Would this work?

[digger48]

Got a hold of a waterbed heater. Would this work for starting seeds. Since its free it would be a lot cheaper than a store bought mat. Its got a thermostat and a heat senser bulb. What do you think?

[crazy1]

I believe that would work just phine.

[tink]

Your lucky you found one. I have been advertising on our local freecycle for one! I think I am going to have to fix the cord on my electric blanket for mine.

[peachfly]

just how important is a heater for seed starting?...i've been mulling over the possibility of getting one but wondered if it was really necessary or just another gadget (sp?) to collect dust....

[Compost Pharmer]

I just use my little green houses, After planting the seeds. I use warm water and cover with the plastic dome. With the cover on, it creates humidity and the seeds sprout. Works for me.

[Pharmer Phil]

bottom heat is important for heat loving plants, peppers, tomatoes, etc.
We use a old electric blanket, works fine.
the bottom temps encourage better root development.

that being said, ....
Peppers,

If the ground temperatures at the time you set your plants in the ground, is cooler than 50..OR, significantly cooler than what they were on a heat pad of any type...they will go into a bit of shock...
the plant will grow, but growth is slowed for a bit.
always taper the temps off if there will be a slight temperature difference.

The waterbed heater, works great, I had to laugh, cause when I was younger, the daily ritual was setting all the plant trays OFF the waterbed B4 bedtime, and back on in the morning....
A king sized waterbed will heat the bottoms of many trays

[peachfly]

i'm sorry now i never bought a waterbed...think i'll try my heating pad on a flat of maters and peppers i just started and see what happens....

[Penny]

Good luck with it and i hope its works for you.

[Tonnymonk]

I never knew that bottom heat would help things!! Learn something every day!! Hope it is working well for ya!! Any progress to report??

[Pharmer Phil]

yeah it does, thats the Great thang about gardenin'..
You will never learn it all...

****STAND BY FOR _{Blatant Plug}****
But comin here will get ya real close


to quote Thomas Jefferson: "Though an old man, I am but a young gardener"

[jacobtowne]

Bottom heat works well when the air temperature is lower than desired for rapid and even germination. I’ve listed below some optimum temperatures for crops commonly started in pots and flats. The info. comes from Johnny’s catalogue.

Please note that the temps. are ideal, and that some seed will germinate over a range of temps., some broad, others narrow.

For example, I sowed scallion and leek Feb. 1st, placing the pots on the kitchen range top where the pilot lights add a bit of bottom heat, and raise the air temp. slightly. The range was 68 degrees at night, to about 72 days. The scallions sprouted in five days, the leeks in six, although new leek sprouts appeared over the following week. I suspect that these crops would germinate well at normal room temps.

Where it’s critical is with heat-loving plants, as already mentioned, and lettuce sown in flats during the heat of summer, when I set lettuce flats on the concrete floor of the cellar, where the temp. is in the low 60s.

ARTICHOKE
Artichoke 1 (from catalogue). 70-80
Aritichoke 2 (from seed packet). 80-85 for eight hours a day and 68-75 for 16 hours a day as seeds germinate best under alternating temp. cycles.

COLES
Broccoli – 77 degrees
Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower – 77-82 (max.)

CUCUMBER & SQUASH
Cucumber – 86
Summer squash – minimum 70

LETTUCE
Lettuce – 68 or below

NIGHTSHADES
Eggplant, pepper, tomato – 86

ONIONS
Leek – 77
Onion, scallion – 77-85 (max.)


JT

[kratz7]

Hi everyone,

Heaters and waterbeds work very well. We started some of the Spring seeds already. We use seed starting mix, plant the seeds and then put the freshly planted seed trays under the pedastal of the waterbed till they sprout. Since we have 4 drawers under it, each drawer gets a tray. It takes only a few days and the results are great.

You just can't forget about hhem....lol
Good Luck,

Kratz7

[elkwc]

Like stated if you are starting in lower than desired temperatures then some bottom heat helps. I start my peppers in the bathroom which I keep close to 80 and the tomatoes in the bedroom usually with great results. I only use heat when using a room lower than the temps. I dersire. And once they are moved to the light stand in the utility room they don't get any heat. Then they go out hopefully this year in a greenhouse then to the garden. Bottom heat is nice but not a necessity for me. Look at all the plants started in greenhouses that don't have bottom heat. JMO