Heated Seed Mats

[cwhaley]

I no longer have a greenhouse and wish to grow this year's seedlings for the allotment in a summerhouse. It gets plenty of light but it's not very well insulated so can get cold, although definitely warmer than the greenhouse!

I've bought heated seed mats. Just wondering how best these should be used. Never used them before..!

Don't want them on all day, so would it be good to have them on a timer overnight? Hoping it would increase germination rates. Could programme the mats to come on at 6pm and switch off at 6am.

They're only low wattage to warm the soil in the trays up a touch.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Don't want them on all day, so would it be good to have them on a timer overnight? Hoping it would increase germination rates. Could programme the mats to come on at 6pm and switch off at 6am.

Surely, temperature, is more important than time - power them via a thermostat.

Inkbird, sell a suitable plug-in thermostat.

 

[cwhaley]

Surely, temperature, is more important than time - power them via a thermostat.

Inkbird, sell a suitable plug-in thermostat.

Yes I agree, and as temperatures drop at night that's why I suggested powering them overnight. Thermostatic timing sounds good - I will look at those as I didn't know they existed. The probe looks better than measuring air temperature.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes I agree, and as temperatures drop at night that's why I suggested powering them overnight. Thermostatic timing sounds good - I will look at those as I didn't know they existed. The probe looks better than measuring air temperature.

The genuine Inkbird, are extremely expensive, but if you seek out a Chinese copy, they are much more affordable and just as well built. I've had a Chinese version for years, which I use to control a heat mat, when making wine.