You might want to take a look at the winter sowing forum and read the FAQS. Might give you alot of info.
Duane

Much thanks, Duane :)

Here's some advice;

Save your money. You can make a "bio dome" from many things around the house like empty two liter soda bottle or milk jugs milk cartons, yogurt containers, take out containers.

Save your money for seeds.

:0)

Thanks,MBT!

Actually, I'm already creating miniature bio-domes all over the house (styrofoam bowls and large ziplocs left over from our housewarming work great!). However, we live in a townhome and have somewhat limited space. So, I really only bought the bio-dome because of it's compact size. I guess I'm just using it to see if it works, and if it does then that's great for me. But, I'll also continue to be frugal and creative as well. Thanks!!

Well, maybe I can be a little more helpful. I haven't got exactly the same brand as you have, but I do have plastic trays with lids and a heat mat that do about the same thing.

The main thing to do is to remove the lid and turn the heat off pretty uch as soon as the seeds start to sprout. Although heat and humidity can be helpful in gettin gthe seeds to germinate, they're not at all good for small living plants. As soon as you've got sprouts, move the pots or trays to a spot where they'll get good ventilation and good light. It's actually a little better if the room is cool, too, so crank off the heat there.

After that, you'll just do all the same stuff you would do without the BioDome: put the plants close to a light source for about 16 hours a day, water when the soil seems dry, fertilize once or twice, transplant to larger pots when the plants start to outgrow whatever you've got them in.

When I gardened in Zone 5, I started sitting the plantlets outdoors in the daytime in April (first in the sahde, then more in the sun) and I left them out overnight if temperatures were expected to stay above 40.

P.S. Very happy to see that you've moved from Zone 3 to Zone 5!

I started using the Biodome from Park's about 3 years ago. I like the tray and dome, but really don't like the sponges and little seed styrofoam trays. Seeds seem to do better for me in just plain seed-starting soil. The tray makes a great potting-up tray though...

Thanks for such great advice everyone! I can't wait to actually start the seeds now.

And leslies, yes, my move through zones was very quick! (Especially when I was in such a rush to type that I didn't have time to READ what I wrote - Duh! I think I should have proofread first...)

I only have one tip for you. I'm just a couple years new to seed sowing myself. I don't have the biodome, but my first year I had a 72 pk dome with heating mat. I planted a dozen each of 6 different kinds of seeds. I had a some failure with it, because the seeds germinated at different times. I've decided to only do one variety in my 72 pk's this year, so that I can take off the cover at the right time.

I personally like the jiffy window sill 12 packs. I've had great luck with those.

leslies,

You forgot to warn about the effects of direct sunlight on an enclosed seed sowing dome. Basically arborgirl, when your seeds are sprouting and after they sprout if there is direct sunlight on your dome and you don't ventilate you could end up cooking your seedlings. Even a light set up that is too strong or too hot can "burn" newly emerging seedlings. You'll have to play around with the distance of your dome from your light source to avoid this possibility.

I would like to suggest a trip to your local library and bookstores to read up on seed propagation.Any further inferences in this thread should be gauged appropriately...

Hi, I've been using the biodomes for years. I much more success with them then the pod sets, and for me the tidy nature of the biodome justifies the cost. Here are my hints; Don't over fill with water, 1 in. in the bottom should be enough. You want the sponges to be moist but not soaking wet. Like others said avoid damping them off, but creating to much steam inside. If you see dripping condinsation on the lid, take it off and give them some air. I usually leave the lid on when growing them in the house and early spring, when they are in a dry space at room temperature. Once I move them out to the green house in late march i take the lid off during the day but cover them at night. Also, I would at least open the vent if directly under a grow light or over a heating pad. If you are using a window as you light source you may want to turn the dome daily to avoid having the seedlings leaning in one direction or the other, and try to sit the dome out during the day if its warm enough so the seedlings can get direct sunlight. When you are ready to plant, make sure the top of the sponge is completely covered with soil, or else the water around the roots will evaporate from the top of the sponge and cause the plant to lose water when its in the ground. Sometimes I peel and remove the litte pit of extra sponge at the top right before planting to avoid this. Before transplating, it is a good idea to take the lid off and start leaving them outside for a several hours at a time (provided its warm enough), so they can get a gentle breeze and harden up a bit. You might also blow on them a little bit (Lightly!) with you breath every day from they time they start growing to give the stems strength and simulate a breeze. The main problem with seedlings grown in domes is sometimes they can come out with week stems, do to lack of light and being in a motionless environment. The soft movement seems to stimulate the seedlings growth too., I think its the same as the music effect. The heat pad is good for some seeds like impatients that need heat to germinate, but its not necessary and could be harmful for other plants like lettace and other hardy vegtables.

As with any other flats, grow similar plants in one dome (those which need similar heat requirements or will germinate at roughly the same time), otherwise you could get some seedlings that need to be uncovered or have gotten tall, and those which haven't germinated yet and still need the top on.

Personally, I get 100% germination when using the sponges and dome. The sponges keep the moisture right, and they're sterile so there should be LESS chance of damping off, even if you get the humidity too high. The whole thing is sturdy and has lasted me for many years, but I now start so many seeds that it isn't economical to only use bio-domes. I save my three domes for difficult or expensive seeds.

(this post has its own thread as well)
I have a couple of Bio Domes that i like a lot. Granted i could use other germination and grow methods but the Bio Dome as it's nice and simple. Question though...i'll be growing Zinnia. My experience with Zinnia is that they are fast to germinate but hard to maintain and some people say, transplant...My question is this...i can get a 40 sponge block with sponges measuring 1 1/4 inch in diameter x 2 1/4. Or the 18 sponge block with sponges measuring
3-inch-long, 1 3/4-inch-wide. My question is this will i be sacraficing the quality and sturdiness of the seedlings if i go with the 40 block? I'd like to grow the 40 block but i don't know if they can stay in the sponge until transplant time.
Thanks so much for your /help/advice!!

I find the bio dome is great for starting sweet peas and nasturtium early. I don't find it as helpful for smaller seeds. Once the seeds sprout, and are up about 2-3 inches, I put the plug straight into the ground. They germinate and sprout in about 5 days under the bio dome. I have also used it with good success with Agrostemma, Cerinthe and Royal Ensign - Mostly plants that don't really like to be transplanted.

I have used a 60 plant Bio Dome for the first time. I planted begonia seeds. I started them 8 weeks ago. The top of the plugs have turned white like a white fungus or something. The plants that have survived are so small. They have 2 leaves that are very little. I have started about 8 flats of seeds and none of the others have this white fungus. Has anyone had this problem and if so is there a solution? Thanks for any advice.

I get solid germination and success with the biodome -- I have two and have used them for years. The system is sturdier than some other kinds, and because I plant in small batches, I like the size being smaller than a 1020 tray. The advice above about ventilation is good. I have generally used with a grow light (T5). I have grown plants for planting in potting mix/compost and hydroponics. Works great for both.

I just started using the Park’s Bio-dome. Good comments above. Some of which I wish I had seen before my first attempt. My big question is how do you weight down the styrofoam blocks in the bleach water after use so the whole block gets covered? I am trying to re-use sponges that had no germination by making a sponge mat with them cut in half vertically and put on their side cut edge up so it’s flat. I put moist seed starter soil under the sponges and planted small seeds on sponges (laid close together)then a light sprinkle of fine seed starter soil on top. Getting good germination so far.