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Kiowa,Co.

I have just started some test seeds,in large coffee-cans,useing a mixture of fine milled-peat,and fine,(well)-composted maunure,all mixed with a litte bit of fine soil,with a poultry-type heat lamp hanging over the cans about 2-3ft.high,wich I have set up to be able to raise,or lower(depending on temp. needed).I have 2 thermometors,1 at the bottom of the cans(sitting up-right),and the other 1 at about the top of these cans(hanging over them).They both are within like 2 deg,or so;so I am not worried about the temp. difference.
Now,the Question I have is this:If I have the air temp.just outside these cans at 88 deg.,then is the temp. of the soil gonna be the same??When everyone refers to a germ. temp.of "85"deg.are they refering to the temp. of the soil,or the air temp next to the cans,or whatever is used to start the seeds?

4/8/2005 1:21:45 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

When I'm referring to a certain temperature I mean the soil temp. I only monitor soil temp. but not air temp, so I can't tell you if there is a difference.
However, I think the soil is a few degrees cooler than the surrounding air due to evaporation cooling it down.

Martin

4/8/2005 6:06:28 AM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, if it were -10 degrees out, and you were out there in that temperature, which temperature is more important:
yours, or the weather's?
i would have to say yours.
same with the air/soil arrangement.
it can be well below freezing in the garage where i have been sprouting my experiments all winter, but because my SOIL temp. is brought up to and maintained at 87-92 F,
everything can still sprout normally.
i suggest you get a DIGITAL thermometer, with a sensing bulb on the end of a long probe wire, or at least one that
you can stick the sensing tip of into the SOIL at the same exact depth of the seed you are germinating.
it will be a more informative sprouting experience for you.
i also think the light(s) need to be UNDER the cans, for a gentle warming effect. why does everyone insist on trying to heat from above, when heat RISES? LIGHT is only NEEDED once the seeds sprout. "simply" swap the lights with the cans>>>>>>>>>>raise and lower as necessary>>>>>>>>>>>>>
maybe there is a THERMOSTAT somewhere that has a sensing bulb attached, and if you put the cans ABOVE the lights and use a soil-temp.-activated thermostat to turn the lights on and off, well, you are even more protected from any problems>>>i am glad we had this discussion, because this could easily help me out as well!
i hope this helps....eric

4/8/2005 1:06:45 PM

Brighton, MI

bottom heat helps build good root growth. use a heat mat with a thermostat, hydrofarm makes a good one. air temp is important to a degree because plants feed from the leaves as well. that's why when is about 90 degrees outside and humid the leaves look very deep green, they love it. but i agree with the previous writers soil temp is the most important.

4/11/2005 5:23:55 PM

Canada

Yup Ive always had better luck with placeing heating pads under the pots kept around 80 and then keeping the lights overtop really close to the pot, as the plants sprout and start to grow i slowly move the pots down. this keeps the plants from getting leggy and they also seem to grow larger and thicker all around. Heating them top and bottom works best

Dave

4/17/2005 6:12:36 PM

Connecticut

Ambient air temperature makes an obvious difference on soil temos. But length of time exposed to sun is even greater as is the nighly low.

4/18/2005 5:46:14 AM