Using A Heat Mat To Grow Seedlings Fast

Expert growers grow warm crops throughout the year by creating warm conditions for their plants.

Using a heat mat to grow seedlings fast.

Heat mats have one basic function which is to gently warm the soil thus promoting faster germination and strong healthy seedlings. Almost all seedlings grow better at temperatures below the optimum germination temperature. Once the seed has germinated they should be removed from the mat. Seedling heat mat make it easy to grow tomatoes lettuce broccoli peppers eggplants etc at any time of the year.

After i ve sown the seeds and turned on the heat mat do i leave it on all night. Do you need a seedling heat mat. Some seeds require total darkness for germination. Heat mats are marketed as a propagation mat or seedling heat mats as well but the function is the same.

Most home gardeners do not need one. How to use a thermometer for seedlings. This could be a natural or artificial light source. These are all warm crops and they do not survive in cold conditions.

Place the heat mat on a flat dry surface in an area that matches the light requirements for your seeds. How to use seedling mats. Since a heat mat can be pricey at 30 50 you want it to grow with you because maybe next year your garden will be twice the size. 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.

Leave the heat mat on and set to the same temperature 24 hours a day until the seeds sprout. To make sure the mat is accurate we also use an extra thermometer that gets inserted directly into the soil. Check your seed packages to determine the ideal temperature and light exposure for seed germination.