Post a reply

Image
Jan 30, 2024 5:32 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Nicholas Cole
Kearneysville, WV (Zone 7a)
Amaryllis Organic Gardener Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: West Virginia Seed Starter
Tomato Heads Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower Deer Native Plants and Wildflowers Hummingbirder
Hi there,

I've been trying to improve my closet seed-starting setup in the recent weeks, and I've been searching for heat mats to use for improving germination. I have a 2 Tier Stack-n-Grow Lights system from Gardener's Supply Company, which can accommodate three of their GrowEase Seed Starting Trays on each level. The surface dimensions of each level are roughly 15" x 30". After doing lots of research (literally hours of research), I can't seem to find a seedling heat mat that is large/small enough to fit the grow light system. I'm looking for a heat mat that is roughly 15" x 30" in size. Does anybody know of a heat mat this size? Standard 10" x 20" heat mats are too narrow and too short for the seed trays I have.

I will attach a picture of the grow light system along with a link to the grow light system for your reference.

Thank you so much for your help!
-Nick

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/...

Thumb of 2024-01-30/TheCreekKid/5126ba
My Weather Station (Ambient Weather WS-5000):
https://ambientweather.net/das...
Last edited by TheCreekKid Jan 30, 2024 5:33 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jan 31, 2024 8:57 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Linda
Carmel, IN (Zone 5b)
Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Region: Indiana Dog Lover Container Gardener
Seed Starter Herbs Vegetable Grower Cut Flowers Butterflies Birds
Welcome @TheCreekKid Welcome!

That really is an unusual size. First of all, do all of your seedlings need to be on a heat mat? I usually only use heat mat for peppers and eggplant, and a few herbs. Tomatoes, herbs and many other veggies are just fine without heat for germination, unless you are trying to start seedlings in a cold basement or similar. (Just FYI-- I grow about 1200 seedlings per year for our master gardeners group).

You might try checking some of the websites geared toward more commercial growers (e.g. Greenhouse Megastore). Otherwise, you might find it more economical to use 3 10x20" mats. It appears your unit is 30" wide, so 3 10" mats would work (or 1 20x20" and 1 10x20"). Not a big deal if it hangs a few inches off due to the extra length of your mats.

Good luck with your search! I have two of the Gardener's Supply shelves/light units and they've held up really well for a lot of years.
Last edited by mom2goldens Jan 31, 2024 9:21 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jan 31, 2024 9:52 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I don't use heat mats at all; I put my seeded flats in a warm room until things start sprouting, then they go onto my (homemade) lighted shelves, which are in quite a cool area of the house so I wrap a sheet of plastic around the whole setup. Nick, you might want to give that a try - the plastic holds in the warmth put out by the grow lights, as well as some humidity. (The plastic is pulled back for the photo; it normally wraps completely around the whole unit.)

Thumb of 2024-02-01/Weedwhacker/f1be44
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
Image
Feb 3, 2024 5:41 PM CST
Name: Ken Isaac
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (Zone 7a)
What temp is the 'closet' during the daytime with the lights all on? It may be less expensive to heat the whole space to the desired temp with a space heater. You'll want a good soil temp. probe thermometer if you don't have one.

Remember that to hot will stiffle germination just like to cool, so a heat mat controller is a must IMHO.

Also, remember that while germination takes place at optimum temperatures, once germination happens, the optimum temperature changes to what is called the 'grow on' temperature. This temperature is often cooler to help limit the stretching of your plants under the lights.

Ultimately, this means I am cycling plants onto heat for germination, then back off the heat for continued growing.

Here's an example of how this can be explained for sprouting and then growing tomato seedlings:

Johnnies seeds said:
For tomato:
Keep (germination mix) at 75–85°F (24–29°C) with moderate moisture. At first true leaf, pot-up to 50-cell trays or 4" pots, depending on expected transplant timing. Grow at constant 60–70°F (16–21°C) temp


So tomatoes = 75-85 for germination, then temp should drop to 60 - 70 for optimal continued growth.

Only in the germination stage then is my heat mat used for tomatoes. So, with planning- I start my seeds in succession, slowest growers first- on the mat.

I know this wasn't the answer you were seeking... but maybe you don't need the heat mat space under every tray?
Last edited by kenisaac Feb 3, 2024 10:26 PM Icon for preview
Image
Feb 27, 2024 6:22 PM CST
Name: UrbanWild
Kentucky (Zone 6b)
Kentucky - Plant Hardiness Zone 7a
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Vegetable Grower Spiders! Organic Gardener Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Critters Allowed Butterflies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
A few questions/points...

1) If you just had a heart may in the lower shelf and put the plants that need it the most on top of that, wouldn't the heat rise to the other shelves anyway?

2) I've seen pet heat mats in different sizes. Not sure about how hot they get though.

3) in a pinch, would two smaller mats work?
Always looking for interesting plants for pollinators and food! Bonus points for highly, and pleasantly scented plants.

"Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, nihil deerit." [“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”] -- Marcus Tullius Cicero in Ad Familiares IX, 4, to Varro. 46 BCE
Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by crawgarden and is called ""

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.