I'm using 2 heat mats with different voltage/watts for 2 different crops I'm currently germinating. If I might add another tip. I also use the cardboard in between, BUT my heat mat also sits on a piece of Styrofoam "the size of the mat", and that basically helps to prevent the heat from escaping downward into the surface where the at is placed ie: table or floor, and in return, keeps the temperature consistent. Before using the Styrofoam, the temperature never quite got to the desired heat, due to too much heat escaping into the table it was placed on. Anyway, that's just my contribution. Happy gardening

I will say that I was not prepared for how much more watering is required with the heat mat. Thanks for the pro tip with the cardboard!

@kate739

Жыл бұрын

thanks for this tip

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH HEATMATS!! PLEASE BUY A GOOD QUALITY ONE TOO! I ended up with a small fire in my house from using a lower quality heatmat, which fortunately, was extinguished quickly. I use a PLUG IN THERMOSTAT now with my heat mat, which controls the on off of the heat mat to attain the right temperature-the heat mat just plugs into the thermostat, and the thermostat plugs into the power. You can get thermostats that can control the amount of power to the mat, thus effectively smoothly adjusting the temperature-but they are real expensive. The on/off only thermostat I have that I now use with my heat mat wasn’t very expensive at all, but provides me with as much peace of mind/safety as possible

@inthebucketoutdoors3333

2 жыл бұрын

So what brand should you say started the fire!

@rmjames83

2 жыл бұрын

@@inthebucketoutdoors3333 it was a cheap one off eBay-no brand, made in China

You are so brilliant. I tried it your way last year and my peppers germinated beautifully. Thanks so much for always sharing your knowledge and honesty. Warm greetings from Canada

Cardboard, so awesome, thank you very much, I was going nuts trying to think of the easiest solution to heat displacement. FOUND IT!! LOL!!!

Just started my seeds 3 days ago, cant be happy enough you made this video. New to gardening and finally own my own home, this will be my first time gardening so I have been watching all you videos, as well as other youtubers. Thank you for all you and your wife do to help beginners like myself , I don't mind learning from my mistakes but its nice not to have to make any to begin with. Now this cold weather just has to go away so I can build my garden beds,

@brama13

6 жыл бұрын

david cantinieri Build your beds now don't wait! Get the soil ready. The cold is the best time to do that work because you will waste growing times. by building the bed in the cold you can lengthen your growing season because you won't have wasted good weather building the bed. If You already have it built then all you have to do is wait for warm weather and plant. That way your plants don't miss out on the warm weather. Just a suggestion.

This is the 1st I've ever heard about removing or turning the heating mat off once seedlings have sprouted. Thank you so much for this timely vid!

@evan.norwalkcalifornia562

3 жыл бұрын

So ur saying we could keep it on the heat mat after they sprout

I am just doing my seed starting and your videos have been invaluable! I am a northern Michigan gardener and need all the help I can get!

Hi Luke. I just started watching your videos a few weeks ago as I'm trying to learn container gardening, actually ANY gardening, for the first time in my life. Love your videos. You're doing a great service to the world with them. Suggestion: It would be most helpful if you could add links to each episode in this (and other) series. On an unrelated note, I'm a career website/web team/web technology/digital marketing professional. Knowing that, I just wanted to wish you luck with your affiliate marketing. With your amount of videos, blog posts and afflinks, I think you're probably crushing it! Oh, I bought my first bag of Trifecta + a little over a week ago, from your website, to start my first four containers (tomatoes/peppers). Wish me luck on growing my first veggies. Cheers, Bob

Thank you for making these videos. I’m a new gardener, this is second year gardening although it’s my first year growing from seeds. I started a week ago and thank god I watched this series its showed me how much I was not doing / doing incorrectly. Very greatful you’ve done this thank you sooo much saved me a lot of time money and mistakes. Definitely subscribing and watching everything I can on this channel. 🙏✌️

Great tips here...and I learned a new word..."evener"....I actually am going to use it....Thanks for the great video!

