people heating mats V plant heating mats

[FarmboyBill]

i notice that people heating mats run around $15 one side or the other, round $10 cheaper than a plant heating mat. Would they work for plants or not??

[Jan in CO]

You'd have to watch the temperature as the human type still get pretty warm. I do know folks have used waterbed heaters under their plant starting trays with success, so maybe. Try one and keep it on it's lowest setting. FWIT, I cooked some duck eggs trying to hatch them when I was a child. They were on the lowest setting and got too warm to hold!

[lisa's garden]

The plant heat mats are made to resist water. I'm not sure about the other ones. And the plants heat mats just warm the bottoms of the trays about 5 degrees above room temp.

[siberian]

As far as I know, heating pads for people are all designed to turn off in a short period of time (new ones anyway). I would look into the mats used by snake and reptile owners. Some are manufactured and rather costly, yet some are fairly simple to make and cost effective.

[FarmboyBill]

nope. I saw that while looking at the boxes. Most are designed to turn off and one, but a few arent.

[FarmboyBill]

Whatever mat I get, Will I still have to put something over the tops at night so that the germanateing plants dont freeze?

[Callieslamb]

I think plant heat cables only get to about 78 or so degrees. Plants don't really need a lot of heat - just enough to warm the seedlings to germinate. I'm afraid that would feel pretty cool to a person using a heating mat.

[FarmboyBill]

Callie, U saying the heat on the bottom should be the same regardless of how cold the room is ?

[Laura Zone 10]

I use a twin sized heating blanket.
I started 150+ tomato plants / peppers / herbs / etc last spring.
Never gets too hot....keeps my soil at about 75-80 degrees, and the air temp in the house is at 65.
Blanket was on from the day I started until the plants were 5-6 inches tall.
Found my twin heating blanket on sale for 15.00.


Heating blanket on the table.
Black plastic table cover on top of heating blanket.
Tomatoes on top of that.
I use reflective board on 3 sides of all plants, and florescent lights above.
All facing the south picture windows.

[goatlady]

Basic botony point - it's the warmed SOIL combined with proper moisture content that makes the seed germinate, hence the heating mat at the bottom of the seed container. Air temp will only effect the plant after it breaks the surface of the soil, so then is when a top is handy to keep the actual growing seedling from freezing. I start my seeds on top of the refridgerator. Perfect warmth there. Most all seeds germinate best with soil temps are 70 to 75 degrees - any colder they stay in stasis, any hotter they try to germinate but the emerging sprout dies. Same temps necessary when direct seeding outside except some veggies like peas and some lettuces will germinate at a bit less than 70 degrees.

[Callieslamb]

Originally Posted by FarmBoyBill

Callie, U saying the heat on the bottom should be the same regardless of how cold the room is ?

Well, I think most plant cables that I have seen don't come with an adjustable thermostat - they just are what they are. So yes, they would be the same temp. However, they will stay on until their set temp is reached. It would just take longer in a cooler room. I use heat to germinate plants, then move them off the heat to grow. But my house is warm. I have found the top of my fridge to me much easier to use than the heat cables. I germinate a batch then move then so another batch can sit on the fridge.

Now, I am talking tomatoes and peppers here maybe some perennials - no tropicals or decorative plants that need extra attention and care - just veggie garden selections.

[Pelenaka]

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

I use a twin sized heating blanket.
I started 150+ tomato plants / peppers / herbs / etc last spring.
Never gets too hot....keeps my soil at about 75-80 degrees, and the air temp in the house is at 65.
Blanket was on from the day I started until the plants were 5-6 inches tall.
Found my twin heating blanket on sale for 15.00.


Heating blanket on the table.
Black plastic table cover on top of heating blanket.
Tomatoes on top of that.
I use reflective board on 3 sides of all plants, and florescent lights above.
All facing the south picture windows.

That is am awesome set up. Love the reflective insulation board.
I was just mentally rearranging the front room where the wood stove is so I can set up some seed trays and the plant stand and the lights, and oh I need to find the anti-cat security system.


~~ pelenaka ~~

[FarmboyBill]

Sounds great Laura, AND Ive got an electric blanket here, But thats way too big. Most all my windows have something already in front of them. On my S window is my puter and screen I think the heating mat would be the right size, If it would work

[7thswan]

A strand of Christmas tree lights work well. Cover with plastic and put planting trays on top.

[whiterock]

Bill so long as the room air stays above freezing, the plants should be ok, heat will rise from the warmed soil around them, the clear cover holds moisture and warmth in. I would use a plant germinating mat myself because less likely to be damaged by water leaks/spillage. Don't want to fry the plants and the gardener.
Ed

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by 7thswan

A strand of Christmas tree lights work well. Cover with plastic and put planting trays on top.

OOOOOOOOO Smart cookie!! And pretty too!!

[Forest]

Laura, I like your setup.

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by Forest

Laura, I like your setup.

Thank you!

[meanwhile]

I saw the Christmas tree light idea. We are going to try it this year.

[gotmules]

I am going to re-arrange my set up to work like yours! my mom has some electric blankets no-one uses, and I'm thinking cardboard and aluminum foil for now, until I can find the reflective board. Thanks so much for the pic!!