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Post by daylilydude on Jan 27, 2017 4:59:04 GMT -5
I see a lot of heat mats for sale without a thermostat controller... do you need a controller to use these mats?
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 27, 2017 9:27:11 GMT -5
The thermostat is the easiest way to control the heat, but you can also put spacers between the mat and tray - I use thin pieces of wood or dowels, of various thicknesses. I put them in, and check out the temp the next day, and adjust, if necessary, before using it for the seeds.
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Post by paulf on Jan 27, 2017 10:23:37 GMT -5
I like thermostats on heat mats. But then, I am a control freak. Even if it is not really necessary to have a temperature control because those without controls are set to a temperature most of us want anyway, I like to think I am in charge. As pepperhead212 says, check the temp regularly and adjust. I still do that with thermostat heat mats.
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Post by spacecase0 on Jan 28, 2017 0:43:51 GMT -5
my daily temps are up to 40F from one point to the other inside temps are still 30F variation so a 20F rise heat mat will just break my plants. I have no real choice but to use a thermostat of some sort that is unless I am using it in spring where it will do me no good anyway
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Post by daylilydude on Feb 5, 2017 5:29:59 GMT -5
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 5, 2017 10:00:47 GMT -5
I have an old Taylor dial thermometer from my kitchen, from before I got digital ones for there.
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Post by paulf on Feb 5, 2017 10:35:34 GMT -5
I also use an analog thermometer. Actually it is also a Taylor and it was supposed to be a meat thermometer that registers 0 to 220 degrees F. I think it was around $5 on Amazon.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Feb 5, 2017 10:44:43 GMT -5
How deep in the soil do you measure the temperature?
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Post by paulf on Feb 5, 2017 12:13:52 GMT -5
In my seed starting 6 packs at about the halfway mark. Outside in the garden at about 6 inches.
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Post by daylilydude on Feb 5, 2017 16:42:06 GMT -5
Are there different temps that are needed for like tomatoes and peppers to sprout??
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Post by paulf on Feb 5, 2017 17:38:01 GMT -5
Yes, peppers like 85-90 degrees and tomatoes 75-80 degrees. After they have sprouted peppers do better in the 80-85 degree range and tomatoes like a cooler soil temperature; 70-75 degrees F.
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Post by daylilydude on Feb 5, 2017 17:47:44 GMT -5
So I would need 2 heat mats and 2 thermostats... 1 for tomatoes and 1 for peppers.... even if i'm only growing like 12 of each??
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Post by paulf on Feb 5, 2017 23:35:02 GMT -5
Not really necessary. Put everything on a heat mat until they sprout, then take the tomatoes off if your inside temperature is around 65 to 70 degrees and the tomatoes should be OK. The peppers do like it warmer than ambient. They will grow, it will just take longer. Without heat mats I would start peppers at least three weeks earlier than tomatoes. Heat just makes it easier.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Feb 6, 2017 9:35:38 GMT -5
The tomato seedlings will grow just fine with soil temps at 85 even after sprouting. The problem is that tomato seedlings tend to get leggy if grown at higher temperatures, even under good lighting.
My seed starting spot is warm (near the only south-facing window in my house), and my lights also give off some heat. So if I have sunny weather my soil temps are often in the mid-upper 80s in the day - without a heat mat - and they drop to the lower 70-72 (ambient house temp) overnight. So, leggy tomatoes are a problem I often have. Happily it can be fixed by transplanting them up to their chins.
I've been looking for a small fan I can clip on fan to the shelving to blow over the seedlings in the hopes of keeping them stockier this year.
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Post by spacecase0 on Feb 7, 2017 1:22:54 GMT -5
I use a small computer fan connected to a variable voltage power supply, takes 3W of power and does a great job of getting just the correct amount of air
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Post by paulf on Feb 7, 2017 11:45:02 GMT -5
I use a couple of desktop fans on low speed and in the oscillation mode placed about five or six feet away from the seedlings. Seems to work OK for me. They are on a time so that when the lights are on, so are the fans.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 7, 2017 20:19:10 GMT -5
I have been doing the oscillating fan thing for years, though it seems that some varieties still stay weak. However, the last two years, something that I have been doing to increase the strength of the seedling stalks is adding some silicate the the water. I originally got this for hydroponics, and it definitely helps there, so I started trying it with tomatoes and, a plant that has been notoriously weak stemmed since I've been growing them - tomatillos. Last season, the two varieties I grew had the strongest stalks I have ever seen on tomatillos! Here is the brand that I use - it is the cheapest, since others are liquid, and here you just have to dissolve it yourself. www.amazon.com/Silicate-Soluble-Silica-Supplement-Plants/dp/B00J2WVAM4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1486516078&sr=8-7&keywords=silica+hydroponicsI only made up a pint of solution, using half of the powder, and still have only used about 2 oz of the solution. Very little is needed - just 8-10 drops per gallon, and I add it every other watering. I am going to try two tomato varieties that I have had trouble with in the past, to the point that I stopped planting them, as so many would end up snapped off by the wind, no matter how deep I planted them. I'll see if this helps.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 22, 2017 20:44:22 GMT -5
I'm seeing that E-Bay has a 2 Pack Seedling Heat Mat 10"x 20" for only $26.99 does that sound like a good deal and is the VIVOSUN a good brand name?? VIVOSUN
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 22, 2017 23:30:28 GMT -5
That looks like a good deal, and that is a good brand. And to use a thermostat on two of them, simply plug them into a strip, then plug the strip into the thermostat. No need for two thermostats!