Thanks Luke. Great video and tip with the cardboard! Much appreciated! I've been making that mistake for years.

Just to inform you it is possible to get a temperature controlled outlet. This allows you to stick the probe into the soil and regulate the soil temperature.

Great information last year. Great information this year. Setting up my heat mat today to start my peppers and eggplant for zone 6. As always... you are the best !

Totally helped! I’ve been looking to get a heat mat for peppers

It’s mid January and I’m about to use my heat mat for the first time. This is exactly why I watch your channel! Thanks again for all the info. You da best brodah!

thank you i was wondering why my seedlings were dying off. bought the heat mats since its snowing outside and it gets rather cold inside my grow room. and you are so right none of them come with a thermostat.

These videos are great! I wish I would have known about your channel last year when I made all of these mistakes! I would love it if you could do a series on seedling care! I'm having trouble especially with my smaller herbs knowing when to thin them, how many to keep, which plants don't mind growing close to other seedlings and which need more space etc.

Very informative, thanks. Just ordered my mats.

Hi Luke, this is the first year I have done seed starting indoors. I used the same Burpee seed starting mix and Ferry Morse light as the one shown in your clips. I did not use the heat mat because the seeds were started in our basement laundry room which is heated. Th.e results were fantastic for me. I have already repotted my tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers. Will be repotting the peas and my Dahlia this week. I only had two peppers that did not sprout and will be trying them again this week. As my plants have gotten larger I had to use my ingenuity to raise the light higher. I love your advise because it is appropriate for all levels of gardeners. Keep doing what you are doing because it works!

I'm glad I watched this video because I wanted to make sure it's ok to use a heat mat on a wooden table. Thanks for all your great videos, Luke!

I must say that this is a brilliant idea doing a mini series for new growers. I'm certain many new growers will make a start growing food for themselves after watching. Congratulation on a great set of videos Luke. :-)

A twist on the cardboard trick is to borrow a technique from sous-vide cooking.(water conducts heat more quickly/efficiently than air). Bottom-watering the seedling tray allows each plug to draw as much water as it needs (consumed quicker with a heat matt), the standing water in the bottom tray does double duty also regulating the temperature evenly across the plugs. Nowadays heat matts (way after the video was released) optionally include sensors and thermostats to keep the temperature in the range dialled in, but the little extra insurance doesn't hurt.

Starting grow tomorrow..yes have plug and go..you have been a God send..also not using coco coir starting pots...That info about stopping heat mat is Gold with when to stop using it 🌱

Thank you for this video... helped bunches

Thanks, I did notice my heat mat was very hot. Great tip!!!

Great video and information. I have had much success using his method.

Thank you for that last part on when to unplug heat mat.

Just picked up heirloom seeds,fired up the grolites,planted on a tray with seed pod maker.my woodstove makes it toasty warm.hopefully tonite is our last frost in nw tennessee

I agree with you luke thay should put a heat control on the mat It just makes more sence

Thank you for these super advise!!!

Thank you for the helpful information

Thanks Luke!

I’m a very new beginner. I’ve ordered everything you have recommended and a small greenhouse for starting seeds. My question is, I’ve seen people say to start seeds in a dark place such as placing try in a plastic bag. Is this something I should do? I’m starting tomato and peppers for now. I’m also in central Texas so we do get cold but not on a regular bases. Great videos probably the best I’ve seen for beginners.

Thanks so much!!🌱

Thanks so much for this video

Very very helpful video.

Love your videos man. I am thinking I am about to drop some dough at your site too possibly tonight!

Hi Luke, my name is Luke as well. I have loved and truly appreciated your videos. I was wondering how many videos there are in this series, and which is the first one. Please and Thank you

Great video! Do you keep the plastic domes on the trays while they are on the heating mats?

do you have a video on peas i couldnt find one. love your videos. your the first person i go to for every garden question. lol

@IAmHumanJake

6 жыл бұрын

Chrystal Schmidt also wanting to know

Thank you !

Good Video,Good Info!!!!!

