From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Eugene,OR

Who uses a heating mat under seedlings AFTER they have sprouted? If you do, what temperature do set it to? I have always done this but I’m wondering if this is best!

3/25/2024 12:23:09 PM

Hadley Ny

Very good question!!! because soil temp should be lower than plant temp at optimum growing temp??

3/25/2024 3:40:46 PM

Princeville, IL

I leave sprouted seedlings on heat mats in the greeenhouse for up to a week set at 80 degree. Seems to improve root growth. I germinate them at 85 degrees and then turn them down to 80. Pumpkins I will set mat as high as 90 degrees.

3/26/2024 8:57:08 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I leave the heat for a couple days then it's all lights and fans.

3/27/2024 12:16:45 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Russ, I leave my seedlings on the heat Matt and just checked. At 6 inches down it’s 90 degrees. A little warm so I’ll likely change tactic. Picture in my diary when it loads.

3/27/2024 4:04:16 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is the link with photo.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=343451

Update is, I put some cardboard on top of the heat mat under the pots. The cardboard seems to absorb some of the extra heat, and now the soil temperature is around 84 degrees at the same 6 inch depth.

3/28/2024 9:20:12 AM

Iowa

Since I have several batches of seeds that we germinate through the spring really can't turn the mat off as some do. If I leave ours on the mat, some of the seedings want to get leggy from the higher soil temp. Move our germinated seeds to trays that you can elevate the pots off the bottom that have an absorbent mat as well. Can keep a reservoir of water in the tray to keep soil moistures consistent without soaking the pots and keeps the soil a little cooler as well.

3/28/2024 7:25:28 PM