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 23, 2017 16:53:36 GMT -5
pepperhead212, paulf, spacecase0, Laura_in_FL, I'll just tag everyone and ask, if I only have 1 thermostat for 2 heating pads and 1 pad is for tomatoes and the other pad is for peppers... what would be a good temp to set the thermostat too for both tomatoes and peppers?
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Post by paulf on Apr 23, 2017 18:44:38 GMT -5
Take the pad off the tomatoes if your indoor temp is above 65 and put the pepper pad at 80-85. Tomatoes need it to be cooler as they grow after two true leaves, especially if you have re-potted. Even if you do not transplant they like it a little cooler. Peppers like it warm.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 23, 2017 20:40:24 GMT -5
Try this @daylilydude: Plug the two mats into a strip, then plug the strip into the thermostat, and set up the one for the peppers with the thermostat sensor in it, and get it to the 85-90º range for that tray. Then set the tomato tray on that mat with some spacers (I use wood dowels or thin strips of wood from my workshop) under it, to make it a little cooler, and experiment until you get about the right temp for the tomatoes - around 80º. Getting it a little off of the mat will reduce the heat just enough for the tomatoes. Start with 1/4" spacers, and add or reduce, depending on the heat.
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Post by daylilydude on May 3, 2017 4:54:14 GMT -5
Ok nother question... I noticed that when I plugged it up and set it up on my granite top that it didn't get all that warm, so I placed a towel underneath it and it has gotten alot warmer, but i'm wondering if leaving this on with a towel 24/7 if it could cause any problems... mainly a fire hazard... what do you have underneath yours if anything at all??
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Post by daylilydude on May 4, 2017 18:26:06 GMT -5
paulf, pepperhead212, I put a lil plant tray directly onto the pad yesterday and the temp reading was 99f. so I went and got my cooling rack and put that over the heating pad and it has dropped to 90f. hoping that will work?
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Post by paulf on May 4, 2017 20:13:23 GMT -5
On the hot heat mat a couple of 1'X1' chunks of lumber either the length of the tray or on 4 corners will elevate the tray up enough. A meat thermometer in the soil will tell you if that is enough. The full length 1'X1' is better so that the plastic tray doesn't sag and maybe melt. 90F is just about right for peppers but with that heat don't forget to water. The heat dries out the soil mix pretty fast. I cooked a batch earlier this spring.
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Post by daylilydude on May 5, 2017 3:22:30 GMT -5
Thanks paulf about keeping them watered, I have the seeds in a tray with a vented top... lil tiny holes prolly can't see in the pic without straining your eyes and it is staying full of moisture as you can see... i'm hoping that is a good thing so I don't need to water as much until they sprout and I remove the top.
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Post by daylilydude on May 6, 2017 13:58:16 GMT -5
That looks like a good deal, and that is a good brand. And to use a thermostat on two of them, simply plug them into a strip, then plug the strip into the thermostat. No need for two thermostats! I just have to get in here and tell you how good the service dept. for Vivosun is...apparently there was 1 not working right for me... only half the mat was getting warm, so I emailed them about it, they said for me to leave it plugged in for 2 hours, so I did and it started working right and I emailed them back and told them everything is alright now, but lo and behold they sent me another brand new one in the mail today, well now this time I called them about it and the nice lady told me not to worry...just keep it, so it looks like I scored a free heat mat...
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Post by Laura_in_FL on May 6, 2017 23:18:43 GMT -5
That's some terrific customer service!
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Post by daylilydude on May 21, 2017 9:40:33 GMT -5
They gave me such great customer service so I ordered my thermostat thru them yesterday... it was only 20 bucks... Vivosun Thermostat...
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Post by spike on May 22, 2017 9:24:15 GMT -5
Why would it be necessary to use a heat mat? I am so confused.
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