I use a heating mat put on a small wooden table with a placemat or newspaper underneath it. On it I have a solid plant tray in which I can put any size cells in, filled with the soil and seeds. It is the type which is about 10-20 degrees F more than the ambient temperature; which is about right for seed starting. The heating pads run about $26 or so; depending upon the size. The plastic top which goes with the tray is put on top and the heating pad turned on for a few days. I keep the cells moistened, but not wet, and when the new growth starts to show; the heat is turned off and the top is removed for at least two hours each day. This guards against mould and such. WHilst the seeds are germinating it is worthwhile to take the top off for an hour each day as well. Check to be sure they are not dry, moisted as needed, and then replace the top until you see growth.

Territorial Seeds sells them if you cannot find one in a local garden centre. They are called propagation mats and come in different sizes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Territorial Seeds

thank you, that is very helpful.

I bought a heating pad at a drugstore several years ago and it works great. But, last year I tried to buy two more, and all they have are ones that automatically turn off after an hour or something like that. Some kind of fire protection, I think. So, if you see one at a store that's not meant for plants, be sure to check if it has an auto shut off.

Most living spaces will be close to 70 degrees and be warm enough for the majority of seeds germination requirements. For these conditions bottom heat does not add anything to improve germination. If you are using an unheated area like a cold frame a heat mat is very useful. Al

My house is not anywhere near 70----it is too hot for me; and the bottom heat is useful with certain plants and at certain times of the year. I have tried it both ways; definitely in some cases a heat mat is the way to go. It does not, however, take very long to see results.

Because I start my seeds in my unheated basement, the heat mat is important for me. But I always look up the heat requirements for the seed I'm working with, and some will go on the heat pad and some won't. I usually sprout my seeds between moist paper towels in ziploc bags. For those that need heat and light, they go on the pad under a fluorescent light. For those that need darkness, they usually don't seem to need much heat, so they go in a desk drawer out of the light. They sometimes germinate in just a few days this way, and then I pluck them out and put them in little cells in a seed-starting mix, with lids over the trays to trap humidity. Once they've germinated, most don't seem to need heat anymore, and I don't keep the heat pad under the planting trays if that's the case. My basement isn't freezing, and I do this by a south window, but still it's about 55-60 degrees down there.

If you're starting the seeds under fluoro. lights, a heat mat isn't needed. If you adjust the lights to right above the seed trays (leave an inch or two of space), believe me there is enough heat generated from the lights to germinate the seeds without any problem. I have a little window thermometer placed on top of the trays to ensure it doesn't get *too* not (which is a no-no for some varieties), and at times I have to raise the lights so as to lower the amount of heat the seeds are getting.

Now, this info. is obviously for folks who have a set-up where the light height can be adjusted....

Gotta agree with mxk3. A $10 flur fixture and 2 10x20 trays will start a bunch of plants and supply light for starter growing. I use 200 cell trays from Johnnies. Lots of info in the growing with lights forum.

I use an electric blanket. There's no way a little heating pad would be big enough for all the seeds I start.

Deanna

Al C. - thank you for being so down to earth!!!!!!!

I have a tropical plant that had some kind of bug; treated it and than treated "IT" again and the blankety thing still had bugs. Put the "son of a gun" into an unheated room - to, "Go ahead and DIE"! IT; the "tropical" plant sat in a cold room with little or no water for a few months. After all of the neglect that "tropical", and "wheeny plant" is doing great to day, now inside!

Most tropical plants need a cold and resting period in order to refresh themselves to grow again. Tropical does not necessarily mean that they need to be hot and humid all the time; in fact, most don't.

It is well to consider what your plants need before you use a heating pad. But I get wonderful starts using them with some seeds like peppers and tomatoes.

It depends, too, upon where you live (climate) and what kind of lighting and heat one has. I do not use gro-lights nor do I have room for that kind of set up.