Hi Luke, I have a question, when I start my seedlings I use a wire rack and a heat mat with cardboard on top. should I use anything on the bottom of the heat mat or just leave it on the wire. thanks Howie from Woodstock ill.

I thought about getting these, but I opted to save the money and did two things. 1.) used the plate method of germination demonstrated by +Suburban Homestead(use warm water keep seeds somewhere warm like close to the oven or heat vent.) and 2.) Put my growing table over my heat register (sustained 68F) . too many horror stories about growing mats. Do like the cardboard idea but does not combat failures and short from cheap manufacturing. Get the mats if you are going to grow more then 5 trays as plate germination would not be feasible for that but if you are growing for a small to medium garden...plate those seeds.

I've just started my seeds with the jiffy set with lid dome top. I've had success every year without light and warming mat for everything except tomatoes. I've just purchased light and warming mat. So my question is: do I plant seeds, put on cardboard on warming mat, with light on AND dome cover on? Or will the evaporation caused by warming mat not be good with dome cover? I've only ever removed dome lid in the past once seedlings started to sprout, but was worried too much condensation with warming mat and dome at the same time. Thoughts?

Have you seen this heat mat? I just found it on Amazon and it is just a few dollars more with the temp control.

@PoopaJEM

4 жыл бұрын

Would help to have the link: amzn.to/2uEPCXZ

My house is practically swiss cheese. Seeing how we have to put space heaters next to us, i think the heating mat would be quite the necessity for my seeds

Hey Luke, while were on the subject of indoor seed starting, I have a quick question. My little baby peppers are suffering from a INFESTATION......of SALT. The leaves are completely covered in little salt crystals, and even the stem now. I'm really not sure how this came to be, water, seaweed, fertilizer (organic of course). I've heard of people talking about flushing indoor plants and the soil but nobody ever actually shares how to do that, HA. So for you, I'm just wondering if you have any input how I could get rid of this salt build up, WITHOUT killing my little baby peps. I always appreciate you're skill and knowledge, thank you!

I put a piece of aluminum foil under mine, thinking that the reflectivity nature of it will bounce heat back up. A piece of insulated foam board first then foil would be really nice come to think of it.

Should I keep the clear dome on my tray while on the hear mat?

do u prefer to sprout them in the soil or in napkins? then transfer to soil?

70 degree weather is already summer. I’m at 35 degree Fahrenheit right now, I was hoping I didn’t need the heat Matt, but last year I realized that my tomatoes took forever and some like Big Boy tomato just never got the chance to truly ripen before we got the first frost.

I will be starting some flowers in seed trays later this week and I've purchased plug trays, germination soil mix, and heat mats with a thermostat. I am a bit concerned about where to place my seedling set-up. Is there an ideal material on which to place it? I'm concerned about the heat mat on certain materials posing a potential fire hazard - sadly I have yet to make cut flower growing my full-time gig and I am away from home for about 10 hrs each day. Where should I place the heat mats?

Thank you

Great tip with the cardboard!

*Paused video to get cardboard and scissors* cuts heat mat sized cardboard squares while continuing to watch 😅😁 Thanks Luke!

Hi! I’m in West Michigan and I’m wondering when to transplant what? I’m thinking now is a good time for broccoli, cauliflower, etc. but when do I transplant lettuce, tomato, beets, spinach, cucumber and herbs etc? Thanks for your videos! They are so helpful

@lisat9707

5 жыл бұрын

Try the farmers alminac and look up your climate zone online. Lots of info. Goole is an amazing thing

Can we use storage box plastic for vegetable plant?

Watering during seed starting - best to bottom water in the trays? I'm working my way through MIGardener school and I assume this is answered elsewhere, but thanks.

Do you still need the cardboard if you have a thermostat with your heat mat? I have one on currently and it is set for 85. The soil is only getting up to 71 and I am wondering if it is because of the cardboard? Thanks!

