Most seeds germinate best in temperatures between 70 90 f.
Best heating mat temp for rootiny.
This heat warms the sand in the propagating frame.
They are useful for rooting cuttings.
Cuttings of most plants root best when the rooting medium is at about 70 degrees though temperatures as low as 55 degrees are acceptable.
Leave the heat mat on and set to the same temperature 24 hours a day until the seeds sprout.
In that case you can set and regulate the temperature yourself.
An easier way to create bottom heat in your propagating frame would be to purchase an electric soil warming cable kit or a heating mat that goes under your flats.
Most mats are designed to heat roughly 10 20 degrees above the current room temperature.
Heat mats are marketed as a propagation mat or seedling heat mats as well but the function is the same.
The heat from the bottom heating method causes the water to evaporate and dries the soil before the cuttings root.
However this means you have to germinate in small rooms otherwise the heat mat will work too hard to keep the temperature 10 degrees above a colder room and burn itself out.
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However you can also find plant heating mats with their own thermostat.
Seeds do not need that cyclical cooling to sprout however and in fact they will germinate more.
Look for a mat with a waterproof outer layer in case of any spills.
The idea of turning it off at night usually springs from the observation that the earth cools at night and warms up again in the day thanks to the sun.
Read on for more information and learn how to use a heat mat for seed starting.
What does a heat mat do.
Almost all quality plant heating mats come with a built in safety shut off that will trigger when the heat mat reaches a temperature of 10 degrees above the room temperature.