enemy. I guess I should watch before commenting. You addressed my concerns with domes. I will leave comment up to help the algorithm.
I just used it to germinate and then took it off. it’s not that hard.
I soil block as well and been looking at starting to use domes without heat mat. Just for the purpose of getting them to germinate. I struggle with small seeds and watering from the bottom but dries out at the top first
I admittedly was once one of those new gardeners that lost starts to the domes. So I stopped using them in general. Many years of growing later I only use them for my pepper seeds and surface sown seeds like chamomile. My current growing area is dry enough that the surface will dry out in about 6-8 hours, especially with a fan going to strengthen sprouts that are already up. It's a struggle for me to keep the surface just moist enough. It's also too open of a space for a humidifier to make a difference, I tried. Still, I only use domes for the first few days to a week or so. As soon as it sprouts the domes come off. I also check them atleast twice a day so I can monitor any changes. And yes, bottom watering is a game changer!
~ happy growing and may all gardens be bountiful!~
I use the lid as a tray for watering into
Humidity domes are not for seedlings at all. It is only to germinate the seeds, keeping those tiny seeds often sown on surface of top 1/8 inch from drying out.
Once you see the seeds sprout, you remove the dome.
Having a title to this video of NEVER use this, is just you being alarmist and saying stuff that really isn't true!
I am a experienced gardener. I use humidity domes bit use the ones with two adjustable vets in them. I also remove the excess water in my trays. I get what you are saying though.
Good to know, I live in high desert so humidity is always my concern, I wasn't aware of overwatering in the seed trays, dang it, the bottom tray needs to be clear, or have a window to easily monitor the water level!! If you could design, or find such a tray design and market that that eould HUUGE!! 🤨
i start with one partly because I live in arid Alberta, for germination.
I'm so glad you addressed this! I'm in my late 50's and have been gardening since I was a kid with my parents. I've tried to use humidity domes many times, but like you said, the seedlings would rot. I haven't used them for the past 8ish yrs and haven't had a problem with that since.
living in the high desert, i have to use humidity domes until things sprout then i take it off
Thank you Luke and MIG! For those who are total beginners this is a blessing of information for seed starting. This explains what happened last year! Thank you again!! God bless and much love.
In the desert southwest I often overwater because our dry air dries out the top of the soil so quickly. The seeds either dry out or rot. I have found plastic wrap with holes poked into it works pretty good as long as I do not overwater.
I like going the advanced route – vermiculture. I keep a thriving colony of springtails in jars big enough to fit my hand in. When it's that time of year, I tap out some into my seed trays and cover with plastic to hold in moisture. Any mold that creeps up doesn't stand a chance.
I just like to put a piece of saran wrap over the top to keep the seeds moist for the first couple days.
Great explanation thanks
You need domes in Canada during the winter even without wood heat. The humidity gets very low with the heat on and I'm on a heat pump. You can only raise your house humidity to 40% too or you risk mould because of condensation unless you have a grow tent. I don't like those jiffy domes though, because they don't have adjustable vents which can be used to slowly acclimate your plants before taking the dome off.
"Beginner gardeners shouldn't be using humidity domes like the ones we sell as beginner kits".
Good to see you identify yourself as just another scammer, just in it for the money by ripping off the less experienced.
I think pure peat and the coconut blocks are bad for beginners to lol I killed alot of seedlings trying to learn watering lol
I like domes for germinating seeds then pull them off when I have tiny green specks. I live in a dry climate also. 🌱👍
Thanks Luke for the video
I would choose humidity domes over heat mats. I actually just purchased my first set of heat matts this year. I'm curious to see if they actually help
I’ve never used them, and I’ve been seed starting for years
I live in Yuma AZ and been here 5 years killing plant after plant. We are the sunniest place in the States and we grow for example more lettuce for most of the country almost all year round, but I can't grow a flower plant that lives for more then 2 months before the heat fries them. We've had 100 days of over a 100 degrees in a row. I lived in Virginia for 30 yrs before coming here and grew everything. I thought I knew what I was doing until now. I ask around for solutions but it's like asking for Top Secret information. They don't tell me. I know you're from the mid west and don't have answers for me. Would you know where I might find answers?? Help! lol