Could a heat mat be used for a plant growing in a container that likes tropical temperatures but it's not that hot here? For example, water spinach likes hot weather but let's say it's only 60F outside. Could a heat mat be used under the container to raise the temperature? The plant above the soil would still be in the ambient room temperature which is 60F so really it would be just warming up the water and soil. How could the Water Spinach be kept indoors through the winter? Thanks!

Do you know how to connect growlights? it seems they are capable of it, but I can't figure out how?

Does it matter which size of the mat that you have facing forward? Thank you for helpful video.

do u put a dome over the seedlings?

Living in the northern US there’s two seasons (at least where I live) winter and mid spring like weather

@generalredneck6998

6 жыл бұрын

Mordy Fisher well you could say that I’m like the in southern Ontario Canada if upstate NY was a part of Canada lol

Very helpful :-)

Does anyone know how much electricity this will use up. Will it bring the monthly bill really high because it's on for such a long time?

Do you keep the heat mat on 24 hours A-day until it germinates or do you leave them on only at night or only during the day? Can I use a regular heating pad with a towel on top?

what about a self watering kit would you still put the card board in between that plastic if you got water in between the plants and the heat mat

@lisat9707

5 жыл бұрын

Water retains heat especially well. It shouldnt matter i dont think. You would need to keep track of the water temperature in that case and the aquarium hobby might be your easiest and cheapest route. Also because it holds heat so well you could then just set it up with a timer(petsmart reptile light timer not digital) this will allow you to have it turn on and off in very small amounts and how long each interval is set will increase or decrease the water temperature.... you may be able to get away with somthing thinner than cardboard or nothing at all between but it needs dialing in. More water equals more heat retention so set up somthing so if the water level drops that it tops it back up. A water bottle upside down will work. The opening mounted at the desired water level. Good luck and have fun experimenting!

You should design your own seed heating map! I have been putting off buying a mat until I find and internal temperature gauge.

@lisat9707

5 жыл бұрын

I wouldnt rely on an internal gage. I have fish tanks and honestly when i heard there are external temp control options that are relatively inexpensive i was Stoked! Anything internal will be more prone to breakage more expensive and more wasteful since you will need to replace everything instead of just the temp controler. Good luck!

at about 3:36, typical heat mats do have a heat control or thermostat; albiet crude. it’s more of a protective device that protects the mat, not your plants. they turn on at some predetermined temp, say 65 to 68 F. they heat to their max of around 118 to 120 F, then shut down. when the temp drops back to or below the on threshhold they repeat. 68 to 120. an extrernal thermostst cannot make them turn on at a lower temp or run to a higher but can regulate so there are no wild swings in temp plants do not like. 68 to 120 is a wild swing intended to cause an average temp of around 85; which is too high for some seed starts...

Does this work the same for tree seeds?

You can get digital thermostats for not much money that come with a thermocouple that can be used to turn these on and off at specific temperatures (also can be used for refrigeration too to replace failed mechanical 'stats)... :)

@karenloftin7442

6 жыл бұрын

twocvbloke

I've been watching videos that use wet paper towels and zip lock bags to germinate seeds on a heat mat, but you are by passing that step altogether, I found my 3 zip lock bags of tomato seeds were baking real good next morning after the first night on the heating pad between some large towels. I guess I ruined them ?

Does that Ferry Morse light make noise like a hum?

hello Do I need for kale ? our weather like 70 degress

I have my tomatoes and peppers sitting on my heat vent in the kitchen. 😜

I had a question about something I found on accident. My cat chewed my young bean stalk in half so I taped it and it held. After time the plant died of root decay so I removed the tape and above the damaged area I found root buds.

@lisat9707

5 жыл бұрын

The what probably happened is because it was broken then taped. The tape blocked the light so the plant started to produce roots to try and survive. The rest of the plants nutrients were sucked up as much as possible above the break and then it let it die off..... Think about in nature if a plant has a tree fall on it. Its bent and so it needs to survive so new roots above the bend and it can continue to grow.

Do I need to harden off my seeds before moving outside?

I learned to put my seed starting shelves above my bird brooders. The "lost" heat rises and does double duty.

For my heat mat substitute, I use a temperature controlled heating pad underneath the tray. The king size is 12 x 24 inches. And has a auto off switch. I use them for my chicken and pheasant chicks as well. They do not overheat, and can be turned down.

I've been using cardboard for awhile now I'm glad I'm not the only one.

@juliabradshaw9576

3 жыл бұрын

The other one what? I don’t understand?

Has anyone used this type of heat mat to root hardwood cuttings early? I need to root some dormant hardwood cuttings in the next month or so, any thoughts on the effectiveness using a heat mat? Thanks!

What about the plastic dome? Do we not need it?

I havent got a grow light and I am growong seedlings ok inside.

Are there heating pads that have thermostats on them? Would that work for see starting?

@HAL1400

6 жыл бұрын

You can get "controllers" on amazon that has a temp probe you put in a cell of soil. You plug the heating mat in to the controller and it basically turns on and off the mat. But they usually run $20 on amazon and piece of card board is cheap. Just search for heating mat controller

@lisat9707

5 жыл бұрын

I woulnt want one with the temp controler built in. Of the 2 components the temp controler is most likely to break so why replace both when you can get 2 separate pieces. Its like buying a car with rubber wheels that you cant replace....

I don't need a grow light or heat mat, where I live in zone 9b I start my seeds out side in my clear plastic tub.

@simonebourgeois9544

4 жыл бұрын

@Paper Tiger nope I used to buy my veggies as transplants 1, way too expensive $3.99 for 1 pepper plant & $4.99 for a tomato & 2, they never do well than when I grow my own

Can anyone recommend a good quality (great price) Digital Heat Thermostat Temperature Controller for Australia? Just starting Seed germination. Thank you Kindly.

@Bunny-fd8zl

4 жыл бұрын

Mel, Bunnings sell heat mats

@MelbournesEast

3 жыл бұрын

I have Vivosun with thermometer

@kaz1388

Жыл бұрын

Check out Adloheat

This is off topic but I have a question. I read that organic means such and such...... but are organics GMO free?. or as I believe at this time it just means no chemicals or pesticides have been applied.

I never use a heat mat because I don’t know how do use it but I’m watching this but I still probably won’t ever use it now and if I move up to Des Moines Iowa

🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Did I just kill my seeds?! 2 full days on the heat mat with a dome. My intuition was telling me was too hot. Got my digital meat thermometer out and was 34 celcius. Ugh. Just turned mat off and opened lids for a bit. The room I'm using is warm to begin with. Maybe I don't need the mats at all?? 🤦🏻‍♀️

If you *read ferry Morse INSTRUCTIONS. ..it said you can use a temperature CONTROLLER which lead one to believe you can purchase them... 😉

how offten do we need to put it on

Even Texas is still dealing with cooler than normal weather seems like every weekend not anything like snow though if Texas snowed this late it would be the end of the world I think . Here's hoping for warmer weather for y'all

@Error-eb9gv

6 жыл бұрын

Mark Walker lucky yall didn't get the 2 feet we got last week here on the opposite end.

What about terminating Lipstick palm seeds.? Everybody is talking about terminating veg.seeds.?

I don’t use cardboard I use doll rods and place Matt under doll rods and Matt over doll rod.

You forgot to mention that if your using Incandescent grow lights with a greenhouse style tray DO NOT USE A HEAT MAT!

@sherryn39455

5 жыл бұрын

McNubbin101 Thanks,that was a question I was going to ask

@kate739

Жыл бұрын

thank you for this excellent, helpful tip

There's a few good reasons manufacturers usually don't build thermostats into heat mats. Firstly, it would double the price, or more. Secondly, thermostats don't last (all that switching on and off again), so when they die the whole heat mat becomes useless (if it's built in).

@petercohen3966

5 жыл бұрын

@Ian BurgessYes. So when the relay fails it's a worthless asset and could only be done cheaply with unreliable parts in any case. Many people would want to connect to a reliable thermostat controller and would be paying for an unreliable switch they don't even want.

does it matter what